Wrought Iron Bridge Company
Encyclopedia
The Wrought Iron Bridge Company was a bridge fabrication and construction company based in Canton, Ohio
. It specialized, as the name would suggest, in the fabrication of iron truss bridges and was a prolific bridge builder in the late 19th century. It was one of the 28 firms consolidated by JP Morgan into the American Bridge Company
in 1900.
Wrought Iron Bridge were able to assemble their bridges very quickly and the pamphlet claims that they "have completed 100 to 140 foot spans at points from 100 to 300 miles distant from our works in 8 to 15 days." They were not quite as fast on larger bridges, but the "350 foot bridge, 38 foot wide, built at New Philadelphia, Ohio, was completed for travel in 40 days from the receipt of the contract," a speed unheard of for modern construction, often because of legal red tape.
Bridges listed on the National Register of Historic Places, most of which will be surviving, include (and credit given):
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It specialized, as the name would suggest, in the fabrication of iron truss bridges and was a prolific bridge builder in the late 19th century. It was one of the 28 firms consolidated by JP Morgan into the American Bridge Company
American Bridge Company
The American Bridge Company is a privately held civil engineering firm specializing in the construction and renovation of bridges and other large civil engineering projects, founded in 1900, and headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.-Products and industry positioning:The...
in 1900.
Products
The Wrought Iron Bridge Company specialized in relatively short-span iron truss bridges. Most were built for highway use, as the railroads were all privately owned at the time and employed their own engineers. The company supplied a catalog of bridge designs and mass produced the parts to build these designs. Once a bridge was ordered, the pieces were shipped by train to the nearest station. Thus, local contractors were able to assemble a bridge very quickly, much like a model.1882 Pamphlet
An illustrated pamphlet, dated 1882, is available online. In this pamphlet, Wrought Iron Bridge claims that "during the past 18 years this firm have erected nearly 4,300 spans, varying in length from 20 to 300 feet." At the time of publication, the company had worked in 26 US States, Canada and Mexico.Wrought Iron Bridge were able to assemble their bridges very quickly and the pamphlet claims that they "have completed 100 to 140 foot spans at points from 100 to 300 miles distant from our works in 8 to 15 days." They were not quite as fast on larger bridges, but the "350 foot bridge, 38 foot wide, built at New Philadelphia, Ohio, was completed for travel in 40 days from the receipt of the contract," a speed unheard of for modern construction, often because of legal red tape.
Surviving Bridges
- Kern BridgeKern BridgeKern Bridge or Yaeger Bridge crosses the Le Sueur River in Blue Earth County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was built in 1873 using a bowstring through truss design by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company. It is long and carries a local road....
, in Blue Earth County, MinnesotaBlue Earth County, MinnesotaBlue Earth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 64,013. Its county seat is Mankato.Blue Earth County is part of the Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, 1873 - Blackfriars Street BridgeBlackfriars Street BridgeThe Blackfriars Street Bridge in London, Ontario, Canada is a wrought iron, through, bowstring truss or tied arch bridge, placed across the North Thames River in 1875 and still carrying frequent vehicular and pedestrian traffic...
, in London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, 1875 - Poffenberger Road BridgePoffenberger Road BridgeThe Poffenberger Road Bridge, near Jefferson, Maryland is a wrought iron bridge by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio. The bridge is similar to the Fourpoints Bridge elsewhere in Frederick County. The bridge is a single-span double-intersection Pratt truss...
, near Jefferson, MarylandJefferson, MarylandJefferson is an unincorporated community located in Frederick County, Maryland, established in 1774, incorporated as a town in 1831. However, a year later, in 1832, the citizens of the town decided that municipal government was unnecessary, thus, it was disincorporated.- History of Jefferson...
, 1878 - Fourpoints BridgeFourpoints BridgeThe Fourpoints Bridge, near Emmitsburg, Maryland is a wrought iron bridge by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio. The bridge is similar to the Poffenberger Road Bridge elsewhere in Frederick County. The 103-foot Pratt truss remains in daily use....
, near Emmitsburg, MarylandEmmitsburg, Maryland-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile . There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile...
, 1878? - Laughery Creek BridgeLaughery Creek BridgeThe Laughery Creek Bridge is an abandoned truss bridge on the border of Dearborn County, Indiana and Ohio County, Indiana. It crosses Laughery Creek. This bridge was built in 1878. The Wrought Iron Bridge Company, a prolific late 19th century bridge company, constructed the bridge. The bridge is...
, in Dearborn County, IndianaDearborn County, IndianaDearborn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 50,047. It is part of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. The county seat is Lawrenceburg.-History:...
, 1878 - Masemore Road Bridge, near Baltimore, Maryland 21120, 1898
- Pott's Ford BridgePott's Ford BridgePott's Ford Bridge is a bridge 1/2 mile south of Glasco, Kansas, USA that spans West Creek in Cloud County, Kansas. It has a wooden deck with a bowstring pony truss. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
, in Glasco, KansasGlasco, KansasGlasco is a city in Cloud County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 498.-History:The land that now makes up Glasco was part of a land grant from the U.S. Government to Isaac Biggs, one of the earliest pioneers. Glasco was originally incorporated as "The Dell...
, 1884 - Nevius Street BridgeNevius Street BridgeThe Nevius Street Bridge once carried car traffic across the Raritan River between Hillsborough and Raritan. In the 1840s a wooden bridge crossed at this location. The current bridge was built 1886 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio. It is a double intersection Pratt truss bridge...
, in Raritan, New JerseyRaritan, New JerseyRaritan is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 6,881.-Geography:Raritan is located at ....
, 1886 - Maple/Foster Bridge, Barton Hills, MichiganBarton Hills, MichiganBarton Hills is a village in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 335. Barton Hills has one of the highest per capita incomes in the United States...
, circa 1876 - Delhi Bridge, Scio Township, MichiganScio Township, MichiganScio Township is a civil township of Washtenaw County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township's population was 15,759...
, 1890
Bridges listed on the National Register of Historic Places, most of which will be surviving, include (and credit given):
- Bell Road Bridge, Bell Rd. at the Huron River, Dexter Township, Pinckney, MichiganPinckney, MichiganPinckney is a village in Putnam Township, Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,141 at the 2000 census.Three miles west of Pinckney, on Patterson Lake Road, is the famous tourist destination of Hell, Michigan.-Geography:...
(Wrought Iron Bridge Company) - Brewer Bridge, Co. Rd. over the Niobrara R., 14.7 mi. E of Valentine, Valentine, NebraskaValentine, Nebraska-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,820 people, 1,209 households, and 733 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,401.1 people per square mile . There were 1,373 housing units at an average density of 682.2 per square mile...
(Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Bridge in East Fallowfield Township, LR 20012 over Unger Run, Atlantic, PennsylvaniaAtlantic, PennsylvaniaAtlantic is a census-designated place in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 43 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Atlantic is located at ....
(Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Bridge in Rockdale Township, LR 20076 over French Creek, Millers Station, Pennsylvania (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Bridge in Washington Township, LR 66150 over Bermudian Creek, Kralltown, PennsylvaniaKralltown, PennsylvaniaKralltown is an unincorporated community in York County, Pennsylvania, United States.-References:USGS GNIS: Kralltown, Pennsylvania...
(Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Caledonia Bowstring Bridge, N of Caledonia, Caledonia, OhioCaledonia, OhioCaledonia is a village in Marion County, Ohio, United States. The population was 578 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Caledonia is located at ....
(Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Caledonia BridgeCaledonia Bridge (Caledonia, North Dakota)The Caledonia Bridge in Caledonia, North Dakota, also known as Goose River Bridge or denoted as 32TR695, is a historic bridge built in 1895.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997....
, Across the Goose River, unnamed co. rd., approximately 1 mi. W of the Minnesota state line Caledonia, North DakotaCaledonia, North DakotaCaledonia is a census-designated place in Traill County, North Dakota in the United States. A former boomtown of the 1870s and the era of the Hudson's Bay Company steamship trade, the community has now all but virtually disappeared....
(Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Chain Lakes Bridge, Pedestrian trail over Cedar R., Hiawatha, IowaHiawatha, IowaHiawatha is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. It is a suburb located north of Cedar Rapids and is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(Wrought Iron Bridge Company) - Cornelia Lake Bridge, Over inlet of Cornelia Lake, Clarion, IowaClarion, IowaClarion is a city in and the county seat of Wright County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,968 at the 2000 census.Clarion is the birthplace of the four-leaf clover emblem used by the 4-H Clubs of America, conceived of in 1907 by the local school superintendent, O.H...
(Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Costilla Crossing Bridge, Cty. Rd. over Rio Grande River, Antonito, ColoradoAntonito, ColoradoThe Town of Antonito is a statutory town located in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town's population was 873.-Geography:...
(Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Delhi Bridge, E. Delhi Rd. over Huron River Scio MI (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Fourpoints BridgeFourpoints BridgeThe Fourpoints Bridge, near Emmitsburg, Maryland is a wrought iron bridge by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio. The bridge is similar to the Poffenberger Road Bridge elsewhere in Frederick County. The 103-foot Pratt truss remains in daily use....
, SE of Emmitsburg Emmitsburg MD (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Gholson Bridge, S of Lawrenceville on VA 715 at Meherrin River Lawrenceville VA (Wrought Iron Bridge Company)
- Gilbert Bridge, Bishop Rd./Gilbert Rd. over Yellow Breeches Creek Grantham PA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Gilbert Bridge, Bishop Rd./Gilbert Rd. over Yellow Breeches Creek Siddonsburg PA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Gilliece Bridge, Cattle Creek Rd. over Upper Iowa R. Bluffton IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Glenville Truss BridgeGlenville Truss BridgeGlenville Truss Bridge is a historic Pratt Through Truss bridge that spans the Little Kanawha River at Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia. The bridge was built in 1885. The bridge is 240 feet, 6 inches, long and the main through truss span is 147 feet. It was designed and/or built by...
, Conrad Court, over Little Kanawha R. Glenville WV (Wrought Iron Bridge Builders) - Goose River BridgeNorthwood BridgeThe Northwood Bridge, also known as Goose River Bridge, is a historic bridge across the Goose River about 1.5 miles from Northwood, North Dakota. Dating from 1906, it is significant as a relatively rare example of a "half-hip" type of Pratt pony truss bridge. It is also significant as the oldest...
, Across the Goose River, unnamed co. rd., approximately 6 mi. E and 1 mi. N of Hillsboro Hillsboro ND (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Higginsville Road Bridges, Higginsville Rd. at the South Branch of the Raritan River Hillsborough NJ (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Independence Bowstring, Over the Verdigris River, N of jct. of Burns and Myrtle Sts. Independence KS (Wrought Iron Bridge Builders)
- Indian Creek Bridge, Artesian Rd. over Indian Cr. Cedar Rapids IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Company)
- Kern BridgeKern BridgeKern Bridge or Yaeger Bridge crosses the Le Sueur River in Blue Earth County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was built in 1873 using a bowstring through truss design by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company. It is long and carries a local road....
, Twp. Rd. over LeSueur River Skyline MN (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Lamb's Creek Bridge, Jct. of Lamb's Creek and Old IN 67 W Martinsville IN (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Laughery Creek BridgeLaughery Creek BridgeThe Laughery Creek Bridge is an abandoned truss bridge on the border of Dearborn County, Indiana and Ohio County, Indiana. It crosses Laughery Creek. This bridge was built in 1878. The Wrought Iron Bridge Company, a prolific late 19th century bridge company, constructed the bridge. The bridge is...
, S of Aurora W of IN 56 Aurora IN (Wrought Iron Bridge Company) - Lawrence Bridge, 330th Ave. over Little Turkey R. Jackson Junction IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Linville Creek Bridge, S of Broadway on SR 1421 Broadway VA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Mark Road Bridge, Mark Rd. over Sugar Cr. Staunton OH (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Mill Road Bowstring Bridge, Mill Rd Bladensburg OH (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Olive Branch Bridge, W. Stagecoach Rd. over Olive Br., 1.7 mi. SW of Sprague Sprague NE (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Parshallburg Bridge, Ditch Rd. over the Shiawassee R., Chesaning Township Oakley MI (Wrought Iron Bridge Company)
- Patoka Bridges Historic District, Address Restricted Oakland City IN (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Paw Paw Creek Bridge No. 52, Paw Paw Pike Chili IN (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Pine Mill Bridge, over Pine Cr. in Wildcat Den State Park Muscatine IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Company)
- Poffenberger Road BridgePoffenberger Road BridgeThe Poffenberger Road Bridge, near Jefferson, Maryland is a wrought iron bridge by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio. The bridge is similar to the Fourpoints Bridge elsewhere in Frederick County. The bridge is a single-span double-intersection Pratt truss...
, S of Middletown Middletown MD (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.) - Pott's Ford BridgePott's Ford BridgePott's Ford Bridge is a bridge 1/2 mile south of Glasco, Kansas, USA that spans West Creek in Cloud County, Kansas. It has a wooden deck with a bowstring pony truss. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
, Over Solomon River, SE of Glasco Glasco KS (Wrought Iron Bridge Builders) - Raritan Bridge, Nevius St. over Raritan R., Bridgewater and Hillsborough Townships Raritan NJ (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Riley Creek Bridge, Over Riley Creek, S of Belleville Belleville KS (Wrought Iron Bridge Builders)
- Solgohachia Bridge, Cty Rd. 67 Solgohachia AR (Wrought Iron Bridge Company)
- Spencer's Crossing Bridge, Over Pottawatomie Creek, NW of Greeley Greeley KS (Wrought Iron Bridge Builders)
- Taylor's Ford Bridge, Nolen Ave. over Wapsipinicon R. Independence IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Third Street Bridge, 3rd St., SE. Canton OH (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Turkey River Bridge, Little Church Rd. over Turkey R. Festina IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Twin Bridge, Co. Rd. over the N. Loup R., 7.9 mi. NW of Brownlee Brownlee NE (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Upper Bluffton Bridge, Ravine Rd. over Upper Iowa R. Bluffton IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.)
- Upper Paris Bridge, Sutton rd. over Wapsipinicon R. Coggin IA (Wrought Iron Bridge Company
- Wells Street Bridge, Wells St. at the St. Mary's River Fort Wayne IN (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.
- White Bridge, .07 miles E of SR 616 crossing Yellow Creek Poland Village OH (Wrought Iron Bridge Co.