Atherton Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Atherton Bridge
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Atherton Bridge, 1979
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lancaster, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1870 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000377 |
| Added to NRHP | September 19, 1979 |
The Atherton Bridge is a very old iron bridge in Lancaster, Massachusetts. It crosses the South Branch of the Nashua River. This bridge is special because it's a rare type of iron bridge from the 1800s. It was built in 1870 by J. H. Cofrode & Co. from Philadelphia. It was the very first iron bridge ever built in Lancaster! The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's an important historical site.
Atherton Bridge: A Historic Landmark
The Atherton Bridge is a unique example of early bridge building. It uses a special design called a "hybrid pony truss." This design is similar to those created by Simeon S. Post in the 19th century. The bridge shows how engineers used new materials like iron back then.
What Makes This Bridge Special?
The Atherton Bridge has some interesting features. Its iron posts lean inward towards the middle. The diagonal rods lean outward towards the ends. It also has special parts called "Phoenix columns." These were a patented design from the Phoenix Iron Works. The bridge's floor is made of wood planks.
The bridge is 72 feet (22 m) long. It is also 18.5 feet (5.6 m) wide. It has eight sections, called panels. The bridge rests on strong granite blocks at each end.
A Look Back: The Bridge's History
The Atherton Bridge used to carry Bolton Road. But in 1975, it was closed to cars. A newer highway bridge was built in the 1980s to take its place.
The bridge stayed open for people walking until April 2020. A sudden flood damaged its wooden deck. Since then, it has been closed to everyone. The future of this historic bridge is still being decided.
There has been a bridge at this spot for a very long time. It is named after James Atherton. He was one of the people who signed a paper to make Lancaster a town in 1652. A map from 1794 shows the bridge was 90 feet long. Lancaster's first iron bridge was built here in 1870.
The Atherton Bridge was photographed in 1979. This was done by Jet Lowe for the Historic American Engineering Record. It was also studied in 1990 for the Massachusetts Historic Bridge Project. At that time, it was one of only two bridges left with this specific design.
