Sept. 23, 2008

The State Historic Preservation Office today announced that Scio Township's Delhi Bridge was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge is one of only five Pratt through truss bridges built by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company left in the state, and one of only two still in use in their historic locations. Of remaining Pratt truss bridges, the National Research Council considers 19th-century examples like the Delhi Bridge to be of greatest significance because of the limited number of existing examples.

"Bridges are some of our most picturesque, and most threatened, resources," stated State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway. "Michigan is lucky to have so many examples of historic bridge construction and people who feel passionately about preserving them." The Delhi Bridge was preserved in large part through the efforts of the Delhi Bridge Conservancy, a nonprofit organization formed to save the bridge.

Nearly 100 Michigan bridges are listed in the National Register, including the Ada Covered Bridge in Kent County, the 57th Street Bridge in Manlius Township (Allegan County) and the Bell Road Bridge in Dexter, also built by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company.

In May 2008 the Michigan Historical Commission recognized three advocates for the Delhi Bridge with a Governor John B. Swainson Award, given to state, county or municipal employees who have gone above and beyond their official job duties to help preserve Michigan's history. The commission recognized Richard Cook, a scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency in Ann Arbor; and Kelly Jones and Roy Townsend, respectively, a bridge engineer and director of engineering for Washtenaw County Road Commission, for working collaboratively to coordinate the efforts of the Washtenaw County Road Commission, the Scio Township Board of Trustees, the Delhi Bridge Conservancy and the Washtenaw County Historic District Commission to broker a plan to save the 130-year-old bridge.

The State Historic Preservation Review Board considers nominations to the National Register of Historic Places three times per year. The review board forwards nominations to the keeper of the National Register, Department of the Interior. In Michigan the National Register Program is coordinated by the State Historic Preservation Office. For information on the National Register of Historic Places and other programs of the State Historic Preservation Office, visit www.michigan.gov/shpo or call (517) 373-1630.

The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).