Bridge in Reed Township
Why it's listed
A three-span stone bridge over Powell's Creek in Reed Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, dating from about 1860. It was built to carry the Pennsylvania Canal across the creek as an aqueduct, and was later adapted for road traffic in the twentieth century. The bridge is constructed of red and white coursed ashlar with a belt course and a continuous parapet cap. Its arches are multi-centered, an unusual form that the form identifies as a distinctive feature. The overall span measures 72 feet, and the structure includes only its superstructure and substructure. The bridge is regarded as significant for the quality of its masonry, its high level of integrity, and its connection to the canal system, which carried freight and passengers along the Susquehanna River through the mid-nineteenth century. Its engineering interest lies in the arch design and stone construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant for its unusually fine stonework and high integrity, and as part of the Pennsylvania Canal, which carried freight and passengers along the Susquehanna through the mid-nineteenth century. Its multi-centered arches are described as unusual. Areas of significance are listed as transportation and engineering.
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 88000823, 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 1/TR-147 over Powell's Creek, Inglenook |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000823 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Pa. Canal Company (builder/contractor); designer/engineer unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for vehicular traffic; described as in excellent condition and unaltered in integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.40985, -76.98480 (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 88000823.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15204770
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.