Slippery Rock Creek, NCT @ McConnells Mill State Park - Lawrence County, PA
The McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1874. It is a Howe truss bridge. One of two covered bridges in Lawrence County, it is owned by the county, but is located on state land at McConnells Mill State Park. The bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Daniel Kennedy opened a gristmill on Slippery Rock Creek in 1852. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1868 and was quickly rebuilt. Ownership of the mill was transferred to the park's namesake, Thomas McConnell in 1875. He replaced the waterwheel with water turbines and the grindstones with rolling mills. This made McConnell's Mill one of the first rolling mills in the country. The mill processed oats, corn, buckwheat and wheat until it was closed in 1928. Ownership of the land transferred from Thomas H. Hartman to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1942. The conservancy then transferred the land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1957 when McConnells Mill State Park was formally dedicated. (Wikipedia)
Alpha Pass trail is at the northern end of McConnells Mill State Park and is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The trail follows the creek to the historic gristmill.
Pennsylvania is often recognized as the birthplace of covered bridge building. From the 1820s to 1900 there were about 1500 covered bridges built in Pennsylvania. Because many state residents realize the importance of these historic bridges, Pennsylvania has the largest number of covered bridges in the nation. Today, 219 bridges remain in 40 counties (Pennsylvania has a total of 67 counties). Lancaster County has more than any other county.
While covered bridges are sometimes called kissing bridges, the real reason for the covering is to protect the bridge’s truss design from the weather.
Slippery Rock Creek, NCT @ McConnells Mill State Park - Lawrence County, PA
The McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1874. It is a Howe truss bridge. One of two covered bridges in Lawrence County, it is owned by the county, but is located on state land at McConnells Mill State Park. The bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Daniel Kennedy opened a gristmill on Slippery Rock Creek in 1852. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1868 and was quickly rebuilt. Ownership of the mill was transferred to the park's namesake, Thomas McConnell in 1875. He replaced the waterwheel with water turbines and the grindstones with rolling mills. This made McConnell's Mill one of the first rolling mills in the country. The mill processed oats, corn, buckwheat and wheat until it was closed in 1928. Ownership of the land transferred from Thomas H. Hartman to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1942. The conservancy then transferred the land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1957 when McConnells Mill State Park was formally dedicated. (Wikipedia)
Alpha Pass trail is at the northern end of McConnells Mill State Park and is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The trail follows the creek to the historic gristmill.
Pennsylvania is often recognized as the birthplace of covered bridge building. From the 1820s to 1900 there were about 1500 covered bridges built in Pennsylvania. Because many state residents realize the importance of these historic bridges, Pennsylvania has the largest number of covered bridges in the nation. Today, 219 bridges remain in 40 counties (Pennsylvania has a total of 67 counties). Lancaster County has more than any other county.
While covered bridges are sometimes called kissing bridges, the real reason for the covering is to protect the bridge’s truss design from the weather.