Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge

Wooden truss covered bridge

39°53′49″N 76°04′48″W / 39.8970°N 76.0800°W / 39.8970; -76.0800LocaleLancaster County, Pennsylvania, United StatesOfficial nameWest Octoraro #1 BridgeCharacteristicsDesignsingle span, double Burr arch trussTotal length139 feet (42.4 m)HistoryConstructed byJohn Smith and Samuel StaufferConstruction start1878Location Map

The Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge or Eichelberger's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the West Branch of the Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.^[1] A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the West Octoraro #1 Bridge.^[2] The bridge is purportedly the only covered bridge in the county that is not built perpendicular to the stream it crosses due to the placement of the sawmill on one side of the bridge and the rock formations faced by the builders on the other side.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.

The bridge's WGCB Number is 38-36-33. In 1980 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as structure number 80003520, but it was removed from the Register in 1986.^[3] It is located at 39°53′49.2″N 76°4′48″W / 39.897000°N 76.08000°W / 39.897000; -76.08000 (39.89700, -76.08000).^[4] The bridge lies in Bart Township, 3.25 mi (5.23 km) to the east of Quarryville and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) south of Pennsylvania Route 372 on Mt Pleasant Road.^[5] Due to its remote location in an isolated part of the county, it is seen less than many of the county's other covered bridges that are closer to the major populations centers such as Lancaster.^[1]

History

The bridge was built in 1878 by John Smith and Samuel Stauffer^[1] at a cost of $2,410. In 1985 it was washed mostly intact from its foundations and deposited a short distance downstream in a flood. It was repaired and reset at a cost to the county of $75,000. During the rebuilding, the bridge was raised 3 feet (0.91 m) to protect it against future flooding.^[5] As of summer 2006, the bridge was in good conditions, having undergone a recent rehabilitation in May 2005.^[6]

Dimensions

Source:^[2]

Length: 139 feet (42 m) span and 143 feet (44 m) total length^[1]^[6]
Width: 14 feet (4.3 m) clear deck and 15 feet (4.6 m) total width^[1]^[6]
Overhead clearance: 11 feet 6 inches (3.51 m)
Underclearance: 14 feet (4.3 m)

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge.

A wide view of the bridge
Three quarters view
View of the inside of the bridge showing the Burr arch truss
A closeup of the Burr arch truss
A metal nameplate describing the 1985 rebuilding
Sign inside the bridge describing its history
The identification sign inside the center of the bridge
The underside of the bridge

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Dr. Roger A. McCain. "Jackson's Mill Bridge". A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas. Archived from the original on September 7, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Eichelberger's Covered Bridge". Lancaster County, PA Government Portal. County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. October 20, 2001. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2006.
^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ Travis, Dale. "38-36-33". Round Barns & Covered Bridges. Retrieved August 8, 2006.
^ ^a ^b "Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge". Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center. Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c See this image of the history sign on the bridge itself.