Arch Bridge
National Register of Historic Places

Arch Bridge

Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine
Listed
July 6, 2003
Type
Structure
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
03000618

About this property

The Arch Bridge is a historic stone arch bridge, carrying Benner Road over the Pemaquid River near the village of Bristol Mills in Bristol, Maine. Probably built before 1800, it is one of the state's oldest stone bridges, and is remarkably well-preserved for its age. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The Pemaquid River roughly bisects the peninsula on the Maine coast that the town of Bristol occupies. The village of Bristol Mills is located near the peninsula's geographic center, stretching out along Bristol Road (Maine State Route 130). Near its northern end, Benner Road crosses the river just below the outlet of Biscay Pond, providing access from the village to the northeastern part of the peninsula. The bridge it crosses on is a dry-laid stone arch structure with span of 14 feet (4.3 m) and a total length of 21 feet (6.4 m). It is built out of field stone and roughly quarried stone and river cobbles, with its base laid directly on bedrock. The top of the arch is about 14 feet (4.3 m) above the bedrock, and it is built up another 4 feet (1.2 m) to the paved roadway. The sides of the bridge are lined with granite curbing and modern wooden guardrails. The actual construction date of the bridge is unknown, but circumstantial evidence and its construction methodology suggest a date before 1800. Town records before 1825 and after 1895 give no indication of funding for a bridge at this location. Benner Road is found on 1795 and 1815 maps of the area, and an 1857 map clearly identifies an arched bridge at this location. Its construction method is consistent with a similar bridge on Upper Round Pond Road (replaced with a metal culvert in 1984). The bridge has needed only modest repairs since its construction. National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Maine List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine

Location

Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine
43.96226, -69.50934

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Arch Bridge

This page lists Arch Bridge. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Arch Bridge report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Walpole Meetinghouse
Industrial
2.3 mi
Cottage on King's Row
Industrial
2.6 mi
Union Church
Industrial
2.6 mi
Harrington Meetinghouse
Colonial
3.4 mi
Perkins Homestead
Early Republic
3.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fort Pemaquid (1696)
1696Colonial
2.9 mi
Raid on Pemaquid 1689
1689Colonial
6.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Arch Bridge listed on the National Register?

Arch Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 6, 2003.

What type of historic resource is Arch Bridge?

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

What is the period of significance for Arch Bridge?

The period of significance for Arch Bridge is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Arch Bridge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Arch Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lincoln County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lincoln County.

Explore LincolnCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Arch Bridge will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report