Bell Bridge

United States historic place


Bell Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


42°53′42″N 100°19′20″W / 42.89500°N 100.32222°W / 42.89500; -100.32222
Area	less than one acre
Built	1903
Built by	Canton Bridge Co.; Cambria Steel Co.
Architectural style	Pratt through truss
MPS	Highway Bridges in Nebraska MPS
NRHP reference No.	92000752^[1]
Added to NRHP	June 29, 1992

The Bell Bridge, crossing the Niobrara River near Valentine, Nebraska, is a historic bridge that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is a Pratt through truss bridge that was designed by the Canton Bridge Co. of Canton, Ohio, fabricated by the Cambria Steel Co. of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and built by the Canton Bridge Co. It was built in 1903 and brings a Cherry County road across the Niobrara, 11.9 miles northeast of Valentine. It has also been known as the Allen Bridge and the Niobrara River Bridge and is registered as NEHBS No. CE00-22.^[1]

It is one of just four bridges in Cherry County that survived a flood in February, 1916. According to its NRHP nomination it is notable as "one of the oldest, longest and best-preserved of Cherry County's remarkable group of through trusses" and is "distinguished as one of the handful of pre-1916 trusses remaining" in the county and in the state.^[2]

National Register designation was given in 1992.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ Clayton B. Fraser (June 30, 1991). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Bell Bridge / Allen Bridge / Niobrara River Bridge / NEHBS Number CEOO-22". National Park Service. and accompanying photo