The Willows Covered Bridge

The Willows Covered Bridge combines two earlier bridges: the Millers Farm Bridge, linking Providence and Strasburg Townships, built in 1871 at a cost of $1,875.00 and 75 feet long, and the Goods Ford Bridge, crossing the Pequea Creek, built in 1855 at a cost of $1,165.00 and 79 feet long. Both bridges were slated for demolition in 1962. Mr. Adolph Neuber, then owner of the Amish Farm & House, received the Millers Farm Bridge from the County of Lancaster to preserve it and purchased the Goods Ford Bridge to repair the rotten wood from the Millers bridge. With the help and guidance of Roy Zimmerman, the bridges were restored and combined to complete the Willows Bridge. The bridge was named for Mr. Neuber's restaurant, The Willows, located next door from 1931 to 1996. Every piece except the wood shingles came from the original bridges, including the original handmade spikes and bolts, which were reused. The floor is red oak, some cords are white pine, and the arches were cut from pine trees that were 150 years old when cut, making part of the bridge's wood almost 300 years old. Today, fewer than 30 registered covered bridges remain in Lancaster County.

Pennsylvania · United States