Palmer Brook Bridge
Why it's listed
Palmer Brook Bridge is a compact, two-lane arch bridge of reinforced concrete faced with stone, built in 1938 to carry Golf Course Road over Palmer Brook in AuSable Forks, a hamlet in the town of Black Brook. It measures roughly 25 feet long, 15 feet wide and 6 feet high, and a cast-iron marker records that the Town of Black Brook improved it with Works Progress Administration assistance. The road leads to a small nine-hole golf course laid out in the early twentieth century, when the local pulp and paper industry was prospering, and the bridge served as a modest gateway to it. Its design shares an aesthetic with two other bridges in the region, at Wilmington and AuSable Chasm, but only this one was built with WPA help. It was listed as a well-preserved, locally important example of Depression-era public works and of bridge design meant to suit its residential surroundings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a simple, highly intact example of WPA-era highway bridge engineering, design and construction, deliberately designed to blend with its picturesque residential setting. It is also significant for its role in the region's transportation history. Of three WPA-era bridges in the multiple property group, only this one was actually built with Works Progress Administration assistance.
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 99001318, listed November 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Golf Course Rd. over Palmer Brook, AuSable Forks |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001318 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1938 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: stone-faced, reinforced concrete arch bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Politics/Government, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains a high level of integrity and is in reasonably good condition; no alterations known; still carries traffic (current function listed as transportation). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.44370, -73.67432 (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 99001318.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7128213
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.