Himmel's Church Covered Bridge

About

Himmel's Church Covered Bridge, also called the Rebuck Covered Bridge, crosses Schwaben Creek just east of the village of Rebuck in Washington Township, Northumberland County. It is a single-span multiple kingpost truss bridge built in 1874, about 43 feet long, and it still carries cars on Middle Creek Road.

History

Peter Keefer built the bridge in 1874, according to its National Register nomination, which also notes that Schwaben Creek was formerly called Green Briar Creek. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1973. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 8, 1979, as part of the Covered Bridges of Northumberland County group. Sources differ slightly on its length: Uncovering PA gives 43 feet and Wikipedia gives 44 feet.

Design

A multiple kingpost truss uses a row of vertical posts and diagonal braces along each side wall, a common choice for short spans. The nomination recorded a roadway width of 13 feet 6 inches and a vertical clearance of about 10 feet at the portals. The bridge is best known for its candy-striped paint, which makes it stand out among Pennsylvania covered bridges.

Visiting

The bridge is on Middle Creek Road, east of Rebuck, and is open to vehicle traffic. There is no parking lot at the bridge. Uncovering PA notes that a small community park beside it makes it easy to pull off the road.

Sources: Himmel's Church Covered Bridge (Wikipedia), Covered Bridges of Northumberland County NRHP nomination, Visiting the Covered Bridges of Northumberland County (Uncovering PA)