Editing Schenck'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   = Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge
|native_name   = 
|image         = Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge Side View 3000px.jpg
|image_size    = 300px
|alt           = 
|caption       = 
|official_name = Big Chiques #4 Bridge
|other_name    =
|carries       = 
|crosses       = 
|locale        = Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
|maint         = 
|id            = 
|designer      = 
|design        = single span, double [[Burr arch truss]]
|material      = 
|spans         = 
|pierswater    = 
|mainspan      = 
|length        = {{convert|96|ft|m|1}}
|width         = 
|height        = 
|load          = 
|clearance     = 
|below         = 
|traffic       = 
|builder       = Charles Malhorn and [[Levi Fink]]
|begin         =
|complete      = 1847
| rebuilt             =  1855
|open          = 
|coordinates   = {{coord|40.1160|-76.4253|type:landmark_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
}}
The '''Schenk's Mill Covered Bridge''' or '''Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge''' is a [[covered bridge]] that spans the [[Big Chiques Creek]] in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]]. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the '''Big Chiques #4 Bridge'''.<ref name="lancaster.pa.us">{{cite web
  | title = Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge
  | work = Lancaster County, PA Government Portal
  | publisher = County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  | date = 2001-10-20
  | url = http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&q=256875
  | accessdate = 2006-07-07 }}</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 covered bridges, on both the inside and outside. Both approaches to the bridge are painted in the traditional white color. It is one of only 3 covered bridges in the county with horizontal side boards.

On December 31, 2017, a truck driver from Arizona damaged the bridge while attempting to cross it, claiming to be lost on the way to Baltimore and following his GPS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCTp3KKC3cc&sns=fb |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UCTp3KKC3cc| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]] |title=Truck damages historic covered bridge - AGAIN }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The bridge's [[World Guide to Covered Bridges|WGCB]] Number is 38-36-30. Added in 1980, it is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as structure number 80003531.<ref name="register">{{cite web
  | title = PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County
  | work = National Register of Historic Places
  | url = http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/PA/Lancaster/state4.html
  | accessdate = 2007-03-20}}</ref>  It is located at {{coord|40|6|57.6|N|76|25|31.1|W|type:city}} (40.1160, -76.4253).<ref name="Travis">{{cite web
  | author = Travis, Dale 
  | title = 38-36-30
  | work = Round Barns & Covered Bridges
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/pennsylv/htm/3803630.htm
  | accessdate = 2006-08-08 }}</ref>

==History==
The bridge was built in 1847 by Charles Malhorn and Levi Fink. The bridge was rebuilt in 1855.

==Dimensions==
*'''Length:''' 80 [[Foot (length)|feet]] (24.4 m) [[Span (architecture)|span]] and {{convert|96|ft|m}} total length
*'''Width:''' {{convert|13|ft|10|in|m}} clear deck and {{convert|15|ft|m}} total width
*'''Overhead clearance:''' {{convert|12|ft|m}}
*'''Underclearance:''' {{convert|10|ft|6|in|m}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge Three Quarters View 3264px.jpg|Three quarters view of the bridge
Image:Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge Inside 3008px.jpg|The inside of the bridge showing the Burr arch truss
Image:Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge-1.jpg|Three quarters view of the bridge from the air
Image:Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge-2.jpg|Approach view of bridge from the air
</gallery>

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

== References ==
*{{cite web
  | author = McCain, Dr. Roger A.
  | title = Schenk'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/CBSchenk.html
  | accessdate = 2006-08-04}}
*{{cite web
  | author = Bickel, Hank
  | title = Shenck Mill Bridge
  | work = Covered Bridges of the Northeast USA
  | date = 2005-06-23
  | url = http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/pa/shenck.html
  | accessdate = 2006-08-04 }}
*{{cite web
  | title = Shenck'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/schenck_s_mill_covered_bridge.asp
  | accessdate = 2006-07-07 }}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}

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

[[Category:Covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1855]]
[[Category:Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places 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]]