Berlin Iron Bridge Co.

Last updated
Berlin Iron Bridge Company
Founded1868 in Berlin, Connecticut
Defunct1900
FateAcquired
SuccessorsAmerican Bridge Company, Berlin Steel
Headquarters
Berlin, Connecticut
ServicesBridge construction

The Berlin Iron Bridge Company was a Berlin, Connecticut company that built iron bridges and buildings that were supported by iron. It is credited as the architect of numerous bridges and buildings now listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It eventually became part of the American Bridge Company.

Contents

History

Illustration of East Berlin Iron Works Co. Office and Work East Berlin Iron Works Co.jpg
Illustration of East Berlin Iron Works Co. Office and Work

The Berlin Iron Bridge Company began in 1868 as the Corrugated Metal Company, a branch of tinware firm Roys and Wilcox, which is now part of Roper Whitney. [1] Originally producing roofing and shutters, the company became involved in roof trusses. In 1878, under Samuel C. Wilcox, the company purchased the rights to the "parabolic" (lenticular truss) bridge patent from William Douglas. Douglas became treasurer and executive manager of the company. In 1885 he received another patent, and the company name was changed to Berlin Iron Bridge Company.[ citation needed ]

The Berlin Iron Bridge Company constructed hundreds of bridges across the eastern United States, until 1900, when the company was acquired by the American Bridge Company. [2]

Berlin Steel

Almost immediately after its acquisition by the American Bridge Company, three executives from the Berlin Iron Bridge Company split from American Bridge and formed their own company, the Berlin Construction Company. The new company continued in the path of the Berlin Iron Bridge Company and continued building bridges until the 1930s. In 1962 it was renamed to the Berlin Steel Construction Company, and still exists today. [2] [3] Several of their bridges have also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bridges

Hadley Parabolic Bridge Hadley Bow Bridge.jpg
Hadley Parabolic Bridge
South Washington Street Parabolic Bridge Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge.jpg
South Washington Street Parabolic Bridge
Neshanic Station Lenticular Truss Bridge Lenticular Truss Bridge, Neshanic Station , NJ - area view.jpg
Neshanic Station Lenticular Truss Bridge

Buildings

Detroit Dry Dock Company's machine shop in 1912 (right background), built in 1892 Dry Dock machine shop 1912.jpg
Detroit Dry Dock Company's machine shop in 1912 (right background), built in 1892

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Glen Falls Bridge United States historic place

The Glen Falls Bridge is a historic bridge that formerly carried Brunswick Avenue over the Moosup River in Plainfield, Connecticut. Built in 1886 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company, it is one of a shrinking number of surviving 19th-century lenticular truss bridges in the state. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. It has been closed to all traffic for many years.

South Washington Street Parabolic Bridge United States historic place

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Ouaquaga Lenticular Truss Bridge United States historic place

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Raymondville Parabolic Bridge United States historic place

Raymondville Parabolic Bridge is a historic lenticular truss bridge located at Raymondville in St. Lawrence County, New York. It was constructed in 1886 and spans the Raquette River. It was constructed by the Berlin Iron Bridge Co. of East Berlin, Connecticut. It was closed to vehicular traffic in 1979 was used briefly as a pedestrian bridge. then closed completely to all traffic for safety reasons. There is now no public access to the bridge's actual deck, but both approaches are accessible on foot. There is a nearby similar but shorter version of this bridge also built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Co. still in use linking River Road and NY 56 at Yaleville, New York. In the late 1950s tragedy struck on the parabolic bridge. A small boy while walking to school one morning lost his footing and slipped on some ice and fell under the railing into the Raquette River where he drowned.

Turn-of-River Bridge United States historic place

The Turn-of-River Bridge, also known as Old North Stamford Road Bridge, is a single-span lenticular pony truss bridge built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company in 1892. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It formerly brought the Old Stamford Road across the Rippowam River, but is now open only to pedestrian traffic, as the road ends shortly before the bridge.

Main Street Bridge (Stamford, Connecticut) United States historic place

The Main Street Bridge formerly carried Main Street over the Rippowam River just outside downtown Stamford, Connecticut. It was designed and manufactured by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company in 1888. It is a two-span wrought iron lenticular truss bridge, each span 60 feet (18 m) long, although there are supporting piers every 12 feet (3.7 m) feet. The abutments and central pier are cut granite and other stone, faced in concrete.

Crossman Bridge

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Douglas & Jarvis Patent Parabolic Truss Iron Bridge United States historic place

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Old Boardman Bridge United States historic place

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Minortown Road Bridge United States historic place

The Minortown Road Bridge is a historic lenticular pony truss bridge in northeastern Woodbury, Connecticut. It spans the Nonewaug River, connecting U.S. Route 6 (US 6) to Minortown Road and Mill Road. Built in 1890 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company, it is one a small number of surviving lenticular truss bridges in the state. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Melrose Road Bridge United States historic place

The Melrose Road Bridge is a historic bridge at the western end of Melrose Road in East Windsor, Connecticut. Built in 1888, it is one of a small number of surviving 19th-century lenticular pony truss bridge in the state. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. It has been closed for many years, and lacks stringers and decking.

Brackenridge Park Bridge Historic iron bridge located in San Antonio, Texas

The Brackenridge Park Bridge is a historic iron Lenticular truss bridge located in San Antonio, Texas. The bridge was built in 1890 and remains open for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Composed of a single truss of just over 95 feet (29 m), it is one of the shortest lenticular truss bridges in the country and one of just eight located west of the Mississippi River. The bridge is a contributing property to the Brackenridge Park Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in August 2011.

References

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  3. Knoblock, Glenn A. (2012-01-25). Historic Iron and Steel Bridges in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. McFarland. p. 159. ISBN   9780786486991.
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  9. "Minortown Road Bridge". Bridgehunter. James Baughn & Contributors. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  10. "Red Bridge". PAST. Public Archaeology Survey Team, Inc. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  11. Smith, Steve (4 Jun 2015). "Main Street bridge to get renovations". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
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