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Kinnickinnick Stone Bridge

Double Stone Arch Bridge over Kinnickinnick Creek
Roscoe, Winnebago County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Kinnickinnick Stone Bridge
Built By Chicago & North Western Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Roscoe Township
Length 53 Feet Total, 24 Foot Arches
Width 1 Track, 2 Trail Lanes
Total Structure Height 35 Feet
Superstructure Type Stone Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1882
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
C&NW Bridge Number 45
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date June 2014


This bridge is a very historic structure for the area of Northern Winnebago County, as well as Roscoe and the Beloit area, crossing Kinnickinnick Creek.
Built in 1882, the bridge uses a standard double arch design. This design has been seen all over the C&NW system, mostly built between 1870 and 1910.
During redevelopment of the area, the bridge was almost demolished to be turned into a housing development. Thanks to the hard work of a few Roscoe individuals, this bridge was preserved for generations to come.
Since then, the bridge has become a famous stone arch in the area, in one of the few remaining natural prairie habitats in Illinois.
The trail on which the bridge lies is appropriately named the Stone Bridge Trail, which also contains numerous smaller arches.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in excellent condition. It was posted on the National Register of Historic Places.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the common design but excellent example of preservation.
The photo above is an overview. Unfortunately, views of this bridge are limited. The area is maintained by camera and is strictly off limits outside of the trail or deck.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Date stamp
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele