Banks Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Banks Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge
in Wilmington Township
, Lawrence County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It spans the Neshannock Creek southeast of New Wilmington
. Constructed in 1889, the bridge is a Burr arch truss
built on stone foundations and supported by steel girders; it is 121 feet (36.9 m) long.
Unlike many Pennsylvania counties, Lawrence County never possessed many covered bridges; perhaps only five such bridges were ever built in the county. Today, only the Banks Covered Bridge and the McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge
near Rose Point
remain. While the Howe truss used by the McConnell's Mill bridge is very rare, the Burr arch truss used by the Banks bridge is employed by many Pennsylvania bridges. Its interior walls are similar to those featured on many covered bridges in Bucks County
.
In 1980, the bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in recognition of its historical significance, along with the McConnell's Mill bridge.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
in Wilmington Township
Wilmington Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Wilmington Township is a township in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,760 at the 2000 census.Wilmington was established as a township in February 1846 by combining parts of Neshannock Township in Lawrence County with parts of Lackawannock Township in Mercer County...
, Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 91,108. The county was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003. The county seat is New Castle....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It spans the Neshannock Creek southeast of New Wilmington
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
New Wilmington is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, first platted in 1824 and established as a borough on April 9, 1873. The population was 2,452 at the 2000 census...
. Constructed in 1889, the bridge is a Burr arch truss
Burr Truss
The Burr Arch Truss — or simply Burr Truss or Burr Arch — is a combination of an arch and a multiple kingpost truss design. It was invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr, patented on April 3, 1817, and used in bridges, usually covered bridges....
built on stone foundations and supported by steel girders; it is 121 feet (36.9 m) long.
Unlike many Pennsylvania counties, Lawrence County never possessed many covered bridges; perhaps only five such bridges were ever built in the county. Today, only the Banks Covered Bridge and the McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge
McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge
The McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States. It spans the Slippery Rock Creek in McConnells Mill State Park, southeast of Rose Point, Built in 1874, the bridge is a Howe truss built on stone foundations and...
near Rose Point
Rose Point, Pennsylvania
Rose Point is an unincorporated community in east central Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, very close to the Butler County line. Founded approximately 200 years ago, the community lies in a rural yet formerly industrial region of fields and broken...
remain. While the Howe truss used by the McConnell's Mill bridge is very rare, the Burr arch truss used by the Banks bridge is employed by many Pennsylvania bridges. Its interior walls are similar to those featured on many covered bridges in Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
.
In 1980, the bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in recognition of its historical significance, along with the McConnell's Mill bridge.
Further reading
- Allen, Richard Sanders. Covered Bridges of the Middle Atlantic States. BrattleboroBrattleboro, VermontBrattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
: Stephen Greene, 1959, 73-79.