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Moselem Springs Bridge

Moselem Springs Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Elaine Deutsch

Bridge Documented: February 18, 2013

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Eagle Road (TR-794) Over Moselem Creek
Location
Rural: Berks County, Pennsylvania: United States
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1905 By Builder/Contractor: New Jersey Bridge Company of Manasquan, New Jersey and Engineer/Design: Dreibelbis and Company
Rehabilitation Date
1975
Main Span Length
50.0 Feet (15.2 Meters)
Structure Length
51.8 Feet (15.8 Meters)
Roadway Width
17.4 Feet (5.3 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
5441

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
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Bridge Documentation

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

This bridge is a fairly short full-slope pony truss, yet its trusses are surprisingly deep giving it a distinctively tall appearance. The bridge is an uncommon example of a pin-connected truss bridge with a skew. A plaque on the bridge identifies the substructure contractor and the engineer. However, a June 24 1905 issue of the Reading Times indicated more details including who built the bridge. It read as follows:

The following warrants were approved Tuesday: Sponagle and Weidner, substructure of Moselem bridge, $1077.40. New Jersey Bridge Co., superstructure of Moselem bridge, $742.

In reviewing the New Bridge in New Jersey, that state's historic bridge inventory stated that the bridge was significant as "...one of the few documented surviving examples of a bridge constructed by the New Jersey Bridge Company of Manasquan" and for this reason it seems if Pennsylvania had been aware of who built this pony truss bridge, this bridge would also have been evaluated as eligible for the National Register. However, they were not aware of this and the bridge was found Not Eligible.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The skewed, 52'-long, pin-connected Pratt pony truss bridge fabricated in 1905 is supported on stone abutments that have been encased in concrete. The 4-panel trusses are traditionally composed, and the bridge, while complete, has no innovative or distinctive details. It is a late example of its type and design and is not individually significant. The farm has been converted to a golf course, so it does not have historic district potential. The house and mill are NR listed in 1990, but the bridge was not included as part of the resource.

Discussion of Surrounding Area

The bridge carries a 2 lane road over a stream in at a country club. It was once a farm with a late-18th or early 19th century stone farm house that is west of the bridge. It has been redone in the Colonial Revival mode. A mill pond with a penstock is upstream of the bridge. There is a mill well west of the house. The house and mill are the National Register-listed Merkel Mill Complex (1990).

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Moselem Springs Bridge

 

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Maps and Links: Moselem Springs Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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