Monroe Street Bridge (1889)

Photos

WoodenMonroeStreetBridge

BH Photo #419551

Map

Maps and Databases

Description

The first Monroe Street bridge was financed by the street car company in cooperation with the city and other private investors who paid a third of its $45,000 cost. The San Francisco Bridge Company began constructing the Howe truss span and its trestle approaches in December 1888. A cableway powered by a donkey engine was built on the south bank or the river. The bridge timbers were fabricated on the hill and when ready for placement lowered down to the workmen on the cable. The structural integrity of the span came into question shortly after its opening. The foundation for the north pier was blasted out of bedrock but the southern approach was built on a landfill. Melting snow and spring rains caused the structure to settle. The city refused to pay its share until it was repaired. The cable car company responded by posting widely ignored signs placing the span off limits to pedestrians. The controversy was settled on the night of July 23, 1890 when fire consumed the bridge and several buildings on north Monroe Street.

Facts

Overview: Lost Timber stringer bridge over Spokane River
Location: Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Status: Destroyed by fire
History: Built 1889 Burned 1890
Design: Timber stringer
Approximate latitude, longitude: +47.66050, -117.42675 (decimal degrees)
47°39'38" N, 117°25'36" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 11/467957/5278655 (zone/easting/northing)
Inventory number: BH 80785 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

April 19, 2018: Updated by Richard Doody: Added historical info to description
March 20, 2018: Updated by Leslie R trick: Corrected year

Related Bridges

Monroe Street Bridge (1892) (Successor)

Sources

Leslie R Trick - Leslie [dot] Trick [at] gmail [dot] com
Richard Doody