Pine Grove Covered Bridge

Pine Grove Covered Bridge
Coordinates	39°47′37″N76°02′41″W / 39.79361°N 76.04472°W / 39.79361; -76.04472
Carries	East Branch of Octoraro Creek (Connects Lancaster and Chester counties).
Crosses	East Branch of Octoraro Creek
Locale	Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Characteristics
Design	Two span, double Burr arch King post truss
Total length	195 feet (59.4 m) [1]
Width	15 feet (4.6 m)
History
Constructed by	Elias McMellen
Construction start	1884
Location

The Pine Grove Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East Branch of Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the longest covered bridge in Lancaster County. The bridge was built in 1884 by Elias McMellen.

Background

The bridge has a two-span, wooden, double Burr arch truss design with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is the only two-span covered bridge still in use. The bridge's deck is made from oak planks. It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges on the outside, but is not painted on the inside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color.

The bridge's WGCB Number is 38-15-22/38-36-41. Added in 1980, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as structure number 80003521. ^[2] It is located at 39°47′36.6″N76°2′39.6″W / 39.793500°N 76.044333°W / 39.793500; -76.044333 (39.7935, -76.04433). ^[3]

Nearby covered bridges

Map of the 29 existing covered bridges as of October, 2006 (clickable)

• White Rock Forge Covered Bridge, about 4.4 miles (7.1 km) northwest on White Rock Road, via Asheville and King Pen Roads.

Gallery

• 
  Far away view from above
• 
  Wide view
• 
  Three-quarters view
• 
  Inside of the bridge showing the double span Burr arch truss
• 
  A closeup view of one of the arches
• 
  View of interior double arch
• 
  View from above and to the side

See also

• Burr arch truss
• List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania
• List of Lancaster County covered bridges

References

1. McCain cites the length as 198 feet while the county's visitor's guide cites the length as 204 feet and the County Commissioners guide state that the length is 195 feet long.
2. "PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
3. Travis, Dale. "38-15-22/38-36-41". Round Barns & Covered Bridges. Retrieved August 8, 2006.

Bibliography

• McCain, Dr. Roger A. "Pine Grove Bridge". A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
• "Pine Grove Covered Bridge". Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center. Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2006.
• "The Covered Bridges of Lancaster County". Lancaster County, PA Government Portal. County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. November 9, 2001. Archived from the original on December 26, 2005. Retrieved July 7, 2006.

External links

• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. PA-586, " Pine Grove Bridge "