AA-765 Bridge 2081, Weems Creek Bridge
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AA-765 Bridge 2081, Weems Creek Bridge Architectural Survey File This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse- chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation such as photographs and maps. Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment. All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust. Last Updated: 06-11-2004 INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY/DISTRICT MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST INTERNAL NR-ELIGIBILITY REVIEW FORM Property /District Name: Bri dqe 2081 Survey Number: ....A-"-A-'---:..-7=65"==== Project: MD 436 over Weems Creek. Annaoolis MD Agency: SHA/FHWA Site visit by MHT Staff: _X_ no =yes Name========= Date====== Eligibility recommended ~X- Eligibility not recommended== Criteria: _X_A =B _x_c =D Considerations: A =B =c =D =E =F =G =None Justification for decision: CUse continuation sheet if necessary and attach map) Bridge No. 2081 is eligible for the National Register under Criteria A and C for ~Transportation and Engineering. Bridge No. 2081 is significant under Transportation as an xample of a movable bridge. Movable bridges have played an important part in the development of transportation in the United States and were once common features in areas with navigable waterways. Movable bridges are a rapidly disappearing bridge type. Of the more than 1,500 movable bridges constructed in Maryland, only twenty three remain. Of these, five are modern structures, built within the last thirty two years. Bridge No. 2081 is significant under Engineering as a rare example of a swing type bridge. Swing bridges were constructed in fewer numbers than bascule bridges in Maryland and are particularly rare today. Bridge No. 2081 is a center-bearing swing bridge composed of thirteen 20-foot steel girder spans and two 48-foot pony steel truss swing spans. It is one of three remaining swing bridges in Maryland and is the ordest of the three. The other two remaining swing bridges were constructed in 1950 and 1932 and are located on the Eastern Shore and in Southern Maryland. Swing bridges were the most commonly constructed movable bridge type in Maryland through the early twentieth century, with the bascule bridge becoming more popular in later years. As a movable bridge, designed to accommodate both vehicular and water-borne traffic, Bridge No. 2081 is emblematic of Anne Arundel County's maritime heritage. Documentation on the property/district is presented in: oroject file. SHA history of movable bridges. inventory form AA-765 Prepared by: Rita Suffness John Hnedak -- Elizabeth Hannold Reviewer, Office of Preservation Services Date NR progra'Rn~:~~J/;:-~: no ~ not applicable<--/~ c//-j/ "; __ Reviewer. NR program Date Survey No. ='-AA""'-'--'-7'--"6=5===== MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN DATA - HISTORIC CONTEXT I. Geographic Region: Eastern Shore (all Eastern Shore counties, and Cecil) ~x~ Western Shore (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's and St. Mary's) Piedmont (Baltimore City, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick. Harford, Howard, Montgomery) ~Western Maryland (Allegany, Garrett and Washington) II. Chronological/Developmental Periods: Paleo-Indian 10000-7500 B.C. _ Early Archaic 7500-6000 B.C. -- Middle Archaic 6000-4000 B.C. _ Late Archaic 4000-2000 B.C. ==== Early Woodland 2000-500 B.C. -- Middle Woodland 500 B.C. - A.O. 900 Late Woodland/Archaic A.D. 900-1600 ~ Contact and Settlement A.D. 1570-1750 _ Rural Agrarian Intensification A.D. 1680-1815 ====Agricultural-Industrial Transition A.O. 1815-1870 -x- Industrial/Urban Dominance A.D. 1870-1930 ~ Modern Period A.D. 1930-Present Unknown Period ( === prehistoric historic) III. Prehistoric Period Themes: IV. Historic Period Themes: Subsistence __ Agriculture Settlement X Architecture. Landscape Architecture, ~ ~ and Community Planning Political Economic (Commercial and Industrial) _ Demographic Government/Law ==== Religion _Military ==== Technology ====Religion -- Environmental Adaption ====Social/Educational/Cultural X Transportation V. Resource Type: Category: Structure Historic Environment: villa e =-'-'~~~====================================~ Hi sto r i c Function Cs) and Use Cs) : -=tr'""""a'-'-'n=lsp"""o'"'"-r"""'ta"'"'t"""'"i"""'on'-'========================== Known Design Source: Unknown AA-765 1929 Weems Creek Bridge Annapolis vicinity public (unrestricted) This bridge carries Maryland Route 436 over Weems Creek in Annapolis, Maryland. It consists of 13 twenty-foot steel beam spans and a swing span of 96 feet in length. The swing portion is a camelback pony truss. As a moveable bridge, this structure is significant as a relatively rare kind of construct, designed to accommodate both vehicular and water-borne traffic. This bridge is one of three moveable bridges -- part of Maryland's state road system in Anne Arundel County, and one of 15 bridges of the same structural type throughout the state road network - identified by the Maryland Historical Trust for the Maryland Department of Transportation in a jointly conducted survey during 1980-81. AA-765 AA ·2081 MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST ftl4(;I IF 02D1fti5.3~17 INVENTORY FORM FOR STATE HISTORIC SITES SURVEY dNAME HISTORIC ANO/OR COMMON Weems Creek Bridge fJLOCATION STREET & NUMBER CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Annapolis ,.X. VICINITY OF 4th STATE COUNTY Maryland Anne Arundel DcLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE _DISTRICT ~PUBLIC ~OCCUPIED _AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM _BUILDING(S) _PRIVATE _UNOCCUPIED _COMMERCIAL __ PARK XSTRUCTURE -BOTH _WORK IN PROGRESS _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS --...._, -OBJECT _IN PROCESS -YES: RESTRICTED _GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _BEING CONSIDERED ~YES: UNRESTRICTED _INDUSTRIAL X.TRANSPORTATION -NO _MILITARY _OTHER· JOWNER OF PROPERTY NAME State Highway Administration DOT Survey Telephone #: ~TREET & NUMBER 301 West Preston Street CITY, TOWN STATE , Zl.p code Baltimore _ VICINITY OF Maryland 21201 llLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Liber #: COURTHOUSE. Folio #: REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETCAnne Arundel Co. Courthouse STREET & NUMBER CITY. TOWN STATE Annapolis Maryland 21401 II REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SUR VEYS TITLE DATE _FEDERAL _STATE _COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY.TOWN STATE B DESCRIPTION CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE _EXCELLENT _DETERIORATED ~UNALTERED ~ORIGINAL SITE -XGOOD _RUINS -ALTERED _MOVED DATE. ____ _ FAIR _UNEXPOSED ~----~---=-::-::":'.'::"'."::-:::"-:='."'.:-=---:---:----------~---------------------0..,,-DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE This structure, which carries Maryland Route 436 NW and SE over Weems Creek in Annapolis, consists of 13 twenty-foot steel beam spans and a swing span of 96'. The swing portion rs a camel back pony steel truss. The roadway is 23' wide. All truss con nections are riveted. CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY IISIGNIFICANCE PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW ._PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _RELIGION ll00-1499 -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION _LAW -SCIENCE _1500-1599 -AGRICULTUR!; _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE _SCULPTURE -1600-1699 ......ARCHITECTURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY _$0CIAUHUMANITARIAN _1700-1799 -ART .XENGINEERING _MUSIC _THEATER _1800-1899 _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY ~TRANSPORTATION .X.1900- _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _QTHER (SPECIFY) _INVENTION ·\ SPECIFIC DATES 1929 BUILDER/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (See M/DOT general bridge significance, attached, moveable bridges in particular). CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY IJMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Files of the Bureau of Bridge Design, State Highway Administration, 301 West Preston Street, Baltimore, Md. Condit, Carl, American Building Art, 20th Century; New York, Oxford University Press, 1961. CONTINUE ON SE~AMTE SHEET .If NECESSM~ IJiJGEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY------- Quadrangle Name:South River Quadrangle Scale: 1:24 000 UTM References: 18. 369360. 4316860 VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION NA LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STA TENA COUNTY STATE COUNTY IDFORM PREPARED BY NAME/TITLE John Hnedak/M/DOT Survey Manager ORGANIZATION DATE Maryland Historical Trust 1980 STREET & NUMBER 21 State Circle CITY OR TOWN STIm: Annapolis Maryland 21401 The Maryland Historic Sites Inventory was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature, to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 Supplement. The Survey and Inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringe ment of individual property rights. RETURN TO: Maryland Historical Trust The Shaw House, 21 State Circle Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (301) 267-1438 PS· I 108 MOVABLE SPAN BRIDGES