Factory Bridge
Also known as: Horsham Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1880, the Factory Bridge is a single-span covered bridge of 60 feet that crosses White Deer Creek in White Deer Township, about a mile from the village of West Deer in Union County. It has a combination of multiple King and Queen trusses and a roadbed 16 feet wide. The bridge takes its name from a woolens mill that once stood nearby and drew its water power from the creek. That mill burned about a century before the nomination was prepared, but a cluster of houses remains a short distance away on the old White Deer Turnpike. The bridge was repaired in 1954 and again in 1976, and it is in good condition after recent painting. Its significance rests on its engineering, its trusswork, and its connection to the local industrial history of White Deer Creek. It is also the only surviving covered bridge on that stream.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the bridge to a former woolens mill nearby that took its power from the creek and gave the bridge its name. It is described as the only remaining covered bridge on White Deer Creek. The form also cites its multiple King and Queen truss construction as a notable engineering type.
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 80003645, listed February 8, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 mi. W of White Deer on T 629, White Deer Township, White Deer |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Listed | February 8, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003645 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Combination multiple King and Queen truss covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition, repaired in 1954 and 1976, and recently painted. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.07368, -76.90298 (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 80003645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5428764
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.