Welcome back everyone to our Lancaster PA road trip part 8 and picking up where we left off last.
After our lunch at Wimpy and Dee’s we were off again to locate more of PA’s covered bridges. During our travels around Lancaster, PA we located 8 covered bridges including; Erb’s, Shearer’s, Keller’s Mill, Kauffman’s Distillery, Schenk’s Mill, Colemanville, White Rock Forge, and Kurtz’s Mill Covered Bridges. Each one almost exact in construction though built by different builders. The bridges averaged 100 feet in length, 15 feet wide, built using oak, fashioned using the Burr arch truss design and costing on average, $6,700.00 per bridge. That per bridge cost would be around the equivalent of $162,000.00 today.
Of all the bridges we traveled over, walked on and examined there was one we marveled at most. It was the Colemanville Covered Bridge built by Elias McMellen in June of 1869. It wasn’t the structure that fascinated us but the story of the man that built it. After he was awarded the contract to build it the Civil War was going into it’s peak so he had to put it on hold because McMellen enlisted in the Civil War to fight for its cause. During the war, he was wounded 3 times before finally mustering out and returning home to Lancaster in 1865. Once home, he then resumed building the bridge for which he had given his word he would complete. McMellen built nearly a dozen covered bridges across Lancaster County in his lifetime. Wow, isn’t this amazing, wounded three times in war before returning home to follow through on his prior commitments. This is a man of integrity and his word. Aren’t the men and women of this Country great!!!
Don’t forget that if you click on any of these images you’ll be able to see their beauty in full screen mode as a slide show. When you are done viewing it just click on the “x” in the upper right hand corner to return to the post.
Well this is it for today. If you by chance didn’t see a part please click on one of the links below and be whisked directly there,
- Lancaster PA Road Trip – 1 of 14
- Lancaster PA Road Trip – 2 of 14
- Lancaster PA Road Trip – 3 of 14
- Lancaster PA Road Trip – 4 of 14
- Lancaster PA Road Trip – 5 of 14
- Lancaster PA Road Trip – 6 of 14
- Lancaster PA Road Trip – 7 of 14
We hope you will come back to see where we ended up next on our Lancaster, PA journey. Until then, have a great day and please remember to keep looking up.
For more images please click on this link and visit Audrey on Instagram.
Uwc plenty
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Thank you so much for being with us and keeping us excited.
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Great job here guys… Keep it hot
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Thank you Theresa.
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Fantastic images, as always Audrey!
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LOL.
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I know it was. I’m looking forward to more installments! :)I’m getting a little greedy about it 🙂
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Thank you Margaret. It was so much fun exploring and reading all about the history behind things.
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Wow beautiful bridge and great story behind it.
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LOL. I had forgotten about that sequence in the book. Great one Brad!!!
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It is our joy as we read yours.
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When I see covered bridges all I can think of is the headless horseman and Ichabod Crane just trying to make it across that bridge!
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Thank you! 😇You made my day.💖
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Thank you. Your words are so kind. It is our joy having you along with us. We are enjoying your post.
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Amazing pictures.💖
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Thank you Robbie.
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Sooooo true. Its funny because we just had that conversation too. There comes a time when we look at each other and just know we need to nap and re-approach the situation. We think we did most of our careers and life sleep-deprived. We wonder sometimes how people function with just a few hours sleep and spinning 50 plates.
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We also tend to get snarky as sleep-debt mounts, and most of America is sleep-deprived, according to the science.
xx,
mgh
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I am enjoying the journey.
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This is great. We know you would love seeing their beauty and the foods around the area would keep you smiling.
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Yes, something breaks down in the process doesn’t it. Sometimes I think we have lost the basics of life and then comes the confusion.
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Thank you Robbie. We learned so much reading about their lifestyles and visiting there to be near them. They are a very private group but are so kind and willing to work, walk, play, accept and be around everyone. It is so nice having you along with us and be able to hear your thoughts.
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This is nice to hear how our site is enjoyable for you. Our eyes and minds were opened as we were in Lancaster and studying the Amish lifestyle. It is so nice to learn from all people because everyone has something to offer the world.
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So true J.J. People of integrity and character is what fuels the dreams of all.
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You are probably right J.J. There was such a beautiful sound on the bridge as the rain came down on it.
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I was just about to type something similar. Need more people like this around the world in leadership positions.
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I bet you when it’s raining you can find lots of people taking shelter under those bridges, even the odd pet or so.
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Learning a lot from this blog. I was talking to a friend about the Amish community from one of your posts. I was surprised that he knew all about them.
Wounded 3 times and he returns home and keeps his word. Great story of integrity. Your journey has turned into an education one for me and I am enjoying the learnng
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A lovely and interesting post. These covered bridges are really attractive and useful. The story of the man behind them is also really fascinating, some people’s commitment and tenacity is incredible.
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😀 yes!
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The majority of us, I want to believe – but we aren’t very good at picking leaders who represent that point of view.
xx,
mgh
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Now I want to go see that bridge in person. It looks so good and your pictures are so pretty!
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So well noted. We marveled at the ingenuity in each of them. And for them to stand the test of time was amazing.
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Amen to this. People of character and integrity that are looking out for the good of all not just themselves or a select few, lol.
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Thanks Aya. Yes, isn’t it great reading about the real folks of the world.
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Hi Ann. Thank you for your words of encouragement. In reading about Elias we were so impressed with his level of commitment.
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They were so fun exploring. Exquisite works of architecture.
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Thank you Karen.
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Thank you. We enjoy reading stories about people like this. Thank you for coming by to see us.
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This is so nice of you to say Clarissa. We like Mircea’s thoughts and we believe this is often the case. We have learned so much about our area from others and then we go out and see it. When we are in NYC we often chuckle at how the locals most of the time can’t name the historical buildings they walk past each day.
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Thank you Miriam. It is so nice for you to make time and let us know your thoughts.
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We all do for sure.
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I find these structures to possess an inherent and unique artistry.
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Amazing photos (I love clicking to the gallery view to really see them, along with your captions). I especially loved the story of the man who kept his commitment despite his wounds (not to mention that he felt it his duty to fight in the first place).
If America is ever to be truly great again, it is men like this we ALL need to emulate – especially our politicians.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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Covered bridges are so interesting, they represent a different era in America’s history. I liked the story of the man who built so many of the bridges. 🙂
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So nice to see the photos of the covered bridge, I like the photo with the horse most of all. Very interesting to reed about Elias McMellen, a great man indeed! Greetings from the Netherlands for all of you.
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These are exquisite.
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These are so beautiful. I have never seen one yet in the flesh…
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Love these covered bridges! And what a great story about Elias McMellen
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I never knew there were covered bridges in Pennsylvania although I camped all over the state. I think it was Mircea Eliade who said that it sometimes took a stranger to introduce one’s culture to those who didn’t know and you guys have certainly done that!
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Wonderful bridges, always such an interesting history behind them.
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Wish we had more!
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Thank you for sharing. This means a lot to us after seeing your wonderful photography outings.
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This is great to hear your praise Mary. It was interesting to read of his commitments and follow through.
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This is awesome that you know about these places. Isn’t the architecture just incredible. We marveled at their simplicity yet ingenuity for that time period.
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Ah-ha, covered bridges – you know one of my weak points! And White Rock Forge – with the horse-drawn carriage? Spectacular!!
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I love covered bridges! Your pictures are amazing. It is interesting that McMellen came back from the war and continued on to complete his commitments. It seems a difference in expectations.
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Great story! I really like that shot from underneath with the light reflecting off the water.
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