Bridge in Fishing Creek Township
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 over Little Pine Creek about 1.25 miles east of Bendertown in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, this single-span concrete bridge carries vehicular traffic across a 40-foot opening. Its builder was John L. Elder. The structure is an open-spandrel arch, a form in which the arch ribs are tied to the deck by slender posts rather than a solid masonry wall. Two narrow ribs rise high above the streambed, carrying the deck loads through two small posts, while simple concrete struts brace the arches. The designers used very little material to achieve a stable, efficient structure that makes full use of concrete's strengths. The high, multi-centered arch is finished with a pierced concrete parapet decorated with light, star-shaped patterns, which gives the crossing a distinctive appearance in its wooded and farmland setting. Among the fifteen open-spandrel arches included in the nomination, this bridge is the only one of its configuration. Its significance rests on engineering design, and it is listed for its unusual shape and construction. The bridge remains unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an important example of an unusual open-spandrel arch form. Its two narrow ribs rise high above the streambed, deck loads are carried to the ribs by two small posts, and bracing consists of simple concrete struts, using minimal materials in a well-executed design that takes advantage of concrete construction. The pierced molded concrete parapet with star-shaped designs makes it a handsome addition to its site. It is the only bridge of this configuration among the fifteen open-spandrel arches in the nomination.
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 88000738, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | LR 19078 over Little Pine Creek, Bendertown |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000738 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Elder, John L. (builder/contractor) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unaltered, with original site; used for vehicular traffic. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.15147, -76.29554 (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 88000738.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966352
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.