Dauphin County

Henninger Farm Covered Bridge (Stroup Covered Bridge)

Map Information

Henninger Farms Bridge

Everhart Bridge

(GPS N40 34.64 W 76 47.04)
(#38-22-11)
Henninger farm (Stroup covered bridge) is located NE of Elizabethville,Pa., in Washington twp. Drive 2.2 miles east of Jct. Pa. 225 on US 209, then left 0.7 miles on SR 1006 and right on TR 617 to North Road TR 624 then left for about half a mile to the bridge.
The bridge is of the Burr arch design, I have no information as to the date of construction or the builders. The bridge length is 72 feet the width is 16 feet and crosses the Wisconisco Creek. The bridge is only open to foot traffic. The bridge had been bypassed by a cement structure. The covered bridge structure is in an area surrounded by rolling hills of farm fields and wooded area. This is the only covered bridge in Dauphin County and is owned and maintained by the county.

Update: When I first photographed the Henninger bridge (February 2003) it had been extensively damaged by arson. I found out that Dauphin county had appropriated money to refurbish or reconstruct the bridge. I returned to the bridge site in February 2007 and found the new structure to be completely reconstructed. The bridge is now used as a picnic area, what a pleasant area to sit and just enjoy the bridge or surrounding landscape.

(GPS N40 20.64 W76 54.58)
(#38-22-05)
With all the bridges that we have lost over the past five or so years it is really heart warming to see an old historical structure that was saved and put in storage and now has been rebuilt on a new site. After reading the sign at Everhart bridge I do believe all credit must go to Mrs. Margaret Wister Meigs. After you read the following you can understand.

The Everhart Covered Bridge was built in 1881 to span the Little Buffalo Creek in Oliver Township, Perry County. Mrs. Margaret Wister Meigs, the preserver of the Fort Hunter purchased the bridge in 1940 for $70. saving it from demolition. She moved the bridge to this property placing it directly on the ground of the mansion's front lawn. In 1980 during the park development the bridge was dismantled once again and placed in storage. Upon examination for reconstruction, experts discovered many rotted and ruined structural elements, the result of two dismantling and forty years of resting on the ground. These elements however, proved invaluable in the recreating the current bridge.

The Bridge is located in Harrisburg at Fort Hunter Park. Take state routs 22/322 east to the Fishing Creek exit, turn right on to Front Street, 1 block turn left and you are at the park entrance. The bridge has a length of 36 feet and crosses only dry land. It is open to foot traffic only. The structure has a Multi King Post Truss design. the original builder is unknown. The bridge is in excellent condition.

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