Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge

The Schenk's Mill Covered Bridge or Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Big Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #4 Bridge.^[1] (Chiques Creek was known as Chickies Creek until 2002).^[2]

Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge
Coordinates	40.1160°N 76.4253°W / 40.1160; -76.4253
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
Location

The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design with the addition of steel hanger rods. The deck is made from oak planks.^[1] It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. It is one of only 3 covered bridges in the county with horizontal side boards.

On December 31, 2017, a truck driver from Arizona damaged the bridge while attempting to cross it, claiming to be lost on the way to Baltimore and following his GPS.^[3]

The bridge's WGCB Number is 38-36-30. Added in 1980, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as structure number 80003531.^[4] It is located at 40°6′57.6″N 76°25′31.1″W (40.1160, -76.4253).^[5]

History

The bridge was built in 1847 by Charles Malhorn and Levi Fink. The bridge was rebuilt in 1855.

Dimensions

• Length: 80 feet (24.4 m) span and 96 feet (29 m) total length
• Width: 13 feet 10 inches (4.22 m) clear deck and 15 feet (4.6 m) total width
• Overhead clearance: 12 feet (3.7 m)
• Underclearance: 10 feet 6 inches (3.20 m)

Gallery

• 
  Three quarters view of the bridge
• 
  The inside of the bridge showing the Burr arch truss
• 
  Three quarters view of the bridge from the air
• 
  Approach view of bridge from the air

See also

• Burr arch truss
• List of Lancaster County covered bridges

References

• McCain, Dr. Roger A. "Schenk's Mill Bridge". A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
• Bickel, Hank (2005-06-23). "Shenck Mill Bridge". Covered Bridges of the Northeast USA. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
• "Shenck's Mill Covered Bridge". Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center. Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-07.

1. "Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge". Lancaster County, PA Government Portal. County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 2001-10-20. Retrieved 2006-07-07.
2. Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey (August 30, 1990). "Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: Chiques Creek". Retrieved 2006-09-05.
3. "Truck damages historic covered bridge - AGAIN". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
4. "PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
5. Travis, Dale. "38-36-30". Round Barns & Covered Bridges. Retrieved 2006-08-08.

External links

• Media related to Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons