Bridge in Reed Township facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bridge in Reed Township
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Bridge in Reed Township, Summer 1999
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Legislative Route 1 (State Route 147) over Powell Creek, Reed Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1840 |
| Built by | Pennsylvania Canal Co. |
| Architectural style | Multi-span stone arch |
| MPS | Highway Bridges Owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000823 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1988 |
The Bridge in Reed Township is a very old and important stone bridge in Reed Township, Pennsylvania. It crosses over Powell Creek and is part of State Route 147. This bridge was built way back in 1840.
What makes this bridge special is that it wasn't always just a road bridge. When it was first built, it was an aqueduct. An aqueduct is like a bridge that carries water, often for a canal. This particular one was known as Wiconisco Canal Aqueduct No. 3.
What is an Aqueduct?
An aqueduct is a special kind of bridge. Instead of carrying cars or people, it carries water! Long ago, before trains and trucks were common, canals were like water highways. They helped boats move goods and people from one place to another.
Sometimes, a canal needed to cross over a river or a valley. That's where an aqueduct came in handy. It was built to lift the canal's water and boats safely over the obstacle. The Bridge in Reed Township did exactly this for the Wiconisco Canal.
Building the Bridge
The Bridge in Reed Township was built in 1840 by the Pennsylvania Canal Company. It is made from strong red and white stone blocks called ashlar. These blocks were carefully cut and fitted together to make the bridge very sturdy.
The bridge is about 72 feet (22 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) wide. It has several arches, which are curved supports that help the bridge hold a lot of weight. You can also see a "parapet cap" on top, which is like a protective wall along the edges of the bridge.
A Historic Landmark
Because of its age and its interesting history as an aqueduct, the Bridge in Reed Township is considered a very important structure. On June 22, 1988, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The National Register of Historic Places is a list of buildings, sites, and objects in the United States that are important to history. When something is on this list, it means it's recognized for its special past and is often protected so it can be preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
