Bridge in Bangor Borough
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
A single-span concrete arch bridge over Martins Creek in Bangor Borough, Northampton County, built in 1915. The span measures 45 feet and the bridge is 50 feet overall. Herbert C. Dilliard served as engineer and Jacob Stem as contractor, according to the plaque on the bridge, which records the county commissioners of the period. Its decoration is unusually elaborate for a bridge of this size. Molded designs appear on the spandrel walls and abutments, the voussoirs are ornately scored, and the railings are concrete balustrades. The bridge carries vehicular traffic across Pennsylvania Street. Its importance lies in its engineering and design. Although it is not known to be a proprietary design, it is regarded as an intact example of a park bridge, a type built where it would be viewed from both the deck and the elevation. The bridge is listed as a highway bridge owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Department of Transportation.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as a very fine example of a highly embellished concrete arch bridge. Its ornamentation includes molded designs on the spandrel walls and abutments, ornate voussoirs and a balustraded parapet. The nomination argues it is an intact example of a 'park bridge', a category of concrete bridge designed to be seen from both deck and elevation views and usually heavily ornamented.
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 88000876, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Pennsylvania St. over Martins Creek, Bangor |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000876 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Herbert C. Dilliard (engineer); Jacob Stem (contractor) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.86942, -75.20729 (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 88000876.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966339
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.