Waynesboro Day Care Center
The only Four Star Child Care Center
in Franklin and Fulton Counties, PA

1801 East Main Street, Waynesboro PA 17268
Telephone 717-762-9711, FAX 717-762-5088

Community Resources
Martin's Mill Covered Bridge
in nearby Greencastle PA

Built in 1849, Martin’s Mill Covered Bridge is one of only two covered bridges remaining in Franklin County.  It is located on Weaver Road in Antrim Township, about 3.5 miles southwest of Greencastle and 1.8 miles off Williamsport Pike.  The 205-foot span, built in the town lattice truss style to accommodate weight, is the second longest covered bridge in Pennsylvania.  The bridge crosses the east branch of the Conococheague Creek, and is named for the saw and grist mill which once stood upstream on its west bank.  The historic bridge, now restored to near original condition, has survived three near destructions: the first in 1958, when it was condemned by the county to be abandoned and destroyed; the second in 1972, when it was washed from its center pier and abutments by the floods from Hurricane Agnes; and the last, in the fall of 1991, when it had fallen into disrepair and nearly collapsed.

In each instance, the Martin’s Mill Covered Bridge Association, a group founded in 1961 to preserve the bridge for future generations, stepped in to prevent its loss. The latest restoration, completed in 1995, took three years.  The bridge structure was stabilized, rotted flooring and siding replaced and a new wood shingle roof added.  To protect the bridge after this latest and most expensive repair, gates were added at both portals to limit vehicular traffic.  

In 2002, the Martin’s Mill Bridge Association leased the covered bridge and park to the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors, which had been closed for a few years due to increased costs.  The Association asked the Antrim Township Supervisors to take over the maintenance and responsibility and ultimately the ownership of the bridge in order to preserve the history of our community for years to come.  In December 2003 the Martin’s Mill Bridge Association disbanded and the bridge and park were turned over to Antrim Township for ownership.

     ---Text from the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce and Antrim Township websites

Martin's Mill Bridge Park is a public park and recreation area upstream from the bridge on the east bank of the creek.  The upstream area includes playground equipment and pavilions and has plenty of parking.  There is limited parking at either end of Martin's Mill Covered Bridge.  Visitors are invited to park at either abutment and bike or walk across.  Both areas are open from 8 am until sunset year round.

One way to get to the park: from Greencastle Center Square, go west on PA Rte 16 through the US Rte 11 intersection (at Sheetz/CVS), turn left at Grant Shook Rd (at the cemetery), go about 3 miles to the park entrance sign on the right.  To go to the bridge, continue a short distance past the entrance sign, take the next right down the hill to the bridge.

Does one covered bridge pique your curiosity?  Then visit http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/bridgepa.htm for a list of over 500 in PA.  There is a more descriptive blog at http://growabrain.typepad.com/growabrain/2005/02/covered_bridges.html that covers covered bridges and also answers the question "Why are covered bridges covered?"