Horse Valley Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning Conodoguinet Creek on the former state route between Upper Strasburg and Fannetsburg, this stone arch bridge has three arches, each measuring 16 feet, with a total length of 55 feet. Its builder and exact construction date are unknown, but it is generally dated to before 1860 on the basis of local bridge histories. The structure is built of roughly coursed local limestone, with semi-pyramidal piers and roughly cut thin limestone coping. These features match many stone arch bridges built in Franklin County during the nineteenth century, yet relatively few of that type survive. Its significance rests on its engineering as a surviving example of turnpike-era construction, and its condition is recorded as good. The bridge carries vehicular traffic through farmland and rural countryside, and it is noted for its double wingwalls set at ninety degrees to the roadway.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is one of four very fine examples of nineteenth century turnpike bridges in Franklin County. Its roughly coursed local limestone, semi-pyramidal piers and thin limestone coping are typical of county bridges built before 1860, and it is cited in F. F. Unger's descriptions of county bridges. Few stone bridges of this type in the county still stand.
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 88000775, 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 28093 over Conodoguinet Creek, Upper Strasburg |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000775 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.06589, -77.75908 (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 88000775.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5905567
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.