Black Rock Bridge
Why it's listed
Black Rock Bridge is a concrete open-spandrel arch bridge crossing the Schuylkill River near Mont Clare in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1927 by G. A. and F. M. Wagman, it has three arches spanning 116 feet and two arches spanning 103 feet, for an overall length of 554 feet. Its two heavily structured arch ribs are plain in ornament, and its continuous solid concrete parapet walls are molded into a series of panels. Simple concrete light posts top each pier, and a sidewalk runs along the east side. The bridge is valued in engineering terms as a typical example of the multiple-span open-spandrel type once common in southeastern Pennsylvania. It remains unaltered, which makes it an exceptionally well preserved example of the type. It is one of fifteen open-spandrel bridges, built between 1906 and 1930, grouped together in a single nomination covering highway bridges in the Commonwealth.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the bridge as a typical example of the multiple-span open-spandrel arch type. It is regarded as an exceptionally well preserved, unaltered example of this concrete bridge type, which was often used in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is one of fifteen open-spandrel bridges included in a multiple-resource nomination, built between 1906 and 1930.
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 88000735, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | TR 113 over Schuylkill River, Mont Clare |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000735 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architect / builder | Wagman, G. A. and F.M. (builder/contractor) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unaltered; original site; in vehicular use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.15892, -75.51194 (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 88000735.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4921701
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.