Editing Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge

{{For|other covered bridges named Martin's Mill|Martin's Mill Covered Bridge (disambiguation){{!}}Martin's Mill Covered Bridge}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
| name                = Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge
| native_name         = 
| native_name_lang    = 
| official_name       = Big Conestoga #2 Bridge
| other_name          = Eberly's Cider Mill, Martin's Mill,<br/>Big Conestoga #2, Fiand's, Fiantz's
| named_for           = 
<!-- image --> 
| image               = Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Side 3008px.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption             = East side of the bridge
<!-- location -->
| coordinates         = {{coord|40|8|25.5|N|76|9|7|W|display=inline,title}} 
| locale              = [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], Pennsylvania, United States
<!-- stats -->
| carries             = SR 1013
| crosses             = [[Conestoga River]]
| owner               = 
| maint               = [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]] 
| id_type             = [[National Bridge Inventory|NBI]] Number
| id                  = 361013025007460
| website             =  
| design              = 
| length              = {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| width               = {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| height              = {{convert|11.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| depth               = 
| number_spans        = 
| piers_in_water      = 
| load                = {{convert|20|ST|MT|lk=on|abbr=on}}
| clearance_above     = 
| clearance_below     = 
| lanes               = 
| life                = 
| num_track           = 
| track_gauge         = 
| structure_gauge     = 
| electrification     = 
| architect           = 
| designer            = 
| builder             = George Fink,<br/>Sam Reamsnyder 
| fabricator          = 
| begin               = 
| built               = 1846
| complete            = 
| cost                = 
| open                =
| inaugurated         = 
| rebuilt             = 
| destroyed           = 
| collapsed           = 
| closed              = 
| replaces            = 
| replaced_by         = 
| traffic             = 
| toll                =
<!-- extra -->
| extra               = {{Infobox NRHP
 | name                 = 
 | embed                = yes
 | nrhp_type            = 
 | architect            = 
 | architecture         = 
 | added                = December 11, 1980
 | designated_nrhp_type = 
 | refnum               = 80003516
 | website              = 
 | mpsub                = Covered Bridges of Lancaster County TR
}}
}}

The '''Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge''' is a covered bridge that spans the [[Conestoga River]] in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]].  It is the oldest bridge in the county still in use.<ref name="padutch">{{cite web |title=Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge |work=Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center |publisher=Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau |year=2006 |url=http://www.padutchcountry.com/member_pages/bitzer_s_mill_covered_bridge.asp |accessdate=July 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317124530/http://www.padutchcountry.com/member_pages/bitzer_s_mill_covered_bridge.asp |archivedate=March 17, 2006 }}</ref>  A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the '''Big Conestoga #2 Bridge'''.  The bridge is also called '''Martin's Mill Bridge''', '''Eberly's Cider Mill Covered Bridge''', and '''Fiand's/Fiantz's Covered Bridge'''.

The bridge has a single span, wooden, double [[Burr arch truss]]es design with the addition of steel hanger rods.  The deck is made from oak planks.<ref name="paus">{{cite web |title=Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge |work=Lancaster County, PA Government Portal |publisher=County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania |date=October 20, 2001 |url=http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=257169 |accessdate=July 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000048/http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=257169 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }}</ref> Added later, secondary steel [[I-beam]]s support the bridge from underneath.<ref name="padutch"/>  The bridge is painted red on the outside, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges.  The inside of the bridge is not painted.  Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color.  As of July 2006, the bridge has some damage to its sides including some missing or broken panels.

The bridge, which has a 10 foot 6 inch height restriction, was damaged again on November 20, 2023, this time by a 13 feet 4 inches tall semi-trailer which got stuck in the bridge and allegedly caused further damage by attempting to back out after being stuck.<ref name="pennlive">{{cite news |last1=Balentine |first1=Zahriah |title=Tractor-trailer gets stuck inside covered bridge in central Pa.: police |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/11/tractor-trailer-gets-stuck-inside-historic-central-pa-bridge-police.html |access-date=22 November 2023 |work=Penn-Live |publisher=[[Harrisburg Patriot-News]] |date=20 November 2023}}</ref>

The bridge's [[World Guide to Covered Bridges|WGCB]] Number is 38-36-04.<ref name="guide">{{cite web |last=McCain |first=Roger A. |title=Bitzer's Mill Bridge |work=A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas |url=http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBBitzer.html |accessdate=August 3, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060529005840/http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBBitzer.html |archivedate=May 29, 2006 }}</ref>  In 1980 it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as structure number 80003516.<ref name="register">{{cite web |title=PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County |work=National Register of Historic Places |url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/PA/Lancaster/state.html |accessdate=March 20, 2007}}</ref>  It is located at {{coord|40|8|25.8|N|76|9|7.2|W|type:city}} (40.1405, -76.1520)<ref name="Travis">{{cite web |last=Travis |first=Dale |title=38-36-04 |work=Round Barns & Covered Bridges |url=http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/pennsylv/htm/3803604.htm |accessdate=August 7, 2006}}</ref> near the junction of [[U.S. Route 222]] and [[U.S. Route 322]] southeast of [[Ephrata, Pennsylvania|Ephrata]] in [[West Earl Township, Pennsylvania|West Earl Township]].  The bridge can be reached by going approximately {{convert|1.5|mi}} south from U.S. Route 322 on Cabin Drive which becomes Conestoga Creek Road.  A left onto Cider Mill Road leads straight to the bridge, which is visible from the intersection.

== History ==
The bridge was built in 1846 by George Fink and [[Sam Reamsnyder]] at a cost of [[United States dollar|$]]1,115.  They used a single span, wooden, double [[Burr arch truss]] construction.  At some point later, steel [[I-beam]]s were installed under the floor to add support to the oldest bridge in Lancaster County.  The bridge has historically been referred to by a number of names that reflected the various mill owners.<ref name="padutch"/> In 1962, it was proposed to replace the bridge with a concrete span, but the plan was discontinued after much public outcry.<ref name="evans">{{cite book |last=Evans |first=Benjamin D. |author2=June R. Evans |title=Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges: A complete guide |year=2001 |page=159 |isbn=0-8229-5764-7 |publisher=[[University of Pittsburgh Press]]}}</ref>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200>
File:Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge First Approach 3000px.jpg|Looking north (2006)
File:Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Damaged Side 2000px.jpg|West side (2006)
File:Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge First Side Inside 3264px.jpg|Inside of damaged west side (2006)
File:Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Second Approach 3000px.jpg|Looking south (2006)
File:Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Side 3008px.jpg|East side (2006)
File:Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Second Side Inside 3264px.jpg|Inside of undamaged east side (2006)
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
*[[List of covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
*[[List of crossings of the Conestoga River]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]

== References ==
{{commons category|Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = Bridges
|place           = [[Conestoga River]]
|bridge          = Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge
|bridge signs    = 
|upstream        = [[US 322|Division Highway Bridge]]
|upstream signs  = [[File:US 322.svg|20px]]
|downstream      = North Farmersville Road Bridge then [[Bridge in West Earl Township]]
|downstream signs = 
}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{NRHP bridges}}

[[Category:Bridges completed in 1846]]
[[Category:Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Bridges over the Conestoga River]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Wooden bridges in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Burr Truss bridges in the United States]]