Manor Avenue Bridge

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 2 span, 64'-long T beam bridge built in 1934 has concrete balustrades and concrete pier, abutments, and wingwalls. The bridge was built by the state highway department using a standard design for T beam bridges. T beam bridges were built throughout the state from the late 1910s through the 1950s. The bridge is adjacent to the National Register-listed Roger Hunt mill complex, but is not within that property's boundaries. It postdates the mill complex's 18th- and 19th-century period of significance and is not significant in association with the mill. The bridge is not historically distinguished by its technology, setting or context.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 2 lane road and 2 sidewalks over a stream in north Downingtown. The bridge is over 500' upstream of the National Register-listed Roger Hunt Mill Complex (listed 1/4/1980), built in the 1740s and expanded in the 1850s-60s. The mill building has recently collapsed, but associated residences remain. The bridge is adjacent to but not within the boundaries of the property. At the bridge's southwest quadrant is a baseball field and at the southeast quadrant is an empty lot. Along US 322 to the northwest and southeast is a mix of undistinguished late-19th to late-20th-century residential and commercial buildings. The datestone of the previous bridge at this location is set in the bridge's downstream balustrade.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No