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Josiah Hess - 1875
The Josiah Hess Covered Bridge No. 122 is a historic wooden covered bridge over Huntington Creek in Fishing Creek Township in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. It is a 105.1-foot-long, Burr Truss arch bridge constructed in 1875. It is one of 28 historic covered bridges in Columbia and Montour Counties.
The Hess Bridge, built in 1875 by Joseph Reline and W.J. Manning for $1349.50, followed a Burr arch design. The bridge, crossing Huntington Creek, provided access to the Hess sawmill and farm. Josiah Hess was part of the 4th generation of Hess family members who called Pennsylvania home. Johann Conrad Hess, just 16 years old, climbed aboard the ship Glasgow in 1730 and set out on his journey to the New World and Philadelphia. It wasn't long until the Hess families migrated to central Pennsylvania, establishing farms and businesses in Columbia County.
Fully restored and rededicated on August 25, 2005, the bridge survived a close call the following year. Just downstream, the storm of June 28, 2006, destroyed the West Paden Bridge. Here at the Hess Bridge site, swift-moving currents severely damaged the south bridge abutment. Quick action by local contractor John Lapp may have prevented a similar fate as the West Paden Bridge.
Also called Laubach Covered Bridge.
Span length: 110 ft.
Total length: 110 ft.
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on November 29, 1979.
Located at: N41 06.841 W76 20.358 - WGCB #38-19-10
Photographed in September 2021