{"nrhp_refnum":"99000503","name":"Downsville Covered Bridge","other_names":[],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"Bridge St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Downsville","county":"Delaware County","state":"NY","lat":42.07618763800008,"lon":-74.99075948499996,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1999-04-29","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Transportation","Engineering"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A single-span, gable-roofed covered timber bridge, 174 feet long, carrying Bridge Street over the East Branch of the Delaware River in the hamlet of Downsville, Delaware County, New York. It was built in 1854 by Robert Murray.","why_significant":"The bridge is significant for transportation and engineering as a rare, substantially intact example of rural vernacular bridge design in the Catskill region. It uses the patented Long truss and is one of only three intact Long truss bridges left in New York State. It was restored in 1998 after being removed from service in 1993.","narrative":"Spanning the East Branch of the Delaware River at Downsville, this covered timber bridge was built in 1854 to carry Bridge Street traffic, with vehicles travelling between Downsville, Walton and Roscoe. It is 174 feet long, with a single span resting on dry-laid fieldstone abutments capped with concrete. Its frame uses the patented Long truss, reinforced by an auxiliary queenpost truss, and was built of native oak and hemlock cut at local sawmills. Builder Robert Murray received the contract; it was his first bridge in Delaware County. Only three intact Long truss bridges remain in New York State, which makes this one a rare survivor of a once-common type. Repairs came in 1951, 1976 and the 1980s, and the bridge left vehicular service in 1993. A comprehensive restoration finished in 1998, with modern compatible materials used for the sheathing and roof. It is recognized for its role in local transportation and for its vernacular engineering.","period_of_significance":"1854","architect_builder":"Robert Murray (Builder)","architectural_style":"No style","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Removed from service in 1993 and comprehensively restored in 1998; maintained by the Delaware County Department of Public Works as a local historic landmark.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:51:51.00195-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/99000503.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/99000503/b5fe55eda7-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/99000503/b5fe55eda7-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY 3.0","author":"Pfeyzyefp","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Downsville-covered-bridge.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Pfeyzyefp</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Downsville-covered-bridge.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75317203","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downsville_Bridge","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5303312"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/delaware-county/downsville-covered-bridge-99000503/"}