Center Bridge Historic District
Why it's listed
Center Bridge is a small cross-roads village on the Delaware River in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, roughly 45 miles north of Philadelphia. Its 62 buildings include stone and plaster houses, most dating from the early and mid-nineteenth century, sheltered by old trees and set between the Delaware Division Canal and Chestnut Ridge. The settlement grew around a ferry and inn established by Joseph Mitchell after he bought land there in 1765, and a toll bridge later built across the river by Isaiah Paxson and Mitchell's son. Trade along the bridge and the canal, which began operating in about 1830, sustained the village through the nineteenth century. Its houses are regarded as good examples of the vernacular Georgian and Federal styles common to southeastern Pennsylvania. In 1898 painter Edward W. Redfield bought a farm there, and with other artists he linked the village to the New Hope art colony.
Significance in brief: The village is argued to have served as a hub of transportation and commerce in the Delaware River valley for over two centuries, beginning with a ferry and inn and a toll bridge. Its surviving 18th- and 19th-century vernacular houses are presented as typical of eastern Pennsylvania, and its later association with the New Hope art colony, including painter Edward W. Redfield, adds to its importance.
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 85000673, listed March 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by Ely and Laurel Rds. on River Rd., Solebury Township, Center Bridge |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | March 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000673 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1700-1899 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular architecture; Georgian; Federal; Colonial; Greek Revival; Mediterranean; Spanish Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Of the 62 buildings, 10 are significant, 50 contributing and 2 intrusions. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 40.40034, -74.97947 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 85000673.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5059269
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.