Baumgardner Mill Covered Bridge - Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Also known as Pequea Bridge #10, the Baumgardner Mill Covered Bridge spans over Lancaster County, Pennsylvania's Pequea Creek on Covered Bridge Road near the town of Marticville. Built in 1860, the 105 foot long covered Burr truss arch designed covered bridge was constructed by Davis Kitch at a cost of $1,284. In 1987, the bridge was restored after it was damaged in a flood from the previous year. During the restoration, which cost $200,000, the covered bridge was raised four feet and lengthened by nine feet to protect it from damage in future floods. As with many covered bridges in Lancaster County, the covered bridge is painted red, but has some white trim.

As one might expect, the Baumgardner Mill Covered Bridge is located near a historic mill. The history of the mill is one that is longer than the United States itself. There was a mill that was first built at the location in 1775, then a larger mill was built in its place in 1806. Ownership of the mill changed hands countless times, and the namesake of the covered bridge, Thomas Baumgardner, owned the mill and the surrounding property around 1870. Before the age of automobiles, it was customary for a local farmer to plow (or snow a covered bridge) after each winter storm so sleighs could slide through. For this service, he earned $10 a year. Because of the bridge's location on the border between Pequea and Martic Townships, it is said that it was an easier task to snow the covered bridge because the roads were plowed up to the edge of the bridge. I visited the covered bridge during the summer when there was no need to snow the bridge.