Editing Forry's Mill Covered Bridge

{{short description|Covered bridge in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name   = Forry's Mill Covered Bridge
|native_name   = 
|image         = Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Wide Angle Side View 3000px.jpg
|image_size    = 250px
|alt           = 
|caption       = 
|official_name = Big Chiques #7 Bridge
|carries       = 
|crosses       = 
|locale        = Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
|maint         = 
|id            = 
|designer      = 
|design        = single span, double [[Burr arch truss]]
|material      = 
|spans         = 
|pierswater    = 
|mainspan      = 
|length        = {{convert|103|ft|m|1}}
|width         = 
|height        = 
|load          = 
|clearance     = 
|below         = 
|traffic       = 
|builder       = [[Elias McMellen]]
|begin         = 1869
|complete      = 
|open          = 
|coordinates   = {{coord|40.06646|-76.4781|type:landmark_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
}}
The '''Forry's Mill Covered Bridge''' is the last [[covered bridge]] that spans [[Chiques Creek]] in [[Hempfield, Pennsylvania|West Hempfield]] in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]].<ref name="Bickel">{{cite web
  | author = Bickel, Hank
  | title = Forry Mill Bridge
  | work = Covered Bridges of the Northeast USA
  | date = 2005-06-23
  | url = http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/pa/forry_mill.html
  | accessdate = 2006-08-04 }}</ref>    A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the '''Big Chiques #7 Bridge'''.<ref name="lancaster.pa.us">{{cite web
  | last = 
  | first = 
  | title = Forry's Mill Covered Bridge
  | work = Lancaster County, PA Government Portal
  | publisher = County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  | date = 2001-10-30
  | url = http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=394012
  | format = 
  | doi = 
  | accessdate = 2006-07-07
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000041/http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=394012
  | archive-date = 2007-09-27
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> (''Chiques Creek'' was known as ''Chickies Creek'' until 2002).<ref name='usgs'>{{cite web
| last = Geographic Names Information System 
| first = United States Geological Survey 
| author-link = United States Geological Survey 
| date = August 30, 1990
| url ={{Gnis3|1171772}}
| title =Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: Chiques Creek
| accessdate =2006-09-05
}}</ref>

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="lancaster.pa.us"/> It is painted red, the traditional color of [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|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 [[World Guide to Covered Bridges|WGCB]] Number is 38-36-28.<ref name="McCain">{{cite web
  | author = Dr. Roger A. McCain
  | title = Forry's Mill Bridge
  | work = A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas
  | publisher = 
  | date = 
  | url = http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBForry.html
  | accessdate = 2006-08-03
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060909135238/http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBForry.html
  | archive-date = 2006-09-09
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>  In 1980 it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as structure number 80003512.<ref name="register">{{cite web
  | title = PENNSYLVANIA  - Lancaster County
  | work = National Register of Historic Places
  | url = http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/PA/Lancaster/state2.html
  | accessdate = 2007-03-20
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174902/http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/PA/Lancaster/state2.html
  | archive-date = 2016-03-03
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>  It is located at {{coord|40|4|3.6|N|76|28|40.8|W|type:city}} (40.06767, -76.47800).<ref name="Travis">{{cite web
  | author = Travis, Dale 
  | title = 38-36-28
  | work = Round Barns & Covered Bridges
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/pennsylv/htm/3803628.htm
  | accessdate = 2006-08-08 }}</ref>

Forry's Mill Covered Bridge is located in [[West Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania|West Hempfield Township]]<ref name="padutch">{{cite web
  | title = Forry'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/forry_s_mill_covered_bridge.asp
  | accessdate = 2006-07-07 }}</ref> on Bridge Valley Road {{convert|0.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of [[Pennsylvania]] route 23 {{convert|5.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of [[Marietta, Pennsylvania|Marietta]],<ref name="Bickel"/> less than a mile away from [[Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge]].<ref name="padutch"/>

== History ==
Forry's Mill Covered Bridge was originally built in 1869 by [[Elias McMellen]]<ref name="Bickel"/> for a cost of [[United States dollar|$]]2969. The bridge required repairs in 1925 to its sides and floor.<ref name="padutch"/>

== Dimensions ==
<ref name="lancaster.pa.us"/>
*'''Length:''' 91 [[Foot (length)|feet]] {{convert|6|in|m}} [[Span (architecture)|span]] and {{convert|103|ft|m}} total length<ref name="McCain"/>
*'''Width:''' {{convert|12|ft|10|in|m}} clear deck and {{convert|15|ft|m}} total width<ref name="McCain"/>
*'''Overhead clearance:''' {{convert|11|ft|6|in|m}}<ref name="Bickel"/>
*'''Underclearance:''' {{convert|12|ft|m}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed>
Image:Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Wide Angle Side View 3000px.jpg|Wide view of the side of the bridge
Image:Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Side 2800px.jpg|A closeup of the side of the bridge
Image:Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Approach 2800px.jpg|One of the approaches to the bridge
Image:Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Inside 3000px.jpg|Inside of the bridge showing the [[Burr arch truss]] design
Image:Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Underside 2980px.jpg|The underside of the bridge
Image:Forry's Mill Covered Bridge from the air-1.jpg|A view of the bridge from the air
Image:Forry's Mill Covered Bridge from the air-2.jpg|A side view of the bridge from the air
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Burr truss|Burr arch truss]]
*[[List of Lancaster County covered bridges]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Forry's Mill Covered Bridge}}

{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{NRHP bridges}}

[[Category:Covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1869]]
[[Category:Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[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]]