Spur Rock Arch, sometimes called Oval Arch, was located on the longitude of Seventh Avenue and the latitude of 61st Street. It spanned the bridle path a short distance from Dipway Arch. It was 25 feet long and rose 12-and-a-half feet above the bridle path.
The knuckle of Manhattan schist, against which one of its abutments leaned, gave Spur Rock its name. Both abutments were buried in soil and planted heavily. The distinctive oval outline of its archway and the S-curve sides were repeated later with different dimensions for Gothic Bridge. The ornament of the spandrels was altogether different although both designs stemmed from the Gothic, with Spur Rock's spandrels filled and braced by large wheels with interior cusping, not unlike some church windows. The supporting members were wrought iron; the more finely drawn decorative members were cast iron.
Spur Rock was demolished because it got in the way of the expansion of the Heckscher Playground. Instead of being incorporated into the playground, Spur Rock, probably looking old-fashioned, rundown and unimportant in 1934, was destroyed. It was, in fact, irreplaceable. Six drawings of the arch survive at the Municipal Archives.
Half elevation and section of bridge, abutment, and girder. Original drawing. 1861.
Municipal Archives.
Details of cast-iron posts. Original drawing. 1861.
Municipal Archives.
