Hare's Hill Road Bridge
Why it's listed
A wrought iron bow string truss bridge with lattice infilling carries Hare's Hill Road across French Creek east of Kimberton in East Pikeland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The single span measures 100 feet, with 15 feet of underclearance and a 15-foot roadway. Two angle irons riveted into a T-section form the bow string truss, and the diagonal tension members running from the bow to the deck are regarded as original. The deck is now an open steel mesh grid, probably replacing an earlier wooden deck, and the abutments are built of local stone. A plaque in the abutments bears the date 1867, which may refer to an earlier bridge. The bridge stands beside the former mill properties of John Prizer, who began milling on the creek in 1835 and built new mill buildings in 1867. Its riveted construction is unusual for the bow string type, and it is regarded as apparently unique, with no other bridge of this design identified. A link to the Phoenix Iron Works, known for iron bridge innovation, is considered possible but is not confirmed.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the bridge as apparently unique, with no other bridge of this design identified. Its riveted construction and the 1867 date on a plaque in the abutments are cited as points of interest. The bridge is also linked to the nearby John Prizer mill properties and possibly to the Phoenix Iron Works, which the form notes were innovators of iron bridges.
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 78002375, listed March 28, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Phoenixville on Hare's Hill Rd., East Pikeland Township, Phoenixville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | March 28, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002375 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Bow string truss |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.14100, -75.56792 (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 78002375.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5656904
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.