Ranney Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the East Branch of the AuSable River a few miles upstream from Keene Valley, this single-lane Pratt pony truss bridge carries a private road off NYS Route 73. It was fabricated by the Canton Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, and erected in 1902 in New Russia, in the town of Elizabethtown. Around 1925 it was dismantled and re-erected at its present site by two local men, Jim Brown and George Luck, replacing a bridge lost in the devastating flood of 1924. The metal structure is pin connected, with eye-bar bottom chords and diagonals, stone abutments and a wood deck. Original lattice railings, cast-iron ball finials and the builder's plates survive. The bridge is valued as a well-preserved example of a light rural iron truss from the pre-automobile era, and for its part in the area's transportation history. It is one of several bridges in the valley relocated after the 1924 flood, and it still serves a seasonal home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an intact, well-preserved example of a simple turn-of-the-century iron bridge, typical of small rural bridges of the pre-automobile era. It is also significant for its role in the region's transportation history, including reuse after the 1924 flood washed away earlier bridges.
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 99001329, listed November 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Private Rd. off NY 73 over East Branch of AuSable R., Keene Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001329 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | c.1902-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Canton Iron Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | Pratt Pony Truss Bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Privately owned and still in use, providing access to a seasonal cottage on the east side of the river. The wood deck has been replaced in kind. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.18205, -73.78364 (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 99001329.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7293391
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.