Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge
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The bridge in 2010
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location |  US 40, Wheeling, West Virginia |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1817 |
| Architect | Moses Shepherd |
| Architectural style | Stone Arch |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000606 |
| Added to NRHP | August 21, 1981 |
The Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge, also known as the Monument Place Bridge, is a very old and important bridge in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It was built way back in 1817, making it the oldest bridge still standing in the state! This bridge helps U.S. Route 40 traffic cross over Little Wheeling Creek in a town called Elm Grove. Because it's so old and special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 21, 1981.
Contents
Building the Elm Grove Bridge
The Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge has a cool history. It was built by a man named Colonel Moses Shepherd. He was an important person in the Wheeling area.
Colonel Moses Shepherd's Role
Colonel Moses Shepherd moved to Wheeling around 1771. He built a big home called Shepherd Hall in 1798. He became good friends with Henry Clay, who was a powerful politician. Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
This friendship helped bring the famous National Road through Wheeling. Colonel Shepherd also won contracts to build all the bridges for the National Road in Ohio County.
Construction and Updates
Work on the Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge began in 1817. It was finished later that same year. The bridge was updated in 1931 and made stronger in 1953. Even today, the bridge is still used by cars and trucks on Route 40.
What the Bridge Looks Like
The Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge is made of stone and has three arches. It was built using solid limestone blocks. The bridge stretches 208 feet long over Little Wheeling Creek.
Arch Design
The middle arch is 38 feet wide. The two arches on either side are 25 feet wide. These arches are shaped like an ellipse, which is a stretched circle. Most bridges at the time used semicircular arches. The elliptical shape gives the bridge a unique "humpback" look. This design was chosen to make the bridge look more beautiful.
Changes Over Time
In 1931, some parts of the bridge called buttresses were removed. This was done to make space for sidewalks on both sides of the road. In 1953, the bridge was sprayed with a material called gunite. This made the bridge even stronger. The road has been paved with asphalt many times. However, these changes have not damaged the original design of the bridge from 1817.
