McGees Mills Covered Bridge, Clearfield County

Today we visit the last covered bridge that crosses any branch of the Susquehanna River, and the last covered bridge in Clearfield County, the beautiful McGees Mills Covered Bridge. This 122 foot Burr Truss Bridge dates back to 1873. It is located just east of US 219. Due to the area being prone to flooding and extreme weather, this bridge is heavily reinforced with steel throughout the structure. The bridge was present during the boom and bust times of the lumber industry in this area of the state. McGees Mills once served as a booming lumber town and a hub for rafts carrying products down the river. 

In 1938, as a farewell to the old lumber industry's practice of using old rafts to take lumber to market down river, there was a "Last Raft" ceremony in which people took the original journey on a raft that was remade by old timers that remembered the rafts. Rafting had all but ceased operations in 1912. Sadly the journey ended in disaster as the raft struck a railroad bridge in Muncy, PA, killing seven of the forty-five people that were thrown into the river during this hobbyist rafting run that was meant to pay homage to the rafting industry that had all but ceased operations in 1912. 

McGees Mills Covered Bridge - Crosses the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and built in 1873

Just a few April Icicles hanging off of the roof!

I love the shape of the portal, along with the usage of siding. Very pretty bridge.

This is a pretty awesome bridge, and worth a stop to check out if you are in the area. This is a great vision into past of the Susquehanna River, as the only remaining covered bridge across this mighty river.