Cemetery Road Bridge
Also known as: Candlewood Drive Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1894, this limestone double-arch bridge carries Cemetery Road over the south branch of Farm Creek in Washington, Illinois, separating the oldest part of Glendale Cemetery from the rest. Its two barrel arches of wedge-shaped voussoirs meet at a center pier, with ashlar stone set in regular courses, skewed wing walls and capped parapets. Frederick Rickman drew the plans in 1893, and Jacob Habluetzel did the mason work for the city, with total construction costs recorded at $509.44. Two railroad rails left in the structure probably supported the wooden framework used during building. The bridge was listed for its engineering significance as an excellent, well-preserved example of late nineteenth-century stone arch construction, and it keeps its original stone arches, unlike a nearby two-arch railroad bridge altered with steel liners. Two parapet blocks have fallen and the bridge is closed to vehicles until repairs are made.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is locally significant in engineering under Criterion C as an excellent, well-preserved example of late-1800s double stone arch construction. It compares favorably with the only two other stone arch bridges found in the area, one of which has been altered with steel arches and the other of which is a small single-arch structure.
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 98000467, listed May 20, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Candlewood Dr. within Glendale Cemetery, Washington |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Listed | May 20, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000467 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1894 |
| Architect / builder | Rickman, Frederick, Engineer; Habluetzel, Jacob, Builder |
| Architectural style | Other: Stone double-arch bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally and historically intact, but blocked from vehicular use pending restoration repairs; parts of the north parapet have collapsed and a south cap block is missing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.69746, -89.41159 (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 98000467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22033650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.