Bridge Over River Blanchard
BRIDGE OVER RIVER BLANCHARD | Main street bridges | FINDLAY, OHIO
1841 | 1851 | 1873 | 1889 | 1935 | 2000
BRiDGE #1 | MERE PILINGS
1841 | it was seriously contemplated to build a bridge across the Blanchard River at Findlay
It was deemed of so much importance. That an order was made instructing the assessors of the county to take the vote of the citizens for laying a tax of $800 to build a bridge over the river.
James Robinson was the lowest bidder, and the contract was awarded to him.
This first bridge was a very simple structure…mere pilings.
Previous to the building of this bridge, the river was crossed by canoes. When the river was too high to drive a team of horses across it.
BRIDGE #2 | OF A DIFFERENT PLAN
1850 | a contract for a new and better bridge was let to Jesse Wheeler, William Klamouth and Edwin Val, for the sum of $1,500.
It too, was a wooden structure, but of a different plan.
โขIt consisted of two spans, being supported at the ends, by massive stone abutments, with a pier in the center.
- ๏ปฟ๏ปฟthe sides were elevated (being a truss bridge) and were enclosed and covered with a shingle roof.
- ๏ปฟ๏ปฟthere was a single track for wagons, with a foot path on either side.
The bridge, when finished and opened for travel, was regarded as a superb piece of work.
In time. This structure wore out and decayed, and the business and travel of the county demanded a better bridge.
1872 | this bridge was dismantled and part of it went to the Hancock County Fairgrounds the present location of West McPherson and Stadium Drive) for the construction of a grandstand.
There are still timbers from this old bridge under the Rieck building at 524 South Main Street.
BRIDGE #3โ| CANTON IRON BRIDGE COMPANY
1873 | the third bridge was erected by the Canton Iron Bridge Company, under a contract with the county commissioners, and at a cost of about $13,000.
This bridge was iron with gas lights which were turned on at night.
1889 | when preparing to build the fourth bridge, the iron bridge was moved to broad avenue to span the river, just north of Maple Grove Cemetery.
BRIDGE #4 | SMITH BRIDGE COMPANY OF TOLEDO
April 1965 | the 1889 bridge was dismantled for a new bridge over the Blanchard River and was moved to Ottawa.
1889 | the fourth bridge was engineered by the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo.
It contained three lanes with streetcar tracks in the center and space on either side for horses and buggies. This bridge saw service until 1934.
At that time, the bridge was broken into two segments.
- ๏ปฟ๏ปฟthe east span was sent to Athens County for service over the Hocking River, and
- the west span went to us 30 north. To span the Blanchard River at that site
BRIDGE #5 | 1935 BRIDGE
Fall 1934 | the fifth bridge was started in the fall of 1934 with a completion date of December 31, 1934, as a goal.
The goal was not met, due to heavy snows, cold weather and delayed shipments of materials.
Several holdups also occurred during the spring of 1935. But the bridge was finally ready for the planned dedication.
Due to the disastrous flood of 1913, the river was straightened and re-channeled from Main Street east to the Railroad.
Several buildings, on the north side of Main Street, were razed to make room for the 38 foot-longer as well as wider-bridge.
July 7, 1935 | Bridge Dedication, with a cloud burst which scattered the crowd.
1969 | a new surface top was put on the bridge using most of the steel from the previous bridge.
The light pillars were also removed.
BRIDGE #6 | 2000 BRIDGE
2000 | a new bridge was built.
Unfortunately, the construction hurt several downtown businesses located near the bridge which were forced to close.
