Old-Biesecker Bridge
Description
Unusual concrete bridge with V-shaped crest. Its named Race Horse Bridge for the local bar (across the road from where it sits) which has sat in the spot since the 1960's. The length of the bridge is approximated. Bridge was built in 1908 based upon stone placard.Facts
- Overview
- Concrete bridge over Little Conewago Creek on abandoned section of road.
- Location
- East Berlin, York County, Pennsylvania
- Status
- Open to pedestrians
- History
- Built 1908
- Design
- Concrete curved chord through girder
- Dimensions
-
Total length: 15.0 ft.
Deck width: 10.0 ft.
- Also called
- Race Horse Bridge
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +39.94583, -76.86181 (decimal degrees)
39°56'45" N, 76°51'43" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 18/340946/4423404 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- West York
- Inventory number
- BH 49845 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- January 4, 2014: Updated by Tony Dillon: Changed information as this is not a truss bridge
- December 7, 2011: Updated by Daniel Hopkins: Updated built date and descriptior
- October 17, 2011: Added by Daniel Hopkins
Sources
- Daniel Hopkins - chimera [at] clovermail [dot] net
- Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
Comments
While the crossing may date to the 1880s, I would say the bridge seen today dates to between 1910 and 1920. It appears to be a concrete arch, and such a bridge would not have been built in the 1880s. The only exception would be if it were a stone arch that was later encased in concrete. However based on the unusual shape of the bridge this seems unlikely. A similar bridge dates to 1919 and is found here: http://www.bridgehunter.com/pa/york/667209063330320/
Clark Vance The alternate name comes from the local bar, Nathan Holth your right after researching it yesterday I learned this bridge was built sometime between 1884 and 1885 on Biesecker road and was intended as a horse and buggy style crossing for hauling by local farmers. I can't find much more then a date and purpose however, so I used Google maps for length approximation. Jodi Christman your right....been looking around back home in Ohio to add bridges here that I know haven't been added.
Looks like one of York County's really weird concrete arch bridges. But it should be newer than 1850.
Nice hunting. How did you get the date and alternate name? I hope the owner is in when you go by again....
Awesome find Daniel! You gotta love when you stumble across a treasure like this.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/pa/york/old-biesecker/
Well I will have to see if I can get closer to the bridge then to see the date on plate / impression.