The "Lancaster County's Historical Covered Bridges: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Carol had just dropped me off along Middle Creek Road to take a photo of the Keller's Mill Covered Bridge which transports vehicle traffic across the Cocalico Creek in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  It was originally built by Elias McMellen in 1873 for $2,075.  In 1891 it was re-built by Mr. McMellen after a devastating flood swept it away.  The bridge at one time was known as Rettew's Mill Bridge and then Guy Bard's Mill Bridge.  Seems the owner of the mill that sat next to the bridge had changed from time to time.  It is the only covered bridge in Lancaster County that is painted white.  

Keller's Mill Covered Bridge in Cocalico Township

All others are different shades of red.  As I walked toward the entrance to the bridge to take a few photos, a gentleman riding a lawn tractor pulled up next to me.  He introduced himself and told me if I wanted to get a good shot of the bridge I could stand on the porch of his home to get the photo.  He told me he rents the home for vacation rentals and lives nearby in another home.  Neat place decorated with red, white and blue banners.  He told me the home dates back to the mid-1800s.  I told him my mission and he offered a bit of information about the bridge.  

The home which sits along the water that my new friend
rents to vacationers who come to Lancaster, PA.

Keller's Mill Bridge is known officially as Cocalico No. 5 Bridge.  Years ago it was about two miles upstream from where it sits today, but traffic became so intense over the single-lane bridge that the county decided to disassemble the bridge in 2006 and build a larger concrete bridge in its place.  Then, in 2010 it was reassembled in its current location on Middle Creek Road.  The bridge is a single span, wooden, double Burr Arch Truss bridge with additional steel hanger rods.  

Interior of bridge with Burr Arch Truss construction.

The deck is made of oak planks and is the only bridge in the county painted white.  He then told me that somewhere on the other side of bridge, away from his home, was a plaque or sign that carried most of the information he had just given me.  He also told me that the recent storms had caused the county to close the bridge due to high water that just about came to the floor of the bridge.  Well, I thanked him for the information, stopped on his porch for a photo and headed back across the bridge to meet my wife who was waiting for me in the car.  

Part of the sign that looks to be destroyed, but
does tell the location of the bridge.

As I exited the bridge I looked for the signage telling about the structure and found that the sign had become dislodged due to the flooding and was covered with debris.  I did wipe most of the dirt from it and took a few photos of parts of the sign before taking a few more photos of the bridge and then hopping back in the car.  Looked at my wife and said, "You won't believe what I found out about the bridge from the guy who was mowing his lawn on the other side of the bride."  She smiled and said, "Only you would have been lucky enough to meet someone who knew everything there was to know about the photo you wanted to take."  She's always right, you know!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.