Stone Arch Bridge
Why it's listed
Built of hand-cut, random stripped Silurian dolomite with a greenish tinge, this small stone arch bridge crosses Boneyard Creek at Springfield Avenue and 2nd Street in Champaign. It has a span of about seven and a half feet and was originally 18 feet wide. Many stones on the north side have fallen, cutting the width roughly in half, and the fallen stones are stockpiled for restoration. The bridge was probably finished in 1860 as part of a railroad grade linking Urbana with West Urbana, now Champaign. Rails were not laid until later, and the first run came on August 31, 1863. The line gave Urbana farmers a way to reach trains and ship produce, and a local judge credited it with helping defeat efforts to move the county seat. The railroad segment was abandoned and rerouted in 1890. The nomination describes the bridge as likely unique in Champaign County and one of its oldest structures. It is owned by the Champaign Park District.
Significance in brief: The bridge carried the rail connection that gave Urbana access to trains in West Urbana, which the nomination says may have helped save Urbana as county seat. It is described as probably the only bridge to span Boneyard Creek at this spot and unique among Champaign County bridges. It is also one of the oldest structures in the county.
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 81000210, listed May 14, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Springfield Ave. and 2nd St., Champaign |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | May 14, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000210 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Mr. Jaques, Billy Park - Contractor; for west part, John G. Brown, Peter Collins |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and unaltered. Many stones on the north side have fallen, narrowing the width by about half; the fallen stones are stockpiled for restoration. Owned by the Champaign Park District. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.11274, -88.23728 (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 81000210.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7618856
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.