Stone Bridge (Johnstown, Pennsylvania): Difference between revisions

Stone Bridge
Stone Bridge
	Stone Bridge from the overlook
Coordinates	40°19′57″N 78°55′30″W / 40.3325°N 78.9249°W
Carries	railroad traffic
Crosses	Conemaugh River
Locale	Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA
Official name	Conemaugh River Viaduct
Characteristics
Design	arch bridge
Material	Stone
Total length	428 feet (130 m)
Width	four tracks
Longest span	58 feet (18 m)
No. of spans	7
Piers in water	4
History
Construction start	1887
Construction end	1888
Location

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The Stone Bridge spans the Conemaugh River in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The bridge is a seven-arch stone railroad bridge located on the Norfolk Southern Railway's Pittsburgh Line, built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887–88. Its upstream face was reinforced with concrete in 1929.^[1]

This bridge survived the Johnstown Flood of 1889, but the bridge blocked debris across the river. These materials, including barbed wire, subsequently caught fire and created an inferno covering 30 acres (120,000 m²). Scores of people were trapped and killed. The bridge is visible from Point Park in downtown Johnstown.

Stone Bridge c. 1905

Stone Bridge project

The Stone Bridge, located on the edge of Johnstown's downtown, is an arched bridge built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887. On May 31, 1889, its seven arches blocked tons of debris, carried by the Johnstown Flood, including miles of barbed wire twisted through it from the destruction of a plant. The bridge withstood the force of the flood and this load. But an enormous fire broke out in the debris at the bridge, killing scores of people trapped within it, and burning for three days.

A Johnstown landmark, the three-track bridge is still used by the railroad. It is now owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway. Route 56, the most heavily traveled road in the region, passes nearby.^[2] The bridge is highly visible from Route 56, downtown, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association's (JAHA) newly established Festival Park, and the restaurant and visitors center above the city at the Inclined Plane. The bridge needed restoration, as its stone façade had long since been covered with concrete, added when the bridge was expanded with a third track, and its general appearance was poor.

A bridge restoration project was developed by community leaders, to include cleaning and physical and aesthetic improvements, resurfacing of the south side, and new lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting adjustable to different colors and intensities. Estimated to cost $1.2 million, the project was initiated in 2008 as part of flood commemorative activities.^[3]

Michael Brosig, co-chair of the Stone Bridge Committee, said,

The significance of the Stone Bridge is that it stood its ground against the flood waters and altered the future of Johnstown completely and forever. It created the backdrop for the event that put Johnstown on the map. Restoring the South facade of that structure and casting LED lighting on it will certainly showcase the triumph of the human spirit in a spectacular style for all to see, enjoy and be proud of their heritage. Based on its strategic location, it is the linchpin of the historic district of our city.^{[citation needed]}

Consultants on the bridge restoration project included Shadowstone, Inc., of Clifton, New Jersey, for the lighting. For the bridge restoration and rehabilitation, the group worked with Pawlowski & Haman Architects, P.C., and H. F. Lenz Co., both of Johnstown.

References

^ Spivey, Justin M. (April 2001). "Pennsylvania Railroad, Conemaugh River Viaduct" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 3. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
^ "The Stone Bridge". Johnstown Area Heritage Association. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
^ "Johnstown Lights Historic Stone Bridge" (PDF). Society for Industrial Archeology Newsletter. 41 (4): 11–13.

External links

Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. PA-517, "Pennsylvania Railroad, Conemaugh River Viaduct", 5 photos, 4 data pages, 1 photo caption page
Johnstown Area Heritage Association Photographs
Stone Bridge lighting video

[1] Spivey, Justin M. (April 2001). "Pennsylvania Railroad, Conemaugh River Viaduct" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 3. Retrieved January 29, 2014.

[2] "The Stone Bridge". Johnstown Area Heritage Association. Retrieved March 16, 2013.

[3] "Johnstown Lights Historic Stone Bridge" (PDF). Society for Industrial Archeology Newsletter. 41 (4): 11–13.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox Bridge
+{{Infobox bridge
 |bridge_name   = Stone Bridge
 |image         = Johnstown Bridge.JPG
-|caption       = Stone Bridge from the overlook.
+|caption       = Stone Bridge from the overlook
 |official_name = Conemaugh River Viaduct
 |carries       = railroad traffic
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 |complete      = 1888
 |open          =
-|coordinates   ={{coord|40.3325|-78.9249|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title,inline|name=Stone Bridge (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)}}
+|coordinates   = {{coord|40.3325|-78.9249|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title,inline|name=Stone Bridge (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)}}
-|extra={{Location map | USA Pennsylvania
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+The '''Stone Bridge''' spans the [[Conemaugh River]] in [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]]. The bridge is a seven-arch stone railroad bridge located on the [[Norfolk Southern Railway]]'s [[Pittsburgh Line]], built by the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] in 1887–88. Its upstream face was reinforced with concrete in 1929.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/pa/pa3700/pa3723/data/pa3723data.pdf |title=Pennsylvania Railroad, Conemaugh River Viaduct |last=Spivey |first=Justin M. |date=April 2001 |website=Historic American Engineering Record |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |page=3 |accessdate=January 29, 2014}}</ref>
-The '''Stone Bridge''' spans the [[Conemaugh River]] in [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]]. The bridge is a seven-arch stone railroad bridge located on the [[Norfolk Southern]] mainline, built by the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] in 1887-88. Its upstream face was reinforced with concrete in 1929.<ref>Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. PA-517, [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.pa3723 "Pennsylvania Railroad, Conemaugh River Viaduct"]</ref> This bridge survived the [[Johnstown Flood]] of 1889, but the bridge blocked debris, which subsequently caught fire and created an inferno covering {{convert|30|acre|m2}}. The bridge is visible from Point Park in downtown Johnstown.
+This bridge survived the [[Johnstown Flood]] of 1889, but the bridge blocked debris across the river. These materials, including barbed wire, subsequently caught fire and created an inferno covering {{convert|30|acre|m2}}. Scores of people were trapped and killed. The bridge is visible from Point Park in downtown Johnstown.
+{{multiple image
-== The Stone Bridge Project ==
+|align=left
+|total_height=180
+|image1=Johnstown Stone Bridge over Conemaugh River 1905 b.jpg
+|width1=120 |height1=
+|caption1=
+|image2=Johnstown Stone Bridge over Conemaugh River 1905.jpg
+|width2=220 |height2=
+|caption2=Stone Bridge c. 1905}}
+== Stone Bridge project ==
-The Stone Bridge, located on the edge of Johnstown’s downtown, is an arched bridge built by the
+The Stone Bridge, located on the edge of Johnstown's downtown, is an arched bridge built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887. On May 31, 1889, its seven arches blocked tons of debris, carried by the [[Johnstown Flood]], including miles of barbed wire twisted through it from the destruction of a plant. The bridge withstood the force of the flood and this load. But an enormous fire broke out in the debris at the bridge, killing scores of people trapped within it, and burning for three days.
-Pennsylvania Railroad in 1887. On May 31, 1889, its seven arches blocked tons of debris carried by
+{{stack|[[File:jtownstonebridge2.jpg|thumb|Closer view, with rail traffic]]}}
-the waters of the Johnstown Flood, but the bridge itself withstood the flood’s impact. An
-enormous fire broke out at the bridge, killing scores of people trapped in the flood debris. The fire
-would burn for three days.
+A Johnstown landmark, the three-track bridge is still used by the railroad. It is now owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway. [[Pennsylvania Route 56|Route 56]], the most heavily traveled road in the region, passes nearby.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.jaha.org/stonebridge.html |title = The Stone Bridge |publisher = Johnstown Area Heritage Association |accessdate= March 16, 2013}}</ref> The bridge is highly visible from Route 56, downtown, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association's (JAHA) newly established Festival Park, and the restaurant and visitors center above the city at the Inclined Plane. The bridge needed restoration, as its stone façade had long since been covered with concrete, added when the bridge was expanded with a third track, and its general appearance was poor.
-Today, the bridge is a Johnstown landmark, and is still an active railroad bridge with three tracks.
-Owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad, the bridge is located along Route 56, the most heavily-traveled
-road in the region. It is highly visible from Route 56, downtown, JAHA’s newly-established Festival
-Park, and the restaurant and visitors center above the city at the Inclined Plane. However, the bridge
-is in need of restoration; the stone façade has long since been covered with concrete when an
-additional track was added to the bridge, and the bridge’s general appearance is poor.
+A bridge restoration project was developed by community leaders, to include cleaning and physical and aesthetic improvements, resurfacing of the south side, and new lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting adjustable to different colors and intensities. Estimated to cost $1.2 million, the project was initiated in 2008 as part of flood commemorative activities.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Johnstown Lights Historic Stone Bridge |journal=[[Society for Industrial Archeology Newsletter]] |volume=41 |issue=4 |pages=11–13 |url=http://www.sia-web.org/sian/images/sianv41/sianV41number4page1and16.pdf}}</ref>
-A committee of community leaders is leading an effort to restore the stone bridge, including cleaning
-for physical and aesthetic improvements. The concrete on the southern side of the bridge will be
-resurfaced. The bridge will also be lit using energy-efficient LED lighting that can be adjusted to
-different colors and intensities. The project has been estimated at $1.2 million, and is being
-announced as part of 2008 flood commemorative activities.
-[[File:jtownstonebridge.jpg|thumb|left|Closer view.]]
-"The significance of the Stone Bridge is that it stood its ground against the flood waters and altered
-the future of Johnstown completely and forever. It created the backdrop for the event that put
-Johnstown on the map,” said Michael Brosig, co-chair of the Stone Bridge Committee. “Restoring the
-South facade of that structure and casting LED lighting on it will certainly showcase the triumph of the
-human spirit in a spectacular style for all to see, enjoy and be proud of their heritage. Based on its
-strategic location, it is the lynchpin of the historic district of our city."
+Michael Brosig, co-chair of the Stone Bridge Committee, said,
-Consultants on the bridge restoration project include Shadowstone Inc. of Hackensack, N.J., for the
-lighting. Shadowstone has been involved in a variety of high-profile lighting projects, including such
+<blockquote>The significance of the Stone Bridge is that it stood its ground against the flood waters and altered the future of Johnstown completely and forever. It created the backdrop for the event that put Johnstown on the map. Restoring the South facade of that structure and casting LED lighting on it will certainly showcase the triumph of the human spirit in a spectacular style for all to see, enjoy and be proud of their heritage. Based on its strategic location, it is the linchpin of the historic district of our city.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}</blockquote>
-Washington, D.C. projects as the White House and Pentagon briefing rooms; the U.S. Open Tennis
-Tournament; a special event at the Brooklyn Bridge; and many others. For the bridge restoration and
-rehabilitation, the group is working with Pawlowski & Haman Architects, P.C. and H.F. Lenz Co., both
+Consultants on the bridge restoration project included Shadowstone, Inc., of [[Clifton, New Jersey]], for the lighting. For the bridge restoration and rehabilitation, the group worked with Pawlowski & Haman Architects, P.C., and H. F. Lenz Co., both of Johnstown.
-of Johnstown.
+==See also==
+*[[List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania]]
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
-Johnstown Area Heritage Association
 ==External links==
+{{Commons category|Stone Bridge (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)}}
+*{{HAER |survey=PA-517 |id=pa3723 |title=Pennsylvania Railroad, Conemaugh River Viaduct |photos=5 |data=4 |cap=1}}
 *[http://www.jaha.org/edu/flood/why/img/stonebridge_gallery/index.html Johnstown Area Heritage Association Photographs]
+*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIDIvwCLRqE/ Stone Bridge lighting video]
-{{Pennsylvania-struct-stub}}
+{{Johnstown, Pennsylvania}}
-{{US-bridge-struct-stub}}
 [[Category:Railroad bridges in Pennsylvania]]
 [[Category:Bridges completed in 1888]]
-[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cambria County, Pennsylvania]]
+[[Category:Buildings and structures in Johnstown, Pennsylvania]]
-[[Category:Transportation in Cambria County, Pennsylvania]]
+[[Category:Transportation in Johnstown, Pennsylvania]]
-[[Category:Johnstown, Pennsylvania]]
+[[Category:Norfolk Southern Railway bridges]]
-[[Category:Norfolk Southern Railway bridges and tunnels]]
+[[Category:Pennsylvania Railroad bridges]]
+[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Pennsylvania]]
-{{Johnstown, Pennsylvania}}
+[[Category:Stone arch bridges in the United States]]
+[[Category:Bridges in Cambria County, Pennsylvania]]