Christiana in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

East Octoraro #1 Bridge (1910-2020)

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., June 17, 2021

1. East Octoraro #1 Bridge (1910-2020) Marker

This is in Lancaster County, but the bridge crosses into Chester County. Apparently, this bridge was never a covered bridge.

Inscription. In 1907, after 25 years of effort, the residents of Chester and Lancaster Counties successfully petitioned their respective Courts of Quarter Sessions for a new bridge crossing the East Branch Octoraro Creek at this location, replacing a ca. 1840, badly worn wooden bridge located immediately upstream. Following a well-attended bridge view on December 19, 1907, a two span, through girder bridge measuring 76 feet in length and 24 feet in width was designed by Lancaster County engineer Frank W. Shaw and built by Andrew Buchanan of Chambersburg. The bridge was not to be made of stone, metal, or wood, but a new architectural material promoted for its durability and strength: reinforced concrete. The dismantling of the wooden bridge began in September 1909 and the new, East Octoraro #1 Bridge was completed in 1910. Recognized as one of the two earliest examples of its type still standing in Lancaster County, the East Octoraro #1 Bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. In 2020, the 110-year old bridge required replacement due to severe structural deterioration

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as well as a need to meet standard safety measures.

Public Notice
--of--
Bridge View
Public Notice is hereby given that the Viewers appointed by the Courts of Quarter Sessions of Lancaster County and of Chester County, To View and Locate an
Inter-County Bridge
To be Erected over Octoraro Creek, Being the line of Lancaster and Chester Counties, at a place where said creek is crossed on the County line on the public highway leading from Nine Points, Lancaster County, to Atglen, Chester County, and intersecting at a point south of Atglen with the Cochranville and Atglen public road, the Township of Sadsbury, Lancaster County, being the location of the proposed western terminus of said bridge, and the Township of West Fallowfield, Chester County, being the location of the proposed eastern terminus of said bridge. Will meet at the Bridge on
Thursday, Dec. 19, 1907 At 11 clock a. m., when and where all persons interested may attend if they see proper.

Joseph Miller, ----- Viewers appointed by the
M. L. Creider, ----- Court of Quarter Sessions
Jacob R. Rutter, --- of Lancaster County

Charles H. Ash, ---- Viewers

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., June 17, 2021

2. East Octoraro #1 Bridge (1910-2020) Marker

Bridge is off camera to left.

appointed by the
E. D. Baldwin, ---- Court of Quarter Sessions
H. Craham Rambo, --- of Chester County

The New Era Printing Company, Lancaster, PA.

Upper Left: 1901 map showing the location of the wooden predecessor of the East Octoraro Bridge #1 (Courtesy of LancasterHistory.org)

Lower Left: Photograph of East Octoraro Bridge #1, May 1998 (From Pennsylvania Historic Bridge Inventory & Evaluation Form, A.G. Lichtenstein & Associates, Inc. 2001))

Right: Public Notice of Bridge View, from Original Bridge Papers (On file at Chester County Archives)

Lancaster County Commissioners: Chairman Joshua G. Parsons, Vice Chair Ray D'Agostino, Commissioner Craig E. Lehman

Erected 2020 by Lancaster County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1909.

Location. 39° 56.245′ N, 75° 59.066′ W. Marker is in Christiana, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. It is at the intersection of Steelville Mill Road and Creek Road, on the right when traveling east on Steelville Mill Road. Marker is at southeastern corner. Touch for map. Marker is in this

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., June 17, 2021

3. East Octoraro #1 Bridge (1910-2020) Marker

Chester County end is at left. Downstream is from left to right. Sign says "Steelville Mill Road Bridge".

post office area: Christiana PA 17509, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mercer’s Mill Covered Bridge (1880) (approx. 0.4 miles away); World War II (approx. one mile away); Atglen Borough Hall (approx. one mile away); Atglen (approx. one mile away); Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad Bridge at Pine Creek, Circa 1830 (approx. 1.3 miles away); Christiana Riot Monument (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Christiana Riot (approx. 1½ miles away); Walker House (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Christiana.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., June 17, 2021

4. East Octoraro #1 Bridge (1910-2020) Marker

Seen from roadway, looking left, at Lancaster County end of bridge.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. This page has been viewed 424 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 18, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.