Month: September 2021

Two Lynched in Chattanooga — The Yard: Crime Blog

by Chris Bunton I traveled recently to Chattanooga, Tennessee for my honeymoon.  While there, we spent some time checking out the sights, seeing Lookout Mountain, and all the history of the place. While I was there I also worked on a piece about the Serial Killer, Joseph Paul Franklin who had blown up a synagogue […]

Two Lynched in Chattanooga — The Yard: Crime Blog

A few weeks ago, a memorial featuring the statue of Ed Johnson was unveiled at the Walnut Street Bridge, the site where he was hung 115 years ago, with the last words “I am a Innocent Man.” Yet the story behind his hanging as well as another lynching incident can be found in the article per link above.

Up the Fairfield Pipe Bridge — My Camera & I

“When you cross a bridge, you take a break from this world!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan The Yarra River is a river in Victoria that flows through the city of Melbourne. Overhead is the rustic Fairfield Pipe Bridge, where you can see a bird’s eye view of the river… of people having a go on […]

Up the Fairfield Pipe Bridge — My Camera & I

Pipe Bridge — My Camera & I

“The darkest night is often the bridge to the brightest tomorrow.” – Jonathan Lockwood Huie I can think of so many iconic bridges to feature for today’s challenge but this particular one stuck to my mind because of fun memories with family. (I have featured this bridge previously but not in Black and white.) This […]

Pipe Bridge — My Camera & I

BHC Newsflyer: 26 September 2021

Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, TN. Taken by James Baughn

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To listen to the podcast, click here.

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Headlines:

Major Crossing in Hagen Reopens Two Months after Apocalyptical Floods in western Germany

https://www.volksstimme.de/panorama/eil-neubau-nach-flut-brucke-in-hagen-wieder-befahrbar-3244661

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Historic Hwy. 30 Bridge in Iowa to be Replaced

Highway 30 eastbound bridge over Cedar River to be replaced in 2022

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.Longest Stone Arch Bridge in Turkey to be Restored

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/worlds-longest-stone-bridge-taken-under-restoration-168039

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Historic Leith Bridge in Scotland to be Rehabilitated

https://www.worldhighways.com/wh9/news/leith-historic-bridge-repairs-planned

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Historic Marsh Arch Bridge in Maine to be Demolished and Replaced

http://bridgehunter.com/me/hancock/5038/

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Battle over the Future of the Frank J Wood Memorial Bridge (a.k.a. Green Bridge) goes to Circuit Court

Battle over future of Frank J. Wood Bridge heads to First Circuit Court

Monument Commemorating the Wrongful Death of an Innocent Man on the Walnut Street Bridge Unveiled

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2021/sep/15/artists-johnson-project/554233/

Video:

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Bonus:

Gilmore Bridge in Carroll County, Indiana- The only surviving Stearns truss bridge in the World. Photo taken by Mike Daffron in 2016

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This podcast is not complete without a Sunday tribute to the late James Cooper, who together with JR Manning died on August 19. The Historic Bridge Foundation, based in Austin, Texas, has done a special in its most recent version of the newsletter dedicated to Mr. Cooper’s works he contributed over the years. Click on the link below and you’ll be led directly to the HBF’s newsletter and all of Mr. Cooper’s greatest hits as far as historic bridges and preservation is concerned. Enjoy! 🙂

Link: https://historicbridgefoundation.com/features/bulletin/hbfbulletin0921.pdf

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Best Kept Secret: A School Bus Bridge in Kentucky

PRESTONSBURG, KENTUCKY- When traveling through the state of Kentucky, one will be awed by the state’s hilly landscapes, several memorial sites and in some cases, perhaps some historic bridges that are worth a visit. One place a tourist should plan to visit is Floyd County- specifically in the area of Prestonsburg, where history and landscapes come into one. Most recently, a 8.6 mile trail running along Middle Creek Levisa Fork opened to cyclists and pedestrians, connecting Prestonsburg with a small, former mining village of David. All of the trail runs along KY Hwy. 404 and along the way, one will have a chance to see some historic sites, most notably the Middle Creek National Battlefield. Six historic bridges along the route have been restored for reuse.

Yet there is a unique bridge, located near Archer Park, that has gathered a lot of attention since the trail’s opening in August of last year. It’s a school bus that was converted into a steel through bridge. The motive behind this idea was reusing a school bus that was no longer in service, which was the case for a 40+ year old school bus that operated under the Nr. 404 by using the top half and integrating it into the wooden deck beam bridge. 

End result is instead of sitting down on the school bus, because we were told to do so by our school bus drivers when we were growing up, we are basically running through the school bus with both sides open. Some of us had tried to run up and down the school bus until the driver stopped the bus and put an end to the nonsense. From a personal point of view, we even played Simon Says and harassed the bus driver one time, only to get a call from the principal and some of us being punished for it.  For this bridge, it’s perfect to reenact that and then some. But horseplay is not the only thing you can do on the school bus bridge; one can enjoy getting photos of this unique structure, especially as it is tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains, laden with luscious trees.

But there is an underlying meaning behind the school bus bridge and it dates back to over 65 years ago. On February 28, 1958, a school bus numbered 27 carrying 48 children collided with a truck along US Hwy. 23. The bus then fell off an embankment into the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, where it was swept downstream by the violent waters before it was submerged. 22 children managed to escape, yet 26 others plus the bus driver drowned. The bus and the bodies were discovered two days later, and to this day, it is the third worst disaster involving a school bus in US history. Two songs and two movies were later released, paying tribute to the victims of Bus 27.  The school bus bridge not only pays tribute to these victims, but it sends a direct message to the public, which is to pay attention to the school bus, the signals and crossing guards, and the children who board the bus but also ride it to and from school. If there is a statement, it would be this: Be aware and respect the bus- red means stop.

There have been many ways to recycle materials and use them for bridges. Some have used roofs made of metal. Others use rail boxcars. But the use of the school bus is the latest example of creative ways to build a bridge and make it not only inexpensive but also fancy for people to see. The School Bus Bridge along the Prestonsburg-David/ Levisa Fork Trail is one of the most attractive sites along the trail, let alone in the region. It reuses a bus but pays tribute to not only the tragedy of 1958, but also to all the school bus drivers who devote their time and effort to escort children to and from school safely.  I’m not sure if my bus drivers of my childhood will have a chance to see this unique artwork, but if you don’t have it on your bucket list, add it and go there. You will not regret it. 😉

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Special thanks to David Kravetz for allowing me to use his photos and for point this out in the fb page The American Two-Lane.

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Three Historic Bridges in Wisconsin Available for Reuse: Any Takers?

LONE ROCK, WISCONSIN- Three historic truss bridges in and around the Lone Rock area are being marketed off to those who are interested in purchasing a piece of history and repurposing it for recreational use.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is replacing three truss bridges in 2024, yet they would like to give the structures away with hopes their historical integrity are maintained under the care of the new owner(s). They are all located along Wisconsin State Highways 130 and 133, two of them span the Wisconsin River and feature multiple-span through truss spans, one of them is a pony truss span. They date back to the 1930s. All are within two miles (4km) of each other. The details are below:

Long Island/ Border Crossing:

Location: Wisconsin River at the junction WI Hwy. 130 & 133

Year of Construction: 1942

Bridge Type: Three-span polygonal Warren through truss with subdivided vertical beams, riveted connections and W-frame portal bracing

Dimensions: 682.4 feet long (212 feet per truss span); 24 feet wide

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Lone Rock Bridge:

Location: Small Branch Wisconsin River on WI Hwys. 130 & 133

Bridge type: Four-span Warren through truss with riveted connections, W-frame portal bracing and X-frame strut bracings.

Construction Date/ Builder: 1933 by the Clinton Bridge Company of Clinton, Iowa

Dimensions: 553.5 feet long (truss span 138 feet each); 20 feet wide

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Long Lake Bridge:

Location: Long Lake on WI Hwys. 130 & 133 at the entrance to Lone Rock

Bridge Type: Single-span Warren pony truss with riveted connections

Year Built: 1932 (possibly also by Clinton Bridge Company)

Dimensions: 83.7 feet (truss span: 80.1 feet) long, 20 feet wide

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According to a press release provided by WIDOT, recipients must agree to relocate the structure (or structures) to a suitable spot and assume all obligations and responsibilities for maintaining it. Funding is available for relocating the structure, yet the transfer of ownership will be made once the structures are dismantled and loaded onto the truck beds for transport to their new homes, at no additional cost. Further information on the bridges on the market can be found in the link by clicking here.

The company Michael Baker International is overseeing the project of replacing the three crossings and giving the historic structures away to the new owners. If you are interested in obtaining a package and providing proposals for relocating one or all of the crossings mentioned here, please contact Sue Barker via e-mail at: Susan.Barker@mbakerintl.com or via phone at 608-821-8712. She is your contact for additional questions and other items you may have about the bridge project. Deadline for obtaining the informational packages is October 31, 2021. Further information on the procedures to nominate parties willing to take the bridge(s) will be made available after the deadline.

Wisconsin has already had an attempt to relocate the historic Cobban Bridge in Chipewa County, only to be met with failure and the two-span Pennsylvania through truss spans being doomed to demolition. It’s scheduled to come down next year. It is hoped that something can be done with the Lone Rock crossings between now and 2024 in terms of preserving them for future use. All it takes is the will of the public and all parties involved to make it happen.

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All photos courtesy of the late JR Manning. He took the pics in 2012.

Mill City bridge added to National Register of Historic Places — eClips

The Mill City Southern Pacific Rail Bridge is among the latest additions to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Parks Service, which maintains the register, accepted the nomination Source: Mill City bridge added to National Register of Historic Places | Local | democratherald.com

Mill City bridge added to National Register of Historic Places — eClips

Information on the bridge can be found in the link above. Congratulations to this unique historic bridge on receiving this honor. 🙂