John's Burnt Mill Bridge
Also known as: Camelback Bridge
Why it's listed
Built sometime between 1800 and 1823, this triple arched stone bridge crosses a creek near New Oxford in Adams County. Its three arches are of random course fieldstone, with the two end arches about seven feet high and the central arch about nine feet high. The main span is about 50 feet long and the bridge is roughly 14 feet wide, with a capped stone deck, mortared end sections, and seven metal tie rods giving lateral support. Two stone ice breakers sit on the upstream side. Its arches were built over wooden forms that were removed only after the keystones were set. Records held by the Adams County Historical Society indicate that nine stone bridges once stood in the county, and this is the only one remaining in southern Adams County. It is regarded as a notable surviving example of early stone camelback construction, and its setting near a group of stone houses dating before 1850 reflects the mill community of the period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is a well-built example of early stone bridge construction and one of the few surviving stone bridges of its kind in Adams County, where nine were once recorded. It is also presented as representative of the stone architecture and rural mill community of southern Pennsylvania in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
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 74001731, listed December 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of New Oxford on T 428, New Oxford |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | December 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001731 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1800-1823 |
| Architectural style | Camelback bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.83245, -77.07955 (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 74001731.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6217284
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.