Lancaster County boasts the most covered bridges in Pennsylvania and the second-most in the nation. The structures offer transportation across the area's waterways and enhance the beauty of the landscape. They are also gateways to the past, spanning generations and reminding people of a time when life proceeded at a slower pace.

Located at 1335 Hunsecker Road, Lancaster, Hunsecker's Mill is one of three covered bridges in Manheim Township, one of 28 in Lancaster County and one of about 200 in Pennsylvania. Not only is it a local landmark, but it is also a local treasure.

"I think it's a charming vision into our agrarian past," said Manheim Township Historical Society president Ben Webber. "It's a connection to our history. A lot of these concrete bridges people drive across and don't even know they're on a bridge."

"There was a practice a long time ago (that) you'd drive across a covered bridge, you'd stop halfway across and kiss your partner," continued Webber. "That's part of their charm."

Some 180 feet long and 15 feet wide, with a clearance of 13 feet, Hunsecker's Mill is a one-lane covered bridge spanning the Conestoga River and connecting Manheim Township and Upper Leacock Township. The bridge, which is maintained by the state of Pennsylvania, is constructed almost entirely of wood, and its covering or roof ensures the integrity of the structure and helps extend the lifespan of the bridge.

"The bridges were covered to protect the structure of the wood," said Webber. "It's a lot easier to replace a roof than the wood structure of the bridge. Just like you would do for a house."

Named for the former Amos Hunsecker's mill at the same location, the Hunsecker's Mill covered bridge was built by Joseph Russell for $1,988 in 1848.

"Wherever there was a mill, there was a dam," said Webber. "These mills were desirable places to take your product, and that's where roads were first built. The earliest bridges were made of wood. People found out early that they needed to be covered to sustain them."

Twenty-one years after Hunsecker's Mill covered bridge was constructed, a flood washed it away. When the covered bridge was rebuilt, it was raised three feet higher, but on June 22, 1972, storm waters from Hurricane Agnes swept the Hunsecker's Mill bridge away again.

Webber said that at that time, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation wanted to build a concrete bridge allowing two-way traffic across the Conestoga River, but "the public raised quite a bit of stink."

"It's clearly a success story for preservationists," said Webber. "It gives you a sense that you're back in time. It gives you a sense of how different life used to be. It's a lovely, lovely bridge."

"If the bridge was seeing a lot more traffic or more development on each side, it might have to be replaced," concluded Webber. "The area has a lot of protected agricultural land around it. This isn't only a way to get from point A to point B. People absolutely love this bridge. It's really something people enjoy."