Lalino Stone Arch Bridge
Why it's listed
This single-span stone arch bridge sits in a wooded area north of New York Route 29, about a mile and a quarter east of Middleville. Built around 1870 to carry a wagon road between Fairfield and Middleville, it spans a small tributary of Maltanner Creek. The segmental arch is made of mortared, partly dressed limestone voussoirs, with dry-laid cut stone spandrels and abutments. The bridge is about 35 feet long and has a 23-foot arch span. Local tradition credits the Todd family of stone masons, though town records name no builder. Stone arches replaced timber bridges that spring floods often washed out, and this one survived the 1898 flood on West Canada Creek. Heavier automobile and truck traffic made it inadequate, and it was taken out of service in 1913. When Route 29 was built on a new alignment in the 1920s, the bridge was bypassed, which helped preserve it. It is valued as a rare surviving example of local vernacular engineering.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is a rare, substantially intact example of rural vernacular stone bridge design and construction. It is one of only four such bridges remaining in the town of Fairfield. It reflects local craftsmanship, native materials and the history of road transportation in the upland region. It also survived the severe flood of August 1898.
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 01001397, listed December 28, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 319 NY 29, Middleville |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | December 28, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001397 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | ca. 1870-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Charles & Eugene Todd (builders-attributed) |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; bypassed and removed from service in 1913. Both parapets have collapsed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.13716, -74.94465 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 01001397.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6480347
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.