Sewickley Township span one of county's best-known landmarks

Known as the only 'kissing bridge' in Westmoreland County, Bells Mills covered bridge in Sewickley Township continues to serve as one of the county's best-known historical landmarks.

Covered bridges got their monikers as places to elicit kisses during the days of horse-drawn wagons and Saturday trips to town. It was considered appropriate for a young man to steal a kiss from a lovely young lady while passing through the darkened interior of a covered bridge. And sometimes younger brothers and sisters would climb the rafters to watch the romantic interludes of their siblings.

Bells Mills, which spans Sewickley Creek along State Route 3061 between Sewickley and South Huntingdon townships, was built in 1850 by architect and builder, Daniel McCain. Bells Mills is listed in the World Guide to Covered Bridges as bridge number 38-65-01. The numbers represent the state, the county and the specific bridge within the county. The guide was prepared by the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc.

A STATE OF BRIDGES

Pennsylvania leads all other states in the number of covered bridges - 215 in 37 counties. Estimates have been made that the state had at least 1,500 covered bridges during the height of covered bridge construction from 1830-1880.

Prior to the floods that ensued from Hurricane Agnes in 1972, there were 271 covered bridges in the state. Since that time, more than 50 of the wooden spans have been lost to floods, arson, deterioration and highway projects.

The state is known for having the very first covered bridge in the nation. Located in Philadelphia over the Schuylkill River, the structure was built in 1800 by Timothy Palmer and became known as Philadelphia's Permanent Bridge. Palmer was a 52-year-old master carpenter and bridge architect from Newburyport, Mass., who had patented an original bridge design in 1797. The bridge was designed with a cover to protect its great main beams and arches from the elements.

As one bridge builder said in the 19th century, 'Our bridges were covered for the same reason that our belles wore hoop skirts and crinolines - to protect the structural beauty that is seldom seen, but nevertheless appreciated.'

George Reeger, who lives on Bells Mills Road in West Newton, said the county's only covered bridge was restored and a new roof put on in 1976.

'The Historical Society of Westmoreland County changed the color of the bridge from light gray to red in 1976,' Reeger said. 'It was gray for a very long time. My grandfather remembered it being gray.'

Now owned by the county, Bells Mills was completely rebuilt in 1988.

'The beams for the flooring came from an Amish community in Ohio,' said Reeger.

In 1976, the bridge was given a cosmetic face-lift, according to county engineer Henry Fitz.

'Some of the shingles were replaced and the bridge was repainted it for the bicentennial,' Fitz said. 'The improvements were just to try and make the bridge look nicer. Some groups had planned some events down there for the bicentennial.'

The color change from light gray to barn red took place during the cosmetic refurbishing.

'Supposedly barn red was the original color. There weren't that many colors available in the 1800s and that style red was one of them,' said Fitz. 'It was painted that color red to make it more historical.'

Fitz said that during the 1988 renovation project, ''the bridge was lifted off the piers and placed on the ground.'' A timber contractor and an engineering company were brought in to look at the bridge.

'All the cracked and rotten beams were replaced. Two piers were also replaced with new stones,'' Fitz said. ''On one side, we poured a concrete pad at the bottom of the abutment to protect it. The bridge was then put back into position and a new roof and siding put on.'

Shingles for the wooden shake roof were donated by a historical farm equipment group that used an old-fashioned shake cutter to create the shingles during the 1988 renovation, Fitz added.

ORIGINAL DESIGN

The bridge was originally constructed in an unusual architectural design: a Greek Revival style that features portal support posts and gabled ends. The roof has cedar shakes and the deck consists of lengthwise planking that is laid over crosswise planking. The entire structure rests on stone-and-mortar abutments reinforced with concrete at ground and road level. Stone and mortar wingwalls are protected by heavy wooden guard rails. The trusses of the bridge are known as the Burr style.

Theodore Burr was born in 1771 into a family of carpenters and millwrights in Connecticut. After setting up shop in New York, Burr began contracting for bridges all over the state and his fame as a master bridge builder grew. He was well-known for his experimental designs, trying all types of uncovered trusses before hitting upon a design for a great arch reinforced with kingposts and supporting a level roadway. This design, patented in 1804, became known as the Burr truss.

It is not known why Burr died unexpectedly in 1822 at the age of 51. And no one knows where Pennsylvania's greatest bridge builder is buried. Speculation has led some historians to believe Burr is buried in a potter's field somewhere near Middletown, Pa. His arch design, however, lived on.

Friends and contractors utilized the Burr arch truss as the bridge design in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.

There are more bridges in Pennsylvania that utilized the Burr truss design than the total of other truss designers - 123 Burr truss bridges are located in the state in or between 30 different counties.

KEEPING UP WITH THE YEARS

Fitz said he has a large file on Bells Mills covered bridge.

'It was determined that the bridge had a metal roof. But back then, the weight of the metal would have lowered the weight capacity of the bridge. So when we renovated the bridge, we used shingles to repair the roof,' said Fitz.

The weight limit of the bridge is 4 tons and the height limit is 6 feet 6 inches.

'Some people have scraped it and others have hit the bridge,' Fitz added.

County road crews maintain Bells Mills, he said.

'The bridge is out of the way. So we rely a lot on the local residents. They keep a very good eye on the bridge. They call me when damage occurs,' said Fitz.

He said county workers clean it at least two to three times a year. General maintenance is completed throughout the year, weather permitting.

Bells Mills continues to serve the populace of Sewickley and South Huntingdon townships in grand style. Of the 215 covered bridges remaining in Pennsylvania, Bells Mills is one of only 119 that still carries motorized traffic.

Ans yes, perhaps stolen kisses are still garnered by young lovers in the shadows of its eaves.