View source for Grants Mills Bridge

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name   = Grant Mills Bridge
|image         = Grant Mills Covered Bridge.jpg
|image_size=300px
|alt           = A brown wooden covered bridge with pointed roof. Above its portal are signs saying "Millbrook 1902" and "Pedestrians only". To the right a faded sign says "Safe load 6 tons"
|caption       = South portal, 2008
|official_name = Millbrook Bridge
|other_name    = Marks' Bridge
|carries       = Pedestrians
|crosses       = [[Mill Brook (East Branch Delaware River)|Mill Brook]]
|locale        = [[Hardenburgh, New York|Hardenburgh]], [[New York (state)|NY]], USA
|maint         = Town of Hardenburgh
|id            = 
|design        = [[Ithiel Town|Town]] [[Lattice truss bridge|lattice truss]] [[covered bridge]]<ref name="NRHP nom">{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Raymond|title=National Register of Historic Places nomination, Grant Mills Covered Bridge|url=http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=9772|publisher=[[New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation]]|date=September 1999|accessdate=February 13, 2010}}</ref>
|mainspan      = 
|length        = {{convert|69+1/2|ft|m}}<ref name="NRHP nom" />
|width         = {{convert|13|ft|10|in|m}}<ref name="NRHP nom" />
|height        = {{convert|11|ft|m}}
|load          = 
|clearance     = 
|below         = 
|traffic       = n/a
|builder       = Edgar and Orrin Marks
|begin         = 
|complete      = 1902<ref name="NRHP nom" />
|open          = 1902<ref name="NRHP nom" />
|closed        = 1964<ref name="NRHP nom" />
|heritage      = [[National Register of Historic Places|NRHP]] #98001538
|toll          = 
|map_cue       = 
|map_image     = 
|map_text      = 
|map_width     = 
|coordinates   = {{Coord|42.0804|-74.6367}}
}}

The '''Grant Mills Bridge''', officially the '''Millbrook Bridge''', is a wooden [[covered bridge]] over [[Mill Brook (East Branch Delaware River)|Mill Brook]] in [[Hardenburgh, New York|Hardenburgh]], New York, United States. It is one of 29 [[List of New York covered bridges|covered bridges in the state]].

It was built in 1902 by a pair of local builders in the [[lattice truss bridge|lattice truss]] design perfected early in the previous century by [[Ithiel Town]]. It was taken out of service in 1964 when Mill Brook Road was relocated a short distance to the south, but remains in excellent condition and is open to foot traffic. In 1999, it was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

==Structure==

The bridge is located on the west corner of the junction of Mill Brook and Fred Davis roads a short distance east of the [[Delaware County, New York|Delaware County]] line. The area is wooded, just under {{convert|1900|ft|m}} in elevation with the ground sloping gently to the northeast. It spans the brook, a tributary of the [[East Branch Delaware River|East Branch]] of the [[Delaware River]] that drains into [[New York City water supply system|New York City's]] [[Pepacton Reservoir]], just to the west of a more modern bridge carrying vehicle traffic.<ref name="NRHP nom" />

It is a single span, {{convert|69+1/2|ft|m}} in length, supported by rough [[abutment]]s of dry-laid [[fieldstone]]. Its superstructure incorporates the Town lattice truss design. Both chords and the diagonals, connected by wood pins at each intersection, are formed by heavy paired planks. Planks laid on stringers form the deck; alternating timbers protrude to create a series of four [[buttress]]es on the sides of the bridge. Vertical board sheathing on horizontal nailers constitutes the bridge's [[siding (construction)|siding]]; the roof and buttresses are clad in wood [[Roof shingle|shingle]]s.<ref name="NRHP nom" />

==History==

In 1902 the town of Hardenburgh awarded local carpenter Edgar Marks the contract to build a bridge over Mill Brook near the county line, a couple of miles below its [[headwaters]] on [[Balsam Lake Mountain]]. It would serve the small population of farmers and millers that lived in the remote valley.<ref name="NRHP nom" />

With help from his son Orrin, he got to work hauling the stone and cutting the planks. He used the Town lattice truss, a reliable design for building a lasting bridge of this size from local materials. With the help of several other local craftsmen, the bridge was opened late that year.<ref name="NRHP nom" />

It took its popular name from a mill two miles (3&nbsp;km) to the west at the intersection of Mill Brook and what is now Kittle Road. Grant's Mill was often used in giving directions, as at that time the road was not maintained year-round. Marks called it the Lattice Bridge in his reports to the town; officials referred to it by his name.<ref name="Bridge notice">Baker, Betty. Notice posted in bridge. December 2004.</ref>

It would later withstand and serve automobile traffic as well. When Mill Brook Road was realigned in 1964, the bridge was taken out of service. It remained in place despite the neglect. In the early 1990s Marks' descendants [[building restoration|restored]] it.<ref name="NRHP nom" /> The town board renamed it the Millbrook Bridge in 2002, after it had been listed on the Register, to avoid further confusion.<ref name="Bridge notice" />

==See also==
*[[List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New York]]
*[[List of covered bridges in New York]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ulster County, New York]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Grants Mills Covered Bridge}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070808174406/http://www.nycoveredbridges.org/page30.html Grants Mills Bridge, at New York State Covered Bridge Society]
* [http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/ny/grants_mills.html Mill Brook / Grants Mill Bridge, at Covered Bridges of the Northeast USA]

{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}}
{{NRHP bridges}}

[[Category:Bridges in Ulster County, New York]]
[[Category:Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Ulster County, New York]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1902]]
[[Category:Wooden bridges in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Catskills]]
[[Category:Pedestrian bridges in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Former road bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Relocated buildings and structures in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Lattice truss bridges in the United States]]