Frantz's Bridge
Why it's listed
Frantz's Bridge is a stone arch bridge carrying vehicular traffic over Jordan Creek in Lowhill Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1887, according to PennDOT records, it spans 166 feet with three semi-circular arches of 32 feet each, flanked by long approach walls. The structure is built of coursed rubble, with rock-faced ashlar voussoirs and contrasting parapet coping as its only decorative elements. Its stones above the arch crown are noticeably smaller than those below, suggesting the bridge was built in two phases. The bridge is regarded as a well-preserved example of multi-span stone bridges in the county. It retains its original site and remains unaltered, and it is grouped with two other stone bridges in Lehigh County built in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Its significance lies in engineering, reflecting the typical design and construction of such crossings in the region during that period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is a well-preserved representative example of multi-span stone bridges in Lehigh County, combining very good integrity with typical semi-circular arches and intermediate length. It is one of three stone bridges in the nominated group, all built in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The area of significance is 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 88000771, 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 39060 over Jordan Creek, Weidasville |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000771 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.65102, -75.65016 (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 88000771.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5492628
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.