Frankford Avenue Bridge
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
Built in 1904 by the City of Philadelphia, this reinforced concrete arch bridge carries Frankford Avenue over Poquessing Creek on the Philadelphia and Bucks County line. Its single main span measures 74 feet. John McMenamy was the contractor. The steel reinforcement of the segmental arch combined beam and bar reinforcement, with a steel rib built of four angles joined by quarter-inch reinforcing bars. The bridge is regarded as an excellent example of a highly ornamented filled barrel arch. Its spandrel walls are scored to imitate stone courses, and the arch ring is articulated to simulate voussoirs, a surface treatment typical of concrete arch bridges built in parks or cities. The parapet is original and has urn-shaped balusters. The bridge is significant for its engineering and for the craftsmanship of its early concrete construction, and it was entered in the National Register in 1988 as part of a group of Pennsylvania highway bridges.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an early and excellent example of a highly ornamented, well preserved filled barrel arch bridge. Its concrete spandrel walls are scored to imitate stone courses and the arch ring is articulated to simulate voussoirs, a treatment described as typical of bridges built in parks or cities. The original urn-shaped baluster railing and the careful craftsmanship of the concrete arch are also cited.
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 88000803, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Frankford Ave. over Pennypack Creek, Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000803 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architect / builder | John McMenamy (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Filled barrel arch |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.06474, -74.98085 (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 88000803.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5490737
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.