| Avon Five Arch Bridge | |
| Location: | 2078 Avon Geneseo Rd., Avon, New York |
| Coordinates: | 42.8986°N -77.7639°W |
| Built: | -1857 |
| Builder: | Phelps, Mattoon, and Barnes |
| Architecture: | Stone arch bridge |
| Added: | January 4, 2012 |
| Area: | Less than |
| Refnum: | 11001001[1] |
| Designated Other1: | New York State Register of Historic Places |
| Designated Other1 Number: | 05101.000001 |
| Designated Other1 Num Position: | bottom |
| Designated Other1 Abbr: | NYSRHP |
| Designated Other1 Date: | October 31, 2011 |
Avon Five Arch Bridge is a historic railroad arch bridge located at Avon in Livingston County, New York. It was built in 1856–1857 by the Rochester-Avon-Geneseo-Mount Morris Railroad (later Erie Railroad). The bridge measures 200 feet long, 12 feet wide, and approximately 30 feet high. It consists of five elliptical arches built of ashlar on limestone piers. The rail line was abandoned in 1941, and the bridge stabilized in 1992. It is located in a public park.[2]
The Five Arch Bridge is mentioned in the country song "Big Iron Horses" by Restless Heart (1992). Singer/drummer John Dittrich recounted memories he had as a child, watching trains in Avon, New York with his grandfather. While the song does take liberty with the age of the bridge and the singer's age, he did watch trains with his grandfather in and was a resident of Avon. John likely watched the steam locomotives and trains roll by on the railroad tracks near the bridge. [3] [4] [5]
The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.[1]