| Key Facts |
| Bridge Name | Facility Carried / Feature Intersected | Location | Structure Type | Construction Date / Builder or Contractor |
| Lenhart Road Bridge | Lenhart Road Over Stonycreek River | Rural: Somerset County, Pennsylvania | Metal Pinned Pratt Through Truss, Stationary | 1887 By: Groton Bridge Company of Groton, New York |
| Technical Facts |
| Rehabilitation Date | Structure Length | Bridge Width | Roadway Width | Main Spans | Approach Spans |
| 2002 | 95 Feet (29 Meters) | 14 Feet (4.27 Meters) | 12.8 Feet (3.9 Meters) | 1 | None |
The Lenhart Road Bridge is significant as an excellent example of a particular style bridge that the Groton Bridge Company built. The style included unusual sway bracing, latticed verticals, and decorative finials and plaques. Unusual connection design was also found on the hip vertical connections of these bridges. The Lenhart Road Bridge is historically significant as a beautiful and intact example of this important bridge company's work.
Short of demolishing a historic bridge about the worst and most annoying thing that anyone could ever do is to mount a clearance sign right on top or in front of the bridge's builder plaque. However, time and time again, Historic Bridges of Michigan and Elsewhere has found bridges in Pennsylvania that have this. This was most detrimental with the Ohl Street Bridge where this prevented positive identification of a builder, and held research back on drawing a connection between that bridge and several Ohio bridges. In the case of Ohl Street, authorities refused to remove the sign to provide a photo of the plaque. Similarly, the Lenhart Road Bridge also features a plaque mounted in this manner. Fortunately, Michigan comes to the rescue with this bridge which features an unobstructed plaque and nearly identical truss style. Somerset County's North Street Bridge also features this style. One interesting thing about the Groton Bridge Company however is they liked to put text on both sides of their plaques. Thus, some information on the plaques is not covered up.
Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge InventoryDiscussion of Bridge The 95'-long and 14' wide, pin-connected, 6 panel, Pratt thru truss bridge built in 1887 is supported on ashlar abutments with flared, stepped wingwalls. The deck and stringers are timber. The trusses are traditionally composed, but what is remarkable is how complete it is, including the original built up floor beams and the finials at the portals. The bridge is technologically and historically significant as a relatively early and complete example of the important bridge type. It is also documented to the Groton Bridge Company. Discussion of Surrounding Area The bridge carries 1 lane of an unimproved township road over the Stonycreek River in an area of 19th century houses that has been redeveloped with modern houses. It does not have historic district potential. Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes |
