In August 1846, citizens of East Hempfield and Rapho Township petitioned for a bridge where the public roads from the Harrisburg Turnpike and from Sporting Hill to the New Holland Road crossed near Henry Shenk's Mill. Charles Melhorn built the first bridge at this site in 1847 for $650. A storm destroyed it in the spring of 1854, and residents quickly petitioned the court for a new bridge while preserving much of the old bridge materials for rebuilding. In July 1855, county commissioners selected Levi Fink to rebuild the bridge for $837. On Saturday, September 8, 1855, bridge inspectors met at Henry Shenk's nearby house and viewed the newly completed bridge, but found that its materials and workmanship did not conform to the contract between Levi Fink and the Lancaster County commissioners, and they recommended paying the builder $100 less than specified. On the night of September 5, 1886, a massive fire destroyed Henry Shenk's flour mill beside the bridge. The bridge is one of the oldest surviving bridges in the county and uniquely uses horizontal sideboards possibly salvaged from the earlier bridge.
