Rumbly Bridge
Photos
View Of Elevation, Looking North
The diagonal deck slats are attached on only one end, each other board to the opposite end. This caused the boards to create an odd noise when vehicles crossed, which is how it became known as, "The Rumbly Bridge."
It is has been closed to vehicular traffic since 1981.
Photo taken by Martin Stupich, June 25, 1987 for HAER
Facts
- Overview
- Pony truss bridge over Ravine on Erma Tinger Drive in Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls
- Location
- Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin
- Status
- Open to pedestrians
- History
- Built 1907 by Wisconsin Bridge & Iron; Altered 1913 by Worden-Allen Co.
- Builders
- - Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Worden-Allen Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Design
- Double intersection Warren pony truss.
"In 1906, the city of Chippewa Falls established Irvine Park. The Bridge of Pines represents two phases of the park's development, In 1907m the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company erected a one-span arched Warren truss across Duncan Creek near the park's main entrance. In 1913, the Worden-Allen Company incorporated this bridge into a three-span structure crossing a ravine in a north addition. Both companies were prominent bridge-building firms that continued into the 1970s-1980s. The 146-foot structure incorporates the continuous top chord, a design apparently unique to these two companies. The Bridge of Pines is possibly the only remaining metal truss in Wisconsin specifically designed as an ornamental park bridge."
Diane Kromm, Wisc Historical Bridge Recording Project, Summer 1987 - Dimensions
-
Span length: 146.0 ft.
Total length: 146.0 ft.
- Also called
- Bridge of Pines
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +44.96350, -91.40260 (decimal degrees)
44°57'49" N, 91°24'09" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/625979/4980136 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Chippewa Falls
- Inventory number
- BH 37053 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Sources
- J.R. Manning - thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
- HAER WI-36 - Bridge of Pines, Ermatinger Drive in Irvine Park, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, WI
Comments
Yeah J.R.........that looks like a pretty good distance to the ground!
Leinie's is right across the road from the entrance to Irving Park. You better get there and take a tour - after you've walked the Rumbly Bridge, of course.
Indiana Bridge Company had a truss type similar to this. They referred to it as a "Lattice Girder". I am guessing that the reason behind the open-webbing was to reduce the weight of the structure. Weather it be a truss or a girder, it is nonetheless a unique structure.
And by the way J.R.. as a member of the Leinie Lodge I must emphatically say..........Long Live Leinenkugel's!
The official name is the Bridge of Pines but it picked up the popular moniker from the noise the loose planking made when driving across it. (The deck planks were only attached on one end to allow for expansion and contraction of the planks. Every other board was attached on one side of the bridge, the others were attached on the opposite side of the bridge. The odd noise made by the dancing planks was the namesake.)
The bridge is a thing of legend and is a source of great pride to local residents. A few years ago, when there was some talk of taking it down, the public outcry was immediate and loud. The "scenic drive" that crossed the Rumbly Bridge was rerouted and the bridge remains in place.
Chippewa Falls' most famous son, Seymour Cray, now has a boulevard named after him, the Leinenkugel Brewery is still operated by the Leinenkugel family (even though it's owned by Miller) but Irving Park has the Rumbly Bridge!
Even if I didn't already love old bridges I would have to love one called "Rumbly Bridge".
Photograph and narrative for the dismantlement of the Irvine Park entrance bridge that became the center span of the Rumbly Bridge. Items are from the files of L.G. Arnold. Story has it, L.G. Arnold was the City Engineer for the City of Chippewa Falls at this time. Items supplied by Dean J. Arnold.
Construction Photographs of the Rumbly Bridge from the files of L.G. Arnold, Civil Engineer, University of Wisconsin 1909, narrative by L.G. Arnold. Items supplied by Dean J. Arnold
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/wi/chippewa/rumbly/