Water Street Bridge (1847)

Photo

1866 drawing (close-up of map)

Repaired bridge that was heavily damaged by a hurricane (or tornado) in 1865.

Photo uploaded by Art S.

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BH Photo #499349

Map

Maps and Databases

Description

Copied From: http://www.historyeveryday.org/lasalle-avenue-bridge--in.htm...

In 1831, Nehemiah B. Griffith received the first ferry license at the same spot. Later on a wooden covered bridge was raised at the modern day crossing. In 1865, however, the bridge was partly destroyed by a tornado, and rebuilt (but without a roof). The wooden bridge was replaced by a suspension or chain bridge which eventually collapsed when a worker accidently drove a pin out of the east end of the bridge, causing the entire bridge to fall into the river.

Facts

Overview: Lost Burr arch-truss bridge over St. Joseph River on Water Street (Now LaSalle Ave.).
Location: South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
Status: Destroyed by severe weather
History: Built 1847
Design: Two span covered Burr arch-truss. Damaged by tornado in 1865 - Western span collapsed eastern span uncovered. West span replaced by a series of king posts. Bridge remained uncovered until replaced in 1870.
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 140.0 ft.
Total length: 280.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude: +41.67909, -86.24896 (decimal degrees)
41°40'45" N, 86°14'56" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 16/562511/4614419 (zone/easting/northing)
Inventory number: BH 93300 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

May 24, 2021: New photo from Art Suckewer

Related Bridges

Water Street Bridge (1871) (Successor)

Sources

Art Suckewer - Asuckewer [at] knite [dot] com