Keller's Covered Bridge
Also known as: Guy Bard Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
A single-span wooden Burr arch-truss bridge crossing Cocalico Creek in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Lancaster County hired local contractor Elias McMellen to build it in 1872 for $2,075, and it was rebuilt by McMellen in 1891 for $1,250 after spring floods destroyed it. The bridge combines two long arches with a multiple king post truss, a design that was among the most popular vernacular bridge types in the eastern United States. Repairs in 1913 through 1918 used outside contractors, and vertical steel ties were added in 1935. Because the Rettew Mill Road site was to be replaced by a new bridge, the county agreed to move the covered bridge to Middle Creek Road, where it will cross Cocalico Creek on new stone abutments. The nomination treats its retained design and its link to Lancaster County's covered bridge building as the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant as a local example of the Burr arch-truss design, one of the most common covered wooden truss types in Pennsylvania and Lancaster County, and for its association with 19th-century bridge building in Lancaster County under contractor Elias McMellen. Its relocation was agreed as mitigation for an adverse effect from a replacement bridge project, and the nomination treats the move as keeping its eligibility.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003518, listed December 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Ephrata on T 656, Ephrata Township, Ephrata |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | December 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003518 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Elias McMellen (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Burr arch-truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Being dismantled and relocated from Rettew Mill Road to Middle Creek Road; rehabilitation at the new site is planned. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.16999, -76.20483 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003518.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6385663
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.