Ely's Stone Bridge is a bridge that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The bridge was built across Deer Creek in 1893 by Reuben Ely, Sr., a farmer, and his son Reuben Ely, Jr. The bridge is a three-span arch bridge made of stone from the stream bed and quarries in Anamosa, Iowa.[2]

Ely's Stone Bridge
Ely's Stone Bridge is located in Iowa
Ely's Stone Bridge
Ely's Stone Bridge is located in the United States
Ely's Stone Bridge
LocationStone Bridge Road
Monticello, Iowa
Coordinates42°15′24″N 91°13′31″W / 42.25667°N 91.22528°W / 42.25667; -91.22528
Arealess than one acre
Built1893
Built byReuben Ely, Sr. and Reuben Ely, Jr.
NRHP reference No.79000908[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 7, 1979

There are no bridges like it in the area, and it seems to have been a "personal expression" of the stonemasons. The bridge was maintained by four generations of stonemasons in the family.[3]

The bridge had been tuckpointed in 1933 and 1957 and was assessed to be in excellent condition in 1979.[3]: 2  As of 2008, the foundation of the bridge had recently been reinforced with concrete.

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Jackson, Donald C. (1988). Great American Bridges and Dams. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 205. ISBN 0-471-14385-5.
  3. ^ a b M.H. Bowers (January 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Ely's Stone Bridge". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-06-25. with two photos from 1978