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Bellbank , Chester County

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Inventory Number: PA/38-15-21#2x / PA-36-40#2x
County: Chester County / Lancaster County
Township: Upper Oxford - Colerain
Town/Village: Bells Ford
Bridge Name: Bellbank
Crosses: East Branch Octoraro Creek
Truss type: Double Burr
Spans: 1
Length: 112' span, 131' overall
Roadway Width: 14' 0"
Built: 1861
Builder: Robert Russell
When Lost: 19 Mar 1979
Cause: Arson
Latitude: N39 50.78
Longitude: W076 01.24
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: On Street Road, LR36022 Spur E, now SR2008 in Lancaster County and LR15156 - SR3080 in Chester County.

Bellbank Bridge, Upper Oxford-Colerain, Chester County, PA. Built 1861 Arson 19 Mar 1979
John Ramsey, Jr., photo from the Clint Frackman Collection

Bellbank Bridge, Upper Oxford-Colerain, Chester County, PA. Built 1861 Arson 19 Mar 1979
Clint Frackman Collection

Bellbank Bridge, Upper Oxford-Colerain, Chester County, PA. Built 1861 Arson 19 Mar 1979
Fred Yenerall Photo (1953)

Bellbank or Chester County #11 Bridge, Upper Oxford-Colerain, PA Built 1861 Arson 19 Mar 1979
Thomas G. Kipphorn Collection

Comments:
12-panel truss. Was East Octoraro #3 and Chester County #11, now state owned. Cost $1739.00. Clearance 12'-0". 10' 6" above the water. The first bridge was struck by lightning on Friday, July 13, 1860 and burned. The second bridge was destroyed by arson on Tuesday, March 20, 1979 in the early morning hours. The skeleton of the bridge was sawed off at the floor, the floorboards were covered with macadam and guardrails were added, all during the Summer of 1980. This same bridge was still there on June 2, 1999. It was found on Street Road, LR36022 Spur E, now SR2008 in Colerain Township, Lancaster County and LR15156 - SR3080 in Upper Oxford Township, Chester County.

Sources:
James, Arthur E.. Covered Bridges of Chester County, PA, 1976, pages 19-20
Kipphorn, Thomas. Information received by email, September 2005

Compilation 2026 Covered Spans of Yesteryear

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