Before the automobile became the dominant form of transportation, it was customary for a nearby farmer to “snow the bridge” after each winter storm so sleighs could slide through. For this unique service, he earned $10 a year.
If this were still the case today, the farmer responsible for Baumgardner’s Covered Bridge might have an easy time of it because of this weird geographic quirk. The Pequea Creek forms the boundary between Martic and Pequea Townships, which the Baumgardner spans.
As late as the 1970s, according to Seeing Lancaster County’s Covered Bridges, the snowplow from Pequea Township would push the snow up to the bridge and then stop since the large vehicle was not allowed on the wooden structure. The bridge’s wingwalls hemmed the snow in, often blocking the bridge’s entrance.
It was the same story on the Martic Township side, resulting in piles of snow at both ends of the bridge. At least the farmer in charge of “snowing the bridge” had easy access to all the snow he needed.
You can find Baumgardner’s Covered Bridge at approximately 88 Covered Bridge Road, Pequea, PA, or click here for its exact GPS location.
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1875 map of Pequea Township, Lancaster County, PA$14.00 – $27.99
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Baumgardner’s Mill: Grinding out property disputes, sabotage, and foul play
Today Baumgardner’s Mill sits quietly along Covered Bridge Road in Pequea Township. But for more than 100 years, there was a raging, sometimes violent feud with the neighboring downstream miller at Burnt Mill. Some say the dispute over water access got so heated it led to murder. Click the link to read more.
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William Wagner’s 1821 Map of Lancaster County$24.99 – $44.99