Bartlett's Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the French River in North Oxford, Massachusetts, this stone arch bridge carries Clara Barton Road and was completed in 1889. It is 42 feet wide, with an elliptical arch 30 feet long and 13 feet high, a 16-foot roadway and granite parapets capped with massive slabs. Rough granite faces contrast with finely tooled arch stones. The town replaced an older, probably wooden, crossing after mill owner Edwin Bartlett petitioned for a new bridge to serve the mills and the nearby railroad depot. Although Bartlett asked for an iron bridge, the town hired Worcester engineer Charles A. Allen and masons Peter and Michael Kenney to build in stone, at a cost of just under $2,200. The bridge is valued as an example of late 19th century stone arch engineering and as a reminder of the area's industrial growth. Its design anticipated state highway bridge standards, and it has seen few visible alterations since construction.
Significance in brief: The bridge is presented as a distinctive example of late 19th century stone arch bridge engineering and construction. It reflects the growth of North Oxford as a manufacturing and transportation center and the rising attention to public highway improvements and uniform engineering standards. It was designed with a rustic, picturesque appearance and anticipates later state bridge standards.
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 00000077, listed February 10, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Clara Barton Rd. over the French R., Oxford |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 10, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000077 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1889-1949 |
| Architect / builder | Charles A. Allen, engineer, designer; Peter & Michael Kenny, masons, builders |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still carries Clara Barton Road; it has been re-pointed and re-paved with asphalt, and the northeastern wing wall has been rebuilt, but few other visible alterations are noted. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.15490, -71.88263 (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 00000077.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4865368
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.