Harris Street Bridge
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Spanning the Taunton River at Harris Street, this steel bridge dates to 1887 and is the oldest standing bridge in Taunton. It is a simple Pratt through truss, about 100 feet long, 35 feet wide and 25 feet high, built by the Pennbridge company of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The city erected it shortly after installing a citywide water system in 1876, chiefly to carry a principal water main from the Harris Street Pumping Station. Its generous width also allowed use by pedestrians and wagons, and in the twentieth century by automobiles. After being transferred to the Conservation Commission, it was limited to foot traffic, and it now serves as a walking bridge. The nomination cites its age, its link to the growth of the Taunton community and its status as a unique local example of late nineteenth century bridge design. It is considered to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. The nominated area covers the bridge, its footings and short approaches on Harris Street.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest standing bridge in Taunton and a survivor of early public works after the city's incorporation. It was built to carry a principal water main from the Harris Street Pumping Station. It is also described as a unique local example of late 19th century bridge design.
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 84002123, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Spans Taunton River at Dean and Harris Sts., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002123 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | "Pennbridge" company of Beaver Falls, Pa. |
| Architectural style | Pratt through truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition; now used only by pedestrians after transfer to the Conservation Commission. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.90567, -71.06956 (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 84002123.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5665039
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.