{"nrhp_refnum":"98000472","name":"Embarras River Bridge","other_names":[],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"Wade Township Rd. 164 over Embarras R.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Newton","county":"Jasper County","state":"IL","lat":38.99535134900003,"lon":-88.16191996199996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1998-05-20","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Engineering"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A single-span, nine-panel Pratt through truss bridge built in 1890 that carries Wade Township Road 164 over the Embarras River at the north edge of Newton, Jasper County, Illinois. The Chicago Bridge Company fabricated it.","why_significant":"The bridge is locally significant under Criterion C for engineering as a classic Pratt through truss. It is the only Pratt through truss bridge in Jasper County and one of the oldest truss bridges in Illinois. Both original nameplates, reading \"1890 CHICAGO BRIDGE COMPANY,\" remain intact and legible.","narrative":"Spanning the Embarras River at the northern edge of Newton, Illinois, this 148-foot steel Pratt through truss bridge was completed in 1890 to replace a wooden bridge that needed repair and could not be used when the river was high. Sixteen bidders competed for the contract, and the Chicago Bridge Company won with a bid of $3,400, not including abutments and approaches. The county accepted the bridge in December 1890. It has a wood plank deck, stone and concrete abutments, and a usable roadway width of 13 feet 6 inches. Locally it is called the Old Mill Bridge or Old Wagon Bridge. It is the only Pratt through truss in Jasper County and one of the oldest truss bridges in Illinois, and it was recognized for its engineering. Original nameplates remain at both ends. Later changes include welded plates at the bases of the vertical channels, replaced deck boards and protective fencing. It still carries light traffic.","period_of_significance":"1890","architect_builder":"Chicago Bridge Company","architectural_style":"OTHER: Pratt through truss","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Remains open to light traffic with a posted four ton load limit; maintained with welded reinforcing plates, some replaced deck timbers and safety fencing.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:37.628247-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/37/8930/28893037/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/98000472.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/98000472/920186f861-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/98000472/920186f861-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Embarras_River_Bridge_at_Newton.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Embarras_River_Bridge_at_Newton.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893037","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embarras_River_Bridge","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5369491"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/jasper-county/embarras-river-bridge-98000472/"}