Bridge in Gibson Borough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bridge in Gibson Borough
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | South Gibson, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Primitive corbelled arch |
| MPS | Highway Bridges Owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000839 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1988 |
The Bridge in Gibson Borough was an old stone bridge located near South Gibson, Pennsylvania, in the state of Pennsylvania. It was built over Bell Creek. This bridge was special because it used a building style called a "false arch."
People think the bridge was built a long time ago, sometime between 1750 and 1824. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
What Was the Gibson Borough Bridge?
The Gibson Borough Bridge was a type of bridge known as a "clapper bridge" or "stone slab bridge." It was made from large flat stones. These stones rested on supports that stuck out from the sides, called "corbels." This created a false arch shape.
- A false arch looks like a curved arch but is made by stacking stones that gradually stick out further until they meet in the middle. It's different from a true arch, which uses wedge-shaped stones to create a strong curve.
- A clapper bridge is a simple bridge made of large flat stone slabs. These slabs are laid across stone piers or supports.
The bridge measured about 58 feet (17.7 meters) long and 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide. It was located north of the small town of South Gibson.
Why Was It Important?
The Bridge in Gibson Borough was important because of its unique construction style. It showed how people built bridges a long time ago, before modern engineering. Its age and design made it a valuable historical landmark.
Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places meant it was recognized as a place worth preserving. This helps people learn about the past and protect old structures.
What Happened to the Bridge?
Sadly, the Bridge in Gibson Borough is no longer there. In December 2015, officials reported that the bridge had been taken down. This means a piece of local history is now gone.
