East Pennsboro Township near Summerdale in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Henszey's Wrought-Iron Bridge
1869
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, July 21, 2016
1. Henszey's Wrought-Iron Bridge Marker
Photos from left to right: Over the Ontalaunce Creek in Wanamaker, PA.
Refurbished bridge being moved to Central Pennsylvania College
Bridge settling into its new home
The bridge as it appears in 2003 here at Central Pennsylvania College
The original location in Slatington, PA
Refurbished bridge being moved to Central Pennsylvania College
Bridge settling into its new home
The bridge as it appears in 2003 here at Central Pennsylvania College
The original location in Slatington, PA
Henszey's Bridge, one of the last remaining wrought iron arch truss bridges in America, was invented by Joseph G. Henszey in 1869 and manufactured that same year by the Continental Bridge Company in Philadelphia. It first served to carry Main Street over Trout Creek in Slatington, and then in 1900, it was moved to Wanamaker to span the Ontalaunce Creek. Closed in 1986, the bridge was purchased in 2001 for $22. On May 6, 2002, the newly refurbished historic bridge traveled across three counties to finally rest on the campus of Central Pennsylvania College in Summerdale, Pennsylvania.
One unique feature of this bridge is the lower cord assembly - horizontal bars that arch below the bars from the end supports and midspan. The bridge is 93 feet long and 15 feet wide. Nineteenth century wrought iron bowstring arch bridges like this have all but vanished. This unique bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the bridge serves as a pedestrian walkway for students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the campus of Central Pennsylvania College. The historic gold colored bridge symbolizes the quality hands-on education the College provides to connect students to their career dreams.
Topics.
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Location. 40° 18.292′ N, 76° 56.052′ W. Marker is near Summerdale, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in East Pennsboro Township. It can be reached from Valley Street. Located on the campus of Central Penn College. Northeast corner of the bridge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 College Hill Road, Summerdale PA 17093, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania and in Greater Harrisburg. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Henszey's Wrought Iron Arch Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, July 21, 2016
2. Henszey's Wrought-Iron Bridge Marker
Also see . . .
1. Central Penn College. (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
2. Henszey's Wrought-Iron Bridge. (Submitted on December 23, 2020, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, July 21, 2016
3. Henszey's Wrought-Iron Bridge
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, July 21, 2016
4. Henszey's Wrought-Iron Bridge Deck Underside
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2020, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 279 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 23, 2020, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
