Double Arch Keystone Bridge - Chester, MA - Stone Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Keystone Arch Bridges are a series of stone arch bridges built to allow railroad traffic to cross the steep gorges of the Westfield River in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts on their way to reach the Erie Canal in New York State. The bridges were constructed by West Point graduate Major George Washington Whistler and William Gibbs McNeill. They were built without mortar or steel reinforcement and are the oldest railroad bridges of their kind in the United States.

The construction of the Keystone Arch Bridge trail has made several of these bridges accessible to the public. There are four bridges, three of which can be easily reached: Keystone Bridge A, Keystone Bridge B and the Double Arch Keystone Bridge. There is no public access to Keystone Bridge C.

The easiest bridge to view is the Double Arch Keystone Bridge. This 60' high bridge is a short distance from the trailhead on Middlefield Road. From the main trail a path leads down to the river where the bridge can be viewed. To build this bridge 2,500 pound granite blocks were brought from nearby quarries and cut to fit in place. A scaffolding was used to reach the higher levels. Finally a wedge shaped keystone was set in place to lock all the stones in their position. The bridges are in use today for freight train traffic.

The Keystone Arch Bridge District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Chester, MA Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Middlefield Road Water or other terrain spanned: West Branch of the Westfield River Architect/Builder: Major George Washington Whistler Construction Date: 1838 - 1841

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