National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
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NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number ——— Page ——— SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 00001491 Date Listed: 12/12/2000 Morel Bridge Deer Lodge MT Property Name County State N/A Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. / Signatures <zfr the Keeper Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Significance: Architecture is deleted as an area of significance. [The property is best appreciated under Criterion C in the area of Engineering.] Criteria Consideration G should be checked since the property continued to achieve significance into the period less than fifty years before the nomination. [The property meets the criteria consideration since the majority of the period of significance is older than 50 years and end date 1959 reflects a clear, logical point in time after which substantial changes affected the property's functional setting and importance.] Acreage: The correct acreage is: less than one acre. These revisions were confirmed with Kathryn Hampton at the MT SHPO. DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) NFS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rav Oct. 1990) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM 1. Name of Property historic name: Morel Bridge other name/site number: Rainbow Bridse/24DL411 2. Location street & number: 25200 East Side Road not for publication: n/a vicinity: n/a city/town: Anaconda state: Montana code: MT county: Deer Lodge code: 023 zip code: 59711 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the desi jnated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination _ request for determinat >n of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property X meets _ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I ;conimend that this property be considered significant nationally X statewide locally. ( See continuation sheet for additional comme fit Signature c f cer ifying officialTpiffe Montana State Historic Preservation Office State or Federal agency or bureau In my opinion, the property _ meets _ does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification I, hereby certify that this property is: ^/Signature pUhe Keeper / Date of Action k-entered in the National Register J ~~~"'^ -^^^r^vf^^ 2//2./000 _ see continuation sheet _ determined eligible for the National Register _ see continuation sheet _ determined not eligible for the National Register __ see continuation sheet _ removed from the National Register _see continuation sheet _ other (explain): ____________ Morel Bridge Deer Lodge, MT Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property: Private Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing Category of Property: Structure __ _ building(s) Number of contributing resources previously _ __ sites listed in the National Register: n/a 1 __ structures __ __ objects Name of related multiple property listing: n/a 1 TOTAL 6. Function or Use Historic Functions: Current Functions: TRANSPORTATION/Road-related (vehicular) TRANSPORTATION/Pedestrian-related RECREATION AND CULTURE/outdoor recreation 7. Description Architectural Classification: Materials: Other: Rainbow Arch Bridge foundation: walls: roof: other: Concrete, redwood Narrative Description Summary Description The Morel Bridge is a single-span, concrete, through-arch bridge located in the Warm Springs Ponds Complex, near Warm Springs, MT. The bridge design, patented by James Barney Marsh in 1912, is distinctive for its parallel arches that rise above the level of the deck. Seven hangers within the arches supported the original concrete deck. The bridge spans Silver Bow Creek and was part of a county road that connected the town of Anaconda to the Milwaukee Road Railway substation at Morel, MT. In 1959, the area was flooded by the construction of settlement ponds, subsuming the county road associated with the bridge and making the course of Silver Bow Creek difficult to discern. Submersion caused severe deterioration to the deck and the lower part of the hangers. The deck was partially replaced with redwood in 1992. Despite the loss of the original deck and deterioration of the concrete and rebar, especially at water level, the bridge retains integrity of design, workmanship and materials, as well as location and feeling. The bridge's integrity of setting and association have been compromised by construction of the ponds complex. Setting The Morel Bridge was constructed in 1914 across Silver Bow Creek as part of the county highway between the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad substation at Morel, Montana and Anaconda, Montana. The bridge is located in the broad Deer Lodge Valley, amidst a series of filtration ponds that were constructed by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company between 1911 and 1959. The Deer Lodge Valley is located approximately 18 miles west of the Continental Divide and receives little precipitation and mild winters. Surrounding vegetation includes grasses and forbes consistent with marshy environment, and includes catttails, wildflowers, napweed and bunchgrass. Foothills rise immediately to the east, and the Pintlar Range, with its high peaks, is visible along the western horizon. Today, the graceful arches of the Morel Bridge rise from a marshy, flooded area at the south end of Settlement Pond 2. Construction of the pond has made the original course of Silver Bow Creek difficult to discern. Indeed, the series of ponds have NPS Form 10-900-a 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Morel Bridge Page 1 Deer Lodge County, Montana transformed the landscape from a creek to marsh and open water. The Morel Bridge The bridge measures 90 feet long and 23 feet wide. A representative example of a "Rainbow Arch " reinforced concrete bridge, with its distinctive raised-arch design, the structure features a single span of two parallel arches on either side of the deck. The 21-inch wide arches are anchored in the abutments below the level of the deck, and rise above. Seven evenly-spaced 18-inch wide hangers, which supported the original concrete deck, are located within each arch, and are constructed of twisted square iron rods (a precursor to rebar), one-inch stringers, and concrete. Concrete guardwalls, each half the height of the arches, flank the deck area and feature recessed panels and beveled endposts (the northwest endpost and approach are missing). The original concrete deck no longer exists, and has been replaced by a redwood deck that extends to the center of the bridge. Since 1969, the property has been leased by the State Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as a bird refuge. The bridge underwent improvements in 1992 to stabilize the structure, provide pedestrian access, and take advantage of its situation in a prime waterfowl viewing area. These included construction of the replacement deck, redwood guardrails, a raised gravel access road, and removal of sediments. Integrity Despite the loss of the original concrete deck and the northwest approach, the Morel Bridge retains a high level of integrity. Architecturally, the bridge continues to exhibit those features that distinguish it as a representative example of the Marsh Rainbow Bridge design. Those significant features - the distinctive arches and hangers, though deteriorating at the pond level, retain sufficient integrity of design, workmanship, materials, and feeling. The county highway and course of the creek have been subsumed by the construction of settlement ponds, however, the bridge remains in its original location and is still used by pedestrian traffic. When viewed from the access road, the peaceful situation of the bridge is evocative of its historic function to connect the remote Morel Railroad substation (the railroad tracks are visible to the east) to the important industrial town of Anaconda whose towering smelter stack dominates the horizon to the west. Currently, stabilization of the bridge continues to be a high priority. The owners plan to take corrective action, including careful repair of the deteriorating arches, stringers and guardwalls. Restoration of the original deck is also feasible. Morel Bridge Deer Lodge. MT Name of Property County and State 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria: A, C Areas of Significance: Social History; Engineering & Transportation; Architecture Criteria Considerations (Exceptions): n/a Period(s) of Significance: 1914-1959 Significant Person(s): n/a Significant Dates: 1914, 1959 Cultural Affiliation: n/a Architect/Builder: H.B. Grant, designer J.B. Marsh, patent holder Jarrativp The Morel Bridge, also known as the Rainbow Bridge, is eligible for listing in the National Register