Landis Mill Covered Bridge - Lancaster, PA
N 40° 04.117 W 076° 20.700
18T E 385304 N 4436239
This very short bridge can be found in unusual place, not in the country but at a strip mall, clearly an indication of out of control development. The AGS give a completely different description of the surrounding area which was must more agrarian.
Waymark Code: WMHRZZ
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/10/2013
Views: 4
An old red covered wooden bridge, 3.2 m., is visible (R) on the Little Conestoga Creek. The route traverses a rich farming, dairying and cattle breeding district. --- Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 351
I searched high and low for this covered bridge in the AGS and almost gave up when I used the body of water crossed as a key word, and there is was next to Landisville, the name of the water, Little Conestoga Creek. The bridge is called Landis Mill Covered Bridge and Landisville being right next to the excerpt convinces me 100 percent I had found the correct listing.
The bridge has a single span, wooden, double pyramidal-shaped Burr-type trusses and a multiple kingpost design with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is the only bridge in the county to use this design.
The bridge was built by Elias McMellen in 1873 for $969. The kingpost truss was used rather than the Burr arch truss because of its short length of 53 ft., making this the shortest authentic covered bridge still in use. It is located on Shreiner Station Road one block west of Park City Mall in Manheim Township. The deck is made from oak planks, which were in good condition. 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 red with white trim. It is rather unsafe to walk inside as there is no pedestrian walkways. I had to keep looking over my shoulder while snapping pictures and walking through it.
This very short bridge can be found in unusual place, not in the country but at a strip mall, clearly an indication of out of control development. The bridge made the NRHP in 1980 and is in beautiful condition. One side has modern, steel guard rails while the other side uses the more conventional stone walls found in almost every 19th century covered bridge in Lancaster County. Thankfully, the bridge has remained despite the development of the surrounding countryside.
I made a video of the bridge to give a more comprehensive view which can he found HERE.