Pool Forge Covered Bridge

Pool Forge Covered Bridge
Coordinates	40°07′47″N75°58′36″W / 40.1297°N 75.9768°W / 40.1297; -75.9768
Locale	Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Characteristics
Design	single span, double Burr arch truss
Total length	99 feet (30.2 m)
History
Constructed by	Levi Fink and Elias McMellen
Construction start	1859
Pool Forge Covered Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
MPS	Covered Bridges of Lancaster County TR
NRHP reference No.	80003510 [1]
Added to NRHP	December 11, 1980
Location
Interactive map of Pool Forge Covered Bridge

The Pool Forge Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge is now on private property where it was once used as a storage barn before the owner added a road to receive vehicle traffic.

The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is painted entirely red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges on the outside. The inside of the bridge is not painted. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in red without any of the traditional white paint.

The bridge's WGCB Number is 38-36-01. Added in 1980, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as structure number 80003510. ^[2] It is located at 40°7′46.8″N75°58′36.6″W / 40.129667°N 75.976833°W / 40.129667; -75.976833 (40.12967, -75.97683). ^{[3] [4]}

It is included in the Poole Forge historic district as a contributing structure. ^[5]

History

The bridge was built in 1859 by Levi Fink and Elias McMellen.

Dimensions

• Length:99 feet (30.2 m) total length
• Width:15 feet (4.6 m) total width

Gallery

• 
  A three-quarters view of the bridge
• 
  Another three-quarters view showing the same bridge approach.
• 
  One of the sides of the bridge
• 
  The other side of the bridge
• 
  The approach to the bridge closest to the main road
• 
  The approach farthest away from the main road entrance
• 
  The Burr arch truss design on the inside of the bridge
• 
  A closer look at the Burr arch truss
• 
  An example of the bridge's steel hanger rods
• 
  The bridge's underside structure
• 
  The underside of the bridge showing where the Burr arch meets the concrete bridge abutment. The concrete bridge in the background bypasses this bridge.
• 
  An underside bridge joint showing the Burr arch truss design.
• 
  A view from above as you approach the bridge
• 
  A view from above

See also

• Burr arch truss
• List of crossings of the Conestoga River
• List of Lancaster County covered bridges

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. "PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
3. Travis, Dale. "38-36-12". Round Barns & Covered Bridges. Retrieved August 8, 2006.
4. Susan M. Zacher (July 1980). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania MPS Pool Forge Covered Bridge. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved December 23, 2025. (Downloading may be slow.)
5. Joan Fleckenstein (November 1992). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania MPS Poole Forge. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved December 23, 2025. (Downloading may be slow.)

Further reading

• McCain, Dr. Roger A. "Pool Forge Bridge". A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
• "Pool Forge 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.