Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 40°06′58″N 76°25′31″W / 40.1160°N 76.4253°W |
| Locale | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Official name | Big Chiques #4 Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | single span, double Burr arch truss |
| Total length | 96 feet (29.3 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Charles Malhorn and Levi Fink |
| Construction end | 1847 |
| Rebuilt | 1855 |
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The Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge is a cool old bridge in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It crosses the Big Chiques Creek. People also call it the Big Chiques #4 Bridge. This bridge is special because it's a "covered bridge," meaning it has a roof and sides, just like a house!
The bridge has a special design called a double Burr arch truss. This means it uses strong wooden arches to help support the bridge. It also has steel rods for extra strength. The floor of the bridge is made from strong oak wood.
The bridge is painted red, which is a common color for covered bridges in Lancaster County. The parts leading up to the bridge are painted white. It's one of only three covered bridges in the county that has horizontal wooden boards on its sides.
In 2017, a truck accidentally hit the bridge, causing some damage. Luckily, the bridge was repaired.
This bridge is important because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special historical place that should be protected. It was added to the list in 1980.
Building the Bridge
The Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge was first built in 1847. It was built by two people named Charles Malhorn and Levi Fink. Later, in 1855, the bridge was rebuilt. This means it was repaired or made new again after some time.
Bridge Size and Features
Here are some interesting facts about the size of the Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge:
- Length: The main part of the bridge that goes over the creek is 80 feet (about 24.4 meters) long. The total length of the bridge is 96 feet (about 29.3 meters).
- Width: The part where cars drive is about 13 feet 10 inches (about 4.2 meters) wide. The total width of the bridge is 15 feet (about 4.6 meters).
- Overhead Space: If you are driving through, you have about 12 feet (about 3.7 meters) of space above your vehicle.
- Space Below: There is about 10 feet 6 inches (about 3.2 meters) of space between the bottom of the bridge and the creek below.
Gallery
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This picture shows a three-quarters view of the bridge.
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This photo shows the inside of the bridge, where you can see the special Burr arch truss design.
Images for kids
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A view of the bridge from the air.
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Another view of the bridge from the air, showing the approach.
