The White Rock Forge Covered Bridge or White Rock Covered Bridge is a
covered bridge
A covered bridge is a timber-truss bridge with a roof, decking, and siding, which in most covered bridges create an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. Uncovered woo ...
that spans the
West Branch of the Octoraro Creek in southeast
Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the West Octoraro #2 Bridge.
It was first built in 1847 by John Russell and
Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (November 16, 1839 – March 2, 1916) was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.
McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841 – April 1, 1899). They were married on September 21, 1865, and had ...
, but the original was destroyed and last rebuilt in 1884. The
wooden burr bridge crosses the
West Branch of the Octoraro Creek. It is 103 feet long and 13 feet wide.
The bridge has a single span, wooden, double
Burr arch truss
The Burr Arch Truss—or, simply, Burr Truss or Burr Arch—is a combination of an arch and a ''multiple kingpost'' truss design. It was invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr, patented on April 3, 1817, and used in bridges, usually covered bridge ...
es 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.
The bridge's
WGCB Number is 38-36-18. Added in 1980, it is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
as structure number 80003522.
It is located at (39.82467, -76.09000).
Dimensions
*Length: 103
feet
The foot ( : feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made ...
(31.4 m)
span
Span may refer to:
Science, technology and engineering
* Span (unit), the width of a human hand
* Span (engineering), a section between two intermediate supports
* Wingspan, the distance between the wingtips of a bird or aircraft
* Sorbitan ester ...
and 110 feet (33.5 m) total length
*Width: 13 feet (4.0 m) clear deck and 15 feet (4.6 m) total width
*Overhead clearance: 12 feet (3.7 m)
*Underclearance: 13 feet (4.0 m)
Gallery
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge Side View 3000px.jpg, White Rock Forge covered bridge
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge Side 3008px.jpg, Side view of the bridge
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge Side Window 3008px.jpg, Window in the side of the bridge
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge Underside 2000px.jpg, Side view of the bridge showing its underside
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge First Approach 2900px.jpg, One of the approaches to the bridge
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge Second Approach 2950px.jpg, The other approach
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge Inside 2048px.jpg, The inside of the bridge showing the Burr arch truss design
Image:White Rock Forge Covered Bridge Burr Arch Truss 2000px.jpg, Closeup of the Burr arch truss
See also
*
Burr arch truss
The Burr Arch Truss—or, simply, Burr Truss or Burr Arch—is a combination of an arch and a ''multiple kingpost'' truss design. It was invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr, patented on April 3, 1817, and used in bridges, usually covered bridge ...
*
List of Lancaster County covered bridges
The following is a list of covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania USA. Lancaster County has the most covered bridges in Pennsylvania with 28 covered bridges. Parke County, Indiana has the most covered bridges of any county in the Uni ...
References
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External links
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Covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Bridges completed in 1847
Bridges completed in 1884
Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
1847 establishments in Pennsylvania
National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Wooden bridges in Pennsylvania
Burr Truss bridges in the United States