Ravine Road Bridge

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Discussion of Bridge

The single-span, 28'-long, steel stringer bridge, built in 1913, has a concrete jack arch deck, pipe railings, stone abutments, and stone wingwalls surmounted by parapets. It is among the 15 earliest examples of the steel stringer with jack arch deck type and design from 1905 to 1913, identified in the state, and the earliest identified, prototypical example 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 Paradise Valley HD. The setting has changed little since the time of the bridge's construction. The bridge was not rated in the 1992 nomination. Although postdating the district's 1700-1900 period of significance, the 1913 bridge is individually significant, and thus is evaluated contributing as per National Register guidelines.

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 Paradise Valley Historic District (NR-listed 12/24/92), an approximately 3-mile long rural historic district running north-tosouth parallel to Valley Creek. It is historically noteworthy as an area of relatively undisturbed farmsteads with an 18th to 19th-century period of significance. At the west end of the bridge is a T-shaped intersection with Valley Creek Road. Opposite the T-intersection is an iron gate with stone gateposts that serves as an entry to the Children's Country Week Association farm. At the southeast quadrant is a fish hatchery, and approximately 300' to the northwest on Ravine Road is an early 19th century stone residence.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes