Schell Memorial Bridge, Spanning Connecticut River on East Northfield Road, Northfield, Franklin County, MA

Significance: The Schell Memorial Bridge is the third oldest of five known Pennsylvania truss bridges identified in the Massachusetts Department of Public Works database. It is a unique variation at least in Massachusetts of a Pennsylvania truss, in that it was designed to function as a three-span continuous truss under live load, and as a simple truss span with cantilevered ends under dead load. The bridge also has some unusual Gothic Revival decorative elements. The bridge is a significant artifact of Northfield's social history, in that it was built for the town by one of its most prominent citizens, Francis R. Schell.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-27
Survey number: HAER MA-111
Building/structure dates: 1903 Initial Construction