Hazen Bridge
Also known as: Newcomb Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the Sangamon River four miles north of Mahomet, this sixteen-span bridge carries a township road across a wide, flood-prone river bottom. Champaign County commissioners chose the Seevers Manufacturing Company of Oskaloosa, Iowa, to build it in 1893 at the site of White Ford, for a bid of $4,985. A 120-foot pin-connected Pratt through truss forms the main span, flanked by timber-decked approach spans that carry the road over the overflow area. Those approaches rest on pier bents of three cruciform cast iron or steel columns, a support system described as possibly the only one of its kind in Illinois. Open construction let floodwater pass through instead of backing up. The bridge is one of only three metal truss bridges left in the county and the only one with approach spans. It is named for the Hazen family, who owned land west of the crossing, and it retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge embodies the distinctive characteristics of a Pratt through truss with added approach spans, under Criterion C in engineering. It is one of only three metal truss bridges left in Champaign County and the only one with approach spans over a river overflow area. Its cast iron or steel cruciform column bents are described as possibly the only known example in Illinois.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000433, listed May 6, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Newcomb Twp. Rd. 85 across the Sangamon R., Mohomet |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | May 6, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000433 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1893 |
| Architect / builder | Seevers Manufacturing Company/Builder |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Pratt through truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structural integrity is intact and the bridge is posted for a three ton load limit. A new bridge is being built to the south, and the historic bridge is to pass to a preservation association once it is vacated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.25253, -88.38363 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000433.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5688240
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.