This is the Pool Forge Covered Bridge (WGCB # 38-36-01) which resides within the historic Pool Forge park in Caenarvon Township, a rural area within Lancaster County’s famous Amish countryside. Built by Levi Fink and Elias McMellen in 1859 at the cost of $1219, it spans the Conestoga Creek for 99 feet. It was also known as Yohn’s Mill Bridge. It’s design utilizes a single span, wooden, double Burr arch truss with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is painted entirely red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges on the outside. The inside of the bridge is not painted. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in red without any of the traditional white paint.
Historical records indicate that this was the place where James Buchanan met his fiance before becoming president, but she died before they could be married and he became our country’s only bachelor president.
For more information on historic Pool Forge, visit their web site.
The Amish folk who the horse and buggy belongs to were fishing on the banks of the creek on the opposite side of the bridge. An Amish buggy in front of a 150 year old covered bridge is what we covered bridge photographers call a “two ‘fer” :–) This is one of eight covered bridges I photographed on Sunday 4-19-2009.
