Hervey Street Road Stone Arch Bridge
Why it's listed
A small limestone arch bridge crosses a tributary of Thorp Creek at the center of the hamlet of Hervey Street, in the town of Durham, Greene County. Built in 1891 using the traditional dry-laid method, it has a single round arch with a fourteen-foot span, twelve feet high, and is eleven feet wide. Only the southeast abutment has been reinforced with concrete, in the 1970s. The builder was Jeremiah Cunningham, who served as town highway commissioner from 1886 to 1896 and personally took part in each phase of construction. This is one of eight surviving stone arch bridges he built in the town. The crossing joined the east and west parts of the hamlet and linked its two most important roads. Its listing rests on its representative rural design and its role in the town's development. Cracking and loose stones have led to a temporary bailey bridge being laid over it since 2006, and the town intends to restore it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is a representative example of rural vernacular stone bridge design and played a role in the development of the town of Durham. It is one of eight surviving stone arch bridges in the town built by Jeremiah Cunningham, highway commissioner from 1886 to 1896. It joined the east and west halves of the hamlet and retains a high degree of integrity.
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 07001367, listed January 9, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Hervey Street Rd., & Hervey Street-Sunside Rd., Hervey Street |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | January 9, 2008 |
| Reference number | 07001367 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1891 |
| Architect / builder | Jeremiah Cunningham, builder |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Some deterioration, including cracked arch stones and loosened underside stones. A temporary bailey bridge was laid over the roadbed in 2006 to carry traffic and protect the structure, and the town plans to restore the bridge. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34509, -74.12657 (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 07001367.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706357
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.