Kauffman's Distillery Bridge

Kauffman's Distillery Bridge. Big Chiques #1. , Linking Mount Joy and Lititz , This bridge is named for a whiskey distillery operated by at least two generations of the Kauffman family, including Jacob S. Kauffman (1794-1849) and Henry M. Kauffman (1821-94). The distillery was once located at the northern end of the village of Sporting Hill, on the Rapho Township side of the bridge., A group of "viewers" (local citizens familiar with the area) was appointed in 1855 to consider the need for a bridge at this location. The viewers reported that "a Bridge over Chiques Creek at the place where the public Highway from Sporting Hill in Rapho Township to Lititz … crosses the same is necessary." (1) That "highway," now Sun Hill Road, gave travelers a more direct route between Mount Joy and and Lititz, bypassing Manheim Borough., After the bridge was approved, it was completed by James C. Carpenter in 1857. It was then rebuilt by Elias McMellen in 1874 at a cost of $1,620. (2) McMellen, a Civil War veteran who also served as Lancaster County Prothonotary, built and repaired many of the county's bridges over the course of his career., (1) Lancaster County Road Docket, 18 Jan. Session 1856, p. 891 , (2) Lancaster County Bridge Docket, p. 221,

Bridge Specifications. Other Names: Sporting Hill, Big Chiques #3, now #1 , Crosses: Chiques Creek , Length: 96 ft., 6 in. (29.41 m); 83 ft. (2.11 m), clear span , Width: Total 16 ft., 6 in. (5.03 m); deck 13 ft., 0.5 in. (3.97 m) , Builder: James C. Carpenter, rebuilt by Elias McMellen , Structure: Burr arch truss , History: Built 1857, rebuilt 1874