National Register of Historic Places

Harris Street Bridge

Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Listed
July 4, 1984
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84002123

About this property

The Harris Street Bridge is a historic truss bridge that spans the Taunton River off Dean Street in Taunton, Massachusetts. Built in 1887, it is the oldest surviving bridge in the city, and was built as part of one of the city's earliest public works projects after incorporation as a city. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is closed to traffic, and is in disrepair. The Harris Street Bridge is located southeast of the junction of Dean Street (United States Route 44) and River Street in eastern Taunton. Dean Street parallels the Taunton River. When the bridge was built in 1887, it crossed on Harris Street, which is now dead-ended on the south bank of the river to the east. The bridge is a single-span through Pratt truss 100 feet (30 m) long, 35 feet (11 m) wide, and 35 feet (11 m) tall, with a span of 95 feet (29 m). The truss elements are wrought iron and are fastened together by pins. The bridge was built in 1887 by the Pennsylvania Bridge Company, and is one of only two known bridges in Massachusetts built by them. Its principal purpose was to carry a water main from the nearby Harris Street Pumping Station to the center of the city. Its secondary function was as a road and pedestrian bridge. The bridge has been closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for many years and its deck and railings are in serious disrepair. It still serves its original primary function, carrying a water pipe over the Taunton River. National Register of Historic Places listings in Taunton, Massachusetts List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts

Location

Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts
41.90567, -71.06956

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Dean, Lloyd, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Dean, Jonathan, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Dean-Hartshorn House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Old Colony Railroad Station
Industrial
0.6 mi
Woodward, William, House
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Harris Street Bridge listed on the National Register?

Harris Street Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 4, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Harris Street Bridge?

Harris Street Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Harris Street Bridge?

The period of significance for Harris Street Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Harris Street Bridge?

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