Schuylkill County Bridge No. 114
Why it's listed
A totally wooden covered bridge of the Burr arch type crosses Lower Little Swatara Creek west of the Village of Rock in Washington Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Supported on concrete piers, the structure measures 50.6 feet long and 11.5 feet wide, with an under-clearance of 10 feet. Washington Township was settled by German farmers, and in the 1860s the area became part of the anthracite coal boom, with several mines opened along the creek. Coal from these mines was shipped by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad from the station at Rock, and the bridge carried traffic tied to that coal movement and to the distribution of local farm products. Of the 51 covered bridges once standing in Schuylkill County, this is one of only two that survive. It remains in good condition and carries only local traffic on township route 661.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge served the coal transport and agricultural distribution of the area in the late nineteenth century, linking nearby mines to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad at Rock. It is one of only two surviving covered bridges of the 51 once in Schuylkill County.
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 78002467, listed January 3, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Rock off PA 895, Rock |
|---|---|
| County | Schuylkill County |
| Listed | January 3, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002467 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Burr arch covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition, carrying only local traffic on township route 661; not lighted. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.54416, -76.32558 (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 78002467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7433095
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.