Mill Street Stone Arch Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mill Street Stone Arch Bridge |
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Bridge from east, 2008
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| Coordinates | 42°8′1″N 74°28′58″W / 42.13361°N 74.48278°W |
| Carries | Mill Street |
| Crosses | Birch Creek |
| Locale | Pine Hill, NY, USA |
| Maintained by | Town of Shandaken |
| Heritage status | NRHP #96001439 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Stone |
| Total length | 12 feet (3.7 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Clearance below | 7 feet (2.1 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Matthew G. Thompson |
| Construction end | 1897 |
The Mill Street Stone Arch Bridge is a cool old bridge in Pine Hill, New York, USA. It crosses a small creek and was built around the year 1900. This bridge is one of two stone arch bridges in Pine Hill made by a local builder named Matthew G. Thompson. It is still standing strong and is used today. In 1996, it was added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical places.
About the Bridge
The Mill Street Bridge is located on Mill Street. It is just south of where Mill Street meets Bonnie View Avenue. The bridge is about 12 feet (4 meters) long. Its arch rises about 7 feet (2.1 meters) above the creek's water. The area around the bridge is mostly homes and trees. It is also about 800 feet (240 meters) west of another similar bridge, the Elm Street Stone Arch Bridge.
How the Bridge Was Built
This bridge is a type of arch bridge. It carries the paved street over the creek. The bridge is made from stone found nearby. The stones used for the arch are called voussoirs. There is a special stone in the middle of the arch called a keystone. These stones are held together by strong cement, called mortar.
The sides of the bridge, called spandrel walls, are also made of stone. These stones were placed in a random pattern and held together with mortar.
Building History
In 1897, the town board of Shandaken decided to build two bridges in Pine Hill. A few years later, in 1900, they hired a local builder named Matthew G. Thompson. He was paid $208 to build the bridge. That would be worth about $7,300 today!
Thompson used building methods that were very old, dating back to the 1700s. First, he built the strong supports on each side of the creek. These are called abutments. Then, he put up a temporary wooden frame to hold the arch while it was being built. This frame is called centering.
The inside of the arch was filled with earth or stone. Sometimes, builders would even use coal tar to help keep water out. The outside joints of the stones were packed very tightly before the mortar was added. The wooden frame was left in place until the mortar was completely dry and strong. This could take several weeks.
It's not exactly known when Thompson finished the bridge. But it has stayed in great shape and is still used today. The town of Shandaken takes care of it.
