Creek Road Bridge

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The 2 span, 50'-long, steel stringer bridge built in 1914 has pipe railings, a concrete jack arch deck, and rubble masonry abutments. U-shaped stone wingwalls with parapets enclose the approach roadway. It is among the 21 earliest examples of the steel stringer with jack arch deck type and design from 1905 to 1914, identified in the state, and one of the four earliest identified, prototypical examples from 1913-14 in Chester County, where it was popular with County Engineer Nathan R. Rambo during the mid 1910s. It has typical construction details of the early 20th century and reflects national thinking about bridge technology and design applied in the local context. Furthermore, the bridge is located in and benefits from an undisturbed rural setting in the NR-listed Taylor-Cope HD. The setting has changed little since the time of the bridge's construction. The bridge was not rated in the 1985 nomination. Although postdating the district's 1724-1906 period of significance, the 1914 bridge is individually significant, and thus is evaluated contributing.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 2 lane road over a stream in a rural setting of scattered residences and farms. The bridge is entirely within the boundaries of the Taylor-Cope HD (NR-listed 12/24/92), a rural historic district including the 19th-century mill village of Copesville, located approximately 1/2-mile to the northwest of the bridge, and its surrounding countryside. The district has a period of significance of 1724 to 1906. It is historically noteworthy as an area of relatively undisturbed farmsteads with an 18th to 19th-century period of significance. At the bridge's northeast quadrant is an 18th-century brick residence. The other three quadrants are open fields.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes