Old Stone Arch Bridge (Bound Brook, New Jersey) facts for kids
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Old Stone Arch Bridge
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Old Stone Arch Bridge
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 Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Railroad Avenue, approximately 194 feet east of South Main Street Bound Brook, New Jersey |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1730 |
| Architectural style | Stone Arch bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000550 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 27, 2008 |
The Old Stone Arch Bridge is a very old bridge in Bound Brook, New Jersey, United States. It was built in 1731, making it the oldest bridge in New Jersey. It's also the second-oldest bridge still standing in the entire United States! Only the Frankford Avenue Bridge in Pennsylvania is older.
This historic bridge crosses the Green Brook. It connects Bound Brook in Somerset County with Middlesex Borough in Middlesex County. For a long time, it was part of an important road called the Old York Road. This road was the shortest way to travel between Philadelphia and New York City. It helped farmers and traders get their goods to important ports like New Brunswick. Since the 1870s, much of the bridge has been buried by a railroad track.
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What Does the Old Stone Arch Bridge Look Like?
The Old Stone Arch Bridge is made from rough stone, probably found nearby. It has three arches, which are curved supports. The middle arch is about 17.9 feet (5.5 meters) wide. The two side arches are a bit smaller.
Today, only a small part of the bridge is visible. A sign helps people know it's there, but it can be hard to spot. The bridge is about 79.5 feet (24.2 meters) long. Experts believe it used to be a "humpback" or "camelback" bridge. This means the middle of the bridge was higher than its ends. A concrete barrier was put in place to help protect the visible part of the bridge.
In colonial times, most bridges were simple. They were often just a few logs with planks on top. Stone bridges like this one were special. Most stone arch bridges in New Jersey were built much later, between the 1820s and early 1900s.
Why Is This Bridge Important?
The Old Stone Arch Bridge is so old and special that it's listed as one of the "10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey." This means it needs protection!
Luckily, Somerset County has spent money to uncover and restore parts of the bridge. They are working with Middlesex County to take care of this historic structure. In 2008, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places important to the history of the United States.
The Bridge's Location and History
The middle of the bridge sits right on the border between Somerset and Middlesex Counties. It also divides the towns of Bound Brook and Middlesex. When the bridge was built in 1731, these towns were part of larger areas.
The Old Stone Arch Bridge was a key part of early roads in New Jersey. One important road that crossed it was the Old York Road. This road started in Philadelphia and went all the way to Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth) Point. It was the quickest way to travel between Philadelphia and New York City.
Stagecoach companies, like the Swift Sure Stagecoach line, used this road. They carried mail and passengers. Travelers could stop at inns along the way, like the Old Stage Inn in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. These inns were places to rest, eat, and get supplies.
How the Bridge Helped Trade
The Old Stone Arch Bridge was built so that hunters, farmers, and traders could easily cross the Green Brook. This was very important for people living in northwest New Jersey.
In the early 1700s, it was hard to cross the Green Brook. There were no ferries, and going around took a very long time. But then, important port towns like New Brunswick and Raritan Landing grew up on the Raritan River. These towns were where ships could load and unload goods.
Raritan Landing became a busy port in the 1720s. It was the farthest inland point on the Raritan River that large merchant ships could reach. It was a center for trade, bringing goods in and sending them out of the Raritan Valley. By the 1740s, it had many buildings and people. However, after the Revolutionary War, New Brunswick became more important, and Raritan Landing faded away.
Why Was the Bridge Buried?
Today, the Old Stone Arch Bridge is hidden away. It's mostly found along a rough road that leads to a warehouse.
In the early 1870s, a railroad line was built through Bound Brook. This construction buried parts of the bridge. The Green Brook, which flowed under the bridge, was even moved to create dry land for the railroad.
Rediscovering and Protecting the Bridge
Even though it was buried for about 140 years, the bridge remained important. Experts from Somerset County decided to study it. They dug up parts of the bridge and found it was still in good condition!
The exact year the bridge was built was a bit of a mystery. But old state records confirmed its age. In 1727 and 1728, the government allowed a bridge to be built over the Bound Brook. Then, in 1730, they passed another law to make sure the bridge was built quickly. It said that Middlesex County would pay one-third of the cost, and Somerset County would pay two-thirds. All signs point to the bridge being finished in 1731.
Another stone bridge was built nearby, over a water channel for a gristmill. A gristmill is a place where grain is ground into flour. This mill probably existed before the bridges were built.
The Bridge's Role in the Revolutionary War
The Old Stone Arch Bridge is famous for its part in the American Revolutionary War. In 2008, it was listed as a national landmark because of this.
In 1777, British soldiers marched at night from New Brunswick. They surprised American troops and local fighters in the Battle of Bound Brook. A British soldier wrote in his diary that the Americans fought bravely near the bridge. They held off the British with "murderous fire." The fight lasted only a few minutes before the Americans had to retreat as more British soldiers arrived.
What's Next for the Bridge?
There are plans to uncover and restore the Old Stone Arch Bridge. If these plans happen, the bridge could become the main attraction of a new "Stone Bridge Park." This park would be part of a larger "Raritan River Park." This big park would stretch along the northern banks of the Raritan River in Somerset County.
To make this happen, the southern railroad line would need to be moved. This would also remove the railroad track that has separated the riverfront from downtown Bound Brook for over 140 years.
Images for kids
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The old highway is remembered in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
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A proposed historical marker for the bridge.
