Newport Stone Arch Bridge
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Why it's listed
Spanning West Canada Creek on Bridge Street in Newport, Herkimer County, this limestone bridge has four segmental arches, measures 238 feet long and 36 feet wide, and carries a two-lane road. Built in 1853 under the supervision of masonry contractor Leonard Boyer of Little Falls, it replaced an earlier wooden bridge and reportedly cost $4,000. Stone came from a quarry on the Fenner farm about a mile west. The bridge is considered significant as a large and well-preserved example of traditional stone arch construction, at a time when longer crossings were usually built as wooden or iron trusses. It is believed to be the oldest surviving bridge in the county, and its completion helped the village expand west of the creek. Apart from the road surface, copings and guard rails, it remains unaltered. Repairs were made in 1910, 1949, and 1979-1980, and shoring was added in 1991 after arch deterioration was found. The listed area includes two stone retaining walls.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is a distinguished example of traditional arched masonry construction and a notable mid-nineteenth century engineering achievement. It is one of the largest vehicular stone arch bridges of its type in New York and is believed to be the oldest surviving bridge in Herkimer County. Its completion also coincided with village growth and westward expansion.
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 91002035, listed February 10, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Bridge St. across W. Canada Cr., Newport |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | February 10, 1992 |
| Reference number | 91002035 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1853 |
| Architect / builder | Boyer, Leonard, contractor |
| Architectural style | Other: stone arch bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still carries vehicular traffic; structural deterioration of the easternmost arch was found in 1990 and temporary steel shoring was installed pending restoration. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.18503, -75.01732 (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 91002035.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707092
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.