Stone Arch Bridge
Also known as: Bin #3-35002-0
Why it's listed
Spanning the AuSable River at the center of Keeseville, New York, this two-lane stone arch bridge carries Main Street between Clinton and Essex Counties. Local sandstone with limestone voussoirs was used to build it in 1842-1843, and its single arch reaches 110 feet, an unusually long span for a bridge of that era. Master mason Solomon Townsend was the builder. During construction the partly finished arch collapsed into the river after a sudden storm, but Townsend rebuilt it and the keystone was set in 1843. The bridge replaced earlier wooden crossings that were vulnerable to floods. It served as a focal point for the village's growth and for decades carried NYS Routes 9, 22 and 9N, until a new bridge opened downstream in 1958 and it was left to local traffic. Alterations are limited to modern railing posts and resurfaced roadway and sidewalks. The American Society of Civil Engineers named it a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1987.
Significance in brief: The bridge is an early, well-preserved example of mid-19th century stone masonry bridge construction, notable for a 110-foot span that was unusual for its time. It also shaped the pattern of community growth in Keeseville and tied together the village's social and economic life. It carried several regional highway routes for most of its life.
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 99001323, listed November 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St. over AuSable R., Keeseville |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001323 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1843-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Solomon Townsend |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Stone Arch Bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains much of its original appearance and is in reasonably good condition, with minor damage from a November 1996 flood. Still used for local traffic after a new bridge took through traffic in 1958. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Keeseville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 44.50526, -73.48068 (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 99001323.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7618860
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.