Bells Mills

Pennsylvania invented the American company town — coal patches and oil booms that burned bright and short.

Bells Mills Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in Sewickley Township and South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is a 95-foot-long (29 m), Burr truss bridge, constructed in 1850. It features pedimented gables and plain pilasters in the Greek Revival style. It crosses Sewickley Creek. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Bells Mills sounds like exactly what it was — a working town, not a resort.

The on-the-ground condition of Bells Mills is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Bells Mills is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Bells Mills is roughly 40.2192, -79.7103 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.