Caneadea Bridge
Also known as: East Hill Road Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the Genesee River in the hamlet of Caneadea, this 246-foot steel truss bridge carries East Hill Road (County Road 46) on cut stone abutments. Built in 1903 by the Groton Iron Bridge Company of Tompkins County, it replaced an earlier bridge washed away by a flood in 1902. Its camelback Parker design, a variation of the Pratt through truss, has a polygonal top chord with five distinct slopes. The bridge keeps its lattice portal bracing, original metal cresting and decorative plates naming the bridge company and former town officials. Its open steel grate deck is unchanged, and the road is now closed to traffic. A statewide survey found only two surviving camelback trusses among eleven remaining Parker metal truss bridges in New York. This one is the earliest and longest of the two, the only single-span example, and the only surviving camelback by its builder. These qualities, along with its unaltered rural setting, led to its recognition for engineering significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an intact and rare example of early twentieth century highway bridge engineering under Criterion C. It is one of only two surviving camelback trusses in New York State, and the only single-span one. It is also the only surviving camelback built by the Groton Iron Bridge Company, and it remains unaltered in its rural setting.
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 98001388, listed November 19, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cty. Rd. over Genesee R., Caneadea |
|---|---|
| County | Allegany County |
| Listed | November 19, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001388 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1903 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Groton Iron Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | OTHER/Camelback Parker Truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The road across the bridge is currently closed to traffic, and the bridge is listed as not in use. It retains its entire structural system and is unaltered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.38504, -78.14932 (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 98001388.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5032231
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.