Hamilton Street Bridge (1869)
Photos
1870s portal view
Sign transcription (above the portal, not including cast plaques): NOTICE Any person or persons riding or driving faster than a walk, or driving more than 15 head of cattle on or over this Bridge at the same time, shall pay a fine not less than Ten Dollars nor more than Thirty Dollars according to an Act of Assembly passed the 18th day of March, A.D..1868. L.M. Engelman Clerk of Commissioners Daniel Taught Thomas JaXXdry Deary R. PeaXXan Commissioners of Lehigh County
1865 (1863?)
The 1865 was just below the two cast plaques, which I just couldn't make out in the image. The 1865 (last digit could be a flat topped 3). So, is this the build date?
Photo uploaded by Art S.
BH Photo #481741
Facts
- Overview
- Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Lehigh River on Hamilton Street
- Location
- Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
- Status
- Replaced by a new bridge
- History
- Built ca 1869; Replaced 1902
- Design
- Pratt through truss with cast iron compression members
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +40.60623, -75.45430 (decimal degrees)
40°36'22" N, 75°27'15" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 18/461566/4495145 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Allentown East
- Inventory number
- BH 71803 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Related Bridges
- Hamilton Street Bridge (1902) (Successor)
- Hamilton Street Bridge (1841) (Predecessor)
Comments
Note that the second picture seems to have added truss structure under the deck that is not in the first picture. I would guess that the first picture is an early, as built image and the second is truly a 1901 image, late in the bridge's life with reinforcement added to extend the bridge's life with extra capacity.
If anyone has the ability to do the research, it would be neat to find out more on this bridge's history (and maybe more and better pictures).
Regards,
Art S.
I'm guessing that the builder was Beckel, although the decoration reminds me of Corwin Iron Works of Lambertville, New Jersey (Lambertville Iron Works). Also, it looks like it was built to Lowthorp's design/patent. Can anyone confirm?
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/pa/lehigh/bh71803/
Added portal views and tried moving the portal image into the first position.
Sign transcription (above the portal, not including cast plaques):
NOTICE
Any person or persons
riding or driving faster than
a walk, or driving more than 15 head of cattle on or over this Bridge at
the same time, shall pay a fine not less than Ten Dollars nor more than Thirty Dollars according to an Act of
Assembly passed the 18th day of March, A.D..1868.
L.M. Engelman Clerk of Commissioners
Daniel Taught
Thomas JaXXdry Commissioners
Deary R. PeaXXan of Lehigh County
1865 (1863?)
The 1865 was just below the two cast plaques, which I just couldn't make out in the image. The 1865 (last digit could be a flat topped 3). So, is this the build date?