Rating:
9 votes

Wells Street Bridge

Allen County, Indiana

Photos 

The east face

As seen from the Harrison Street Bridge

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in October 2007

BH Photo #109717

Map 

Street View 

Facts 

Overview
Whipple through truss bridge over St. Marys River on Wells Street in Fort Wayne
Location
Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana
Status
Open to pedestrians only
History
Built 1884 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Co.
Builders
- Alvin John Stewart (Engineer)
- Carnegie Steel Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Iron/Steel Manufacturer)
- Hicks & Holmes (Erector)
- W.H. Goshorn (Engineer)
- Wrought Iron Bridge Co. of Canton, Ohio
Design
Whipple through truss
Dimensions
Total length: 180.0 ft.
Deck width: 23.0 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 15.7 ft.
Recognition
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on September 15, 1988
Approximate latitude, longitude
+41.08283, -85.14411   (decimal degrees)
41°04'58" N, 85°08'39" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/655890/4549611 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Fort Wayne West
Inventory numbers
NRHP 88001575 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 15798 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

19th Century (6,360)
Allen County, Indiana (81)
Alvin John Stewart (1)
Built 1884 (150)
Built during 1880s (1,688)
Carnegie Steel Co. (41)
Fort Wayne, Indiana (31)
Have street view (23,403)
Hicks & Holmes (1)
Indiana (4,228)
Lincoln Highway (139)
 NR-listed (2,851)
Open to pedestrians (3,634)
Pin-connected (3,446)
Select (534)
Through truss (13,167)
Total length 175-250 feet (3,866)
Truss (29,916)
W.H. Goshorn (1)
Whipple truss (272)
Wrought Iron (371)
Wrought Iron Bridge Co. (289)

Update Log 

  • March 26, 2017: New photo from Dana and Kay Klein
  • October 9, 2013: New Street View added by J.P.
  • December 27, 2011: Updated by J.P.: Added category "Carnegie"
  • March 6, 2010: Updated by J.P.: updated builders
  • February 5, 2010: Updated by Anthony Dillon: Added "non-pink" pictures.
  • January 26, 2008: New photos from J.R. Manning

Sources 

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Comments 

Wells Street Bridge
Posted February 5, 2018, by saraanitra (Thebuzzworkllc [at] gmail [dot] com)

Currently closed to all traffic tho I’m not sure if closing is permanent.

Wells Street Bridge
Posted October 2, 2017, by Dennis DeBruler (bruler [at] xnet [dot] com)

An article about some history of the bridge: http://historycenterfw.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-oldest-iron-...

Wells Street Bridge
Posted November 19, 2009, by Josh Brown (josh_brown10 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

There could be some truth to that story. I've heard a similar one except it involved a student in a marching band. Who knows! Stories are born and twisted every day. I wish I still lived in Fort Wayne so I could search the newspaper archives for such a story.

Wells Street Bridge
Posted November 18, 2009, by Anthony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

This is indeed the same bridge! The first time i saw it had those barriers and fencing as well. My understanding is that at one time when it was open to pedestrians before it was restored, a jogger fell through the floor of it. It is definitely one of the most ornate spans in existence, and it is nice to see it taken care of. I would like to see them replace or replicate the finials that used to adorn it, but that is just me being picky!

Wells Street Bridge
Posted November 18, 2009, by J Brown (josh_brown10 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Is this the bridge that was falling apart and had concrete barriers at each end? I remember playing on this bridge as a child. I am very happy with what they've done with it. I remember walking across it with my grandmother and I don't know if I remember correctly, but I think I remember seeing a parade on this bridge when I was very small. Could have been anywhere I guess but I'd like to think it was there.

Wells Street Bridge
Posted July 3, 2009, by Anthony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

It is indeed a gem Harold!....I would love to see them replicate and replace the finials that originally adorned it.

Wells Street Bridge
Posted July 2, 2009, by Harold Scudder (hlscudder [at] cablespeed [dot] com)

I remember this bridge from several years ago when I first visited my sister and her husband, who lived at the end of the bridge on Cass St. A beautiful bridge then, and still a beautiful bridge. I'm glad Fort Wayne had the foresight to save it.

Wells Street Bridge
Posted January 24, 2008, by Anthony Dillon (dillon [dot] fam [at] att [dot] net)

This may well be the most ornate bridge remaining in the United States. It would be nice if the city had the finials that originally topped this bridge replicated.

Wells Street Bridge
Posted July 6, 2007, by Charlotte A. Weybright (cwey0408 [at] earthlink [dot] net)

Wells Street Bridge - access from Superior Street on the south and Wells Street on the north.