Covered Bridges of Franklin County, Pa

by Cheryl M. Keyser

What is the attraction of covered bridges? Why is there such interest in preserving them? Jim Smedley, First Vice President of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, attributes it to three reasons: it takes us back to earlier times when life was simpler, it displays the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the carpenters of the 1800s, and preserving them is important for future generations to enjoy.

Pennsylvania has the largest number of covered bridges of any state - 219 to be exact. (Sorry Ohio, you're only number two with 142.) Of these five were originally in south-central Pennsylvania in Franklin County (named for that Benjamin).

The Martin's Mill Bridge is considered to be the longest Town truss covered bridge in the state. This form of construction is named after Ithiel Town of Connecticut who designed his first bridge in 1820. It is sometimes referred to as a "lattice truss" as its pattern resembles latticework. 

The Town truss derived its popularity from its use of smaller lengths of lumber, ease of building for unskilled labor, and its span of up to 200 feet. Martin's Mill just passes this optimum length at 207 feet. It was built in either 1839 or 1849, depending on the source, and is now open only to foot and bicycle traffic. Privately owned, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is located in Antrim Township covering the east branch of the Conococheague Creek, which flows into the Potomac River.

The other bridge is the Witherspoon, built in 1833 by S. Stouffer. It is 87 feet long by 14 feet wide and still used by vehicular traffic. It can be found near Welsh Run in Montgomery Township and is part of the Hays Bridge Historic District. It uses a Burr truss construction, named for Theodore Burr, also from Connecticut. His first such bridge, built in 1804, crossed the Hudson River. The Burr is the most common design seen in covered bridges, featuring two long arches anchored by abutments at either end.

The Witherspoon is held in special affection by local residents. It stands about six miles from where Mary E. Harris of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau grew up. "I used to use it every day on my way to work," she warmly remembers.  

Covered bridges came into vogue because they provided "transportation...from one location to another to trade [early settlers] goods, stay connected with families and have access to schools and churches," said Smedly.  "Covering the bridges protected the truss members from weather elements helping them to last for decades with minimal maintenance to the roof, siding and flooring." An uncovered bridge is estimated to last only 10 to 15 years.

The other three bridges in the county are long gone. They were the Claylick Covered Bridge (100 feet long) spanning Licking Creek in the Township of the same name and Lindsay's Covered Bridge, sometimes known as the Dogtown Bridge (113 feet long and built in 1867). It crossed the west branch of the Conococheague Creek.

The third was Red Bridge (105 feet long and built in 1883). It was located in St. Thomas Township, west of Chambersburg.

For additional information on covered bridges in Pennsylvania, visit the website of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. at  www.tbcbspa.com.  It publishes a bi-annual, the "Wooden Covered Spans" and a newsletter, "Pennsylvania Crossings," which comes out three times a year.