Neff's Mill Covered Bridge
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name = Neff's Mill Covered Bridge
|native_name =
|image = Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Side View 3000px.jpg
|image_size = 300px
|alt =
|caption =
|official_name = Pequea #7 Bridge
|other_name =
|carries =
|crosses =
|locale = Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
|maint =
|id =
|designer =
|design = single span, double Burr arch truss
|material =
|spans =
|pierswater =
|mainspan =
|length = {{convert|102|ft|m|1}}
|width =
|height =
|load =
|clearance =
|below =
|traffic =
|builder = Built by Christian Brackbill
Rebuilt by James C. Carpenter
|begin = 1824, rebuilt in 1875
|complete =
|open =
|coordinates = {{coord|39.9788|-76.2258|type:landmark_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
}}
The Neff's Mill Covered Bridge or Bowman's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Pequea Creek on the border between West Lampeter Township and Strasburg Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States.{{cite web
| author = Bickel, Hank
| title = Neff Mill Bridge
| work = Covered Bridges of the Northeast USA
| date = 2005-06-23
| url = http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/pa/neff_mill.html
| accessdate = 2006-08-04 }} A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #7 Bridge.{{cite web
|title = Neff's Mill Covered Bridge
|work = Lancaster County, PA Government Portal
|publisher = County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
|date = 2001-10-20
|url = http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=256826
|accessdate = 2006-07-07
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000115/http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=256826
|archivedate = 2007-09-27
}}
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. 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 purportedly the narrowest covered bridge in the county.{{cite web
| title = Neff's Mill Covered Bridge
| work = Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center
| publisher = Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau
| year = 2006
| url = http://www.padutchcountry.com/member_pages/neff_s_mill_covered_bridge.asp
| accessdate = 2006-07-07 }}{{cite web
|author = McCain, Dr. Roger A.
|title = Neff's Mill Bridge
|work = A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas
|url = http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBNeff.html
|accessdate = 2006-08-03
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060907091553/http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBNeff.html
|archivedate = 2006-09-07
}}
The bridge's WGCB Number is 38-36-22. Added in 1980, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as structure number 80003538.{{cite web
| title = PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County
| work = National Register of Historic Places
| url = http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/PA/Lancaster/state3.html
| accessdate = 2007-03-20}} It is located at {{coord|39|58|43.8|N|76|13|33|W|type:city}} (39.97883, -76.22583), on Penn Grant Road 1.25 miles to the east of U.S. Route 222 and to the south of Lampeter, Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Route 741.{{cite web
| author = Travis, Dale
| title = 38-36-22
| work = Round Barns & Covered Bridges
| date =
| url = http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/pennsylv/htm/3803622.htm
| accessdate = 2006-08-08 }}
History
The covered bridge was originally built by Christian Brackbill in 1824 for an unknown cost. It was known as Bowman's Mill Covered Bridge. It was rebuilt in 1875 by James C. Carpenter at a cost of $1,860. Note: This is the narrowest covered bridge in the county.
On May 28th, 2025 a box truck rammed through the bridge and caused extensive damage. According to local news station WGAL, the bridge was closed indefinitely pending further inspection{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Morgan |date=2025-05-29 |title=Historic covered bridge closed indefinitely after box truck rams through it |url=https://www.wgal.com/article/lancasterco-neffs-mill-bridge-crash-closed-damage/64909732 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=WGAL |language=en}}.
Dimensions
- Length: 90 feet (27.4 m) span and {{convert|102|ft|m}} total lengthNote:Note: The dimensions of this bridge are not agreed on by multiple sources. The total length is published as either 102 or 103 feet, the clear deck width as 11 feet and 11 feet 7 inches. It is also unlikely that the bridge is actually 15 feet wide, given the limited clear deck width. The sign posted on the bridge indicates an overhead clearance of 11 feet, but the government source lists it as 11 feet, 6 inches.
- Width: {{convert|11|ft|7|in|m}} clear deck and {{convert|15|ft|m}} total widthNote:
- Overhead clearance: {{convert|11|ft|m}}Note:
- Under clearance: {{convert|13|ft|6|in|m}}
Gallery
Image:Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Wide 3008px.jpg|A wide view of the side of the bridge
Image:Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Three Quarters View HDR 3264px.jpg|A three-quarters view of the bridge
Image:Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Portal 2000px.jpg|One of the bridge's portals
Image:Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Interior 1952px.jpg|The inside of the bridge
Image:Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Inside 3008px.jpg|Closeup of the Burr arch truss design
Image:Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Inside HDR 3008px.jpg|The window and painted sign inside the bridge
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|Neff's Mill Covered Bridge}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{NRHP bridges}}
Category:Covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Category:Bridges completed in 1875
Category:Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania