Main Street Bridge

Information and Findings From New Jersey's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

SUMMARY: The 1870 cast and wrought iron Pratt pony truss bridge built by Lambertville contractor William Cowin using the patented design of Francis C. Lowthrop, ranks as one of the historically and technologically significant metal truss bridges in the state. The 2-span bridge with cast verticals and top chord is important in the evolution in materials and design used in bridge building in the mid-19th century transition from wood to iron to steel. The bridge was documented by HAER in 1991-1992.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hunterdon County Engineer's Office Bridge card N1, L-90W, G63.
Hunterdon County Master Plan: Sites of Historic Interest, 1979.
Schmidt, Hubert G. Rural Hunterdon: An Agricultural History. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1945.
Fleming, R. "Sixty Year Old Iron Bridge in a New Jersey Village." Engineering News Record: November 11, 1920, v35 no. 29 p. 925-927. Lowthorp, F.C. "On the Use of Cast Iron for Compressive Members of Iron Bridges." New York: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, v 1, 1872, as read to the Society on June 15, 1870.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The two span pin-connected Pratt pony truss was fabricated in 1870 by William Cowin as designed by Francis Lowthorp. It uses cast iron for compression members and wrought iron for tension elements. The cast top chord is fitted together with pressure joints. The name of the fabricator is cast into the piece. Diagonals are loop forged eyerods. An unusual feature is the patented Johnson tightener, an eccentric ratchet and pawl arrangement at the panel point for tuning the bridge. Cast vertical members are tapered. Some principal diagonals have a screw adjustment mechanism, but not all. Floor beams are unusual in the use of two rods in an inverted Kingpost truss arrangement which may be adjusted to increase tension. The bottom lateral sway bracing rods screw into a center ring for adjustment. The last segment of the bottom chord is an articulated cast member, designed to absorb temperature expansion and contraction. The vertical cast Italianate column end posts give the date of construction. Sidewalks with decorative cast railings grace each side of the bridge.

HISTORICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Clinton bridge is one of three remaining bridges constructed by Lambertville fabricator William Cowin, using the design of F.C. Lowthorp (1810-1890). The use of cast and wrought iron reflects a period of experimentation using new materials in bridge construction. Designers were still discovering the strengths and weaknesses of metal, compared to the earlier timber trusses. Emphasis was placed on examining materials under varying stress conditions. Quality control had become an issue. Lowthorp, who spent at least part of his childhood in Lambertville, was a noted designer of several railroad bridges including a two level bridge across the Delaware River at Easton to connect the Lehigh Valley, the New York Central and the Belvidere and Delaware lines. Lowthorp advocated the use of cast iron in compression, declaring in a paper delivered to the American Society of Civil Engineers, "there is much more to be feared from defects in wrought iron used for tensile than for cast iron used for compressive purposes." Lowthorp's distrust of wrought iron, based on experiments he conducted to test each element before acceptance, were prompted by the inability to control impurities in the metal and the shortage of skilled foundry men. William Cowin was the fabricator for all three remaining Lowthorp design bridges (N1, L-90W, G63). In addition to these, an Engineering News Record article (11/11/20, p.925) refers to an 1859 cast and wrought iron bridge in Clinton built by William and Charles Cowin. Darnell dates Cowin's production as 1868 to 1870. More research is required to determine if Cowin was involved with the Lambertville Iron Works which also began production in 1859 and operated throughout the century. Although the village of Clinton has four properties individually listed on the National Register (Clinton Historical Museum 1/08/74, Dunham's Mill-Parry's Mill 4/15/82, Music Hall 5/07/82, and Old Grandin Library 11/01/74), it is not listed as a district. The bridge is located slightly downstream from the mill dams and adjoins the two mill properties. It is an integral aspect of the farm to market cycle which dominated the town's past and a significant element in the character of the present street scape. The Clinton bridge, based on its age, use of materials, design, and documentation, is one of the most important bridges in the nation. When compared with the other two remaining near-by bridges (one of which, Glen Gardner Pony Pratt Truss Bridge, is on the National Register 9/22/77), it gives insight into the thought processes of the designer and fabricator and the technological imperatives which they faced. The historical context of the bridge remains and has been enriched by the re-use of one mill complex as a historical museum. The integrity of the site allows insight into daily farm-town transactions and relationships. The size and extraordinary detailing of the bridge reveals civic pride and optimism. The bridge possesses both historical and technological significance.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge, located in the center of the town of Clinton, carries one-way traffic of the main street over the river. It is adjacent to a pond and dam, the Clinton Historical Society, housed in Hunt's Mill built in 1810 (listed in NR 01/74), and the Hunterdon Art Museum housed in Dunham-Perry's Mill listed in NR 4/82). The center is dominated by well-preserved and well-maintained 19th- and 20th century commercial buildings. A bypass highway relieves traffic pressure on the center.

Historic Bridge Management Plan Evaluated: Yes

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes