Primary Document 1 Construction Plaque. Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Primary Documents:
- Construction Plaque:
Wm Hale Thompson Mayor
Richard W. Wolfe Commissioner of Public Works
Loran O. Gayton City Engineer
Thos G. Pihlfelot Engineer of Bridges
Edward F. Moore Deputy Commissioner of Public Works
Myron B. Reynolds Assistant City Engineer
Donald N. Becker Engineer of Bridge Design
Chicago Plan Commission
Bennett Parsons & Frost – Consulting Architects
Chicago Chapter of American Institute of Architects
Illinois Society of Architects
Chicago Art Commission
Clarence S. Rowe Engineer of Bridge Construction
Fitzsimons & Connell Dredge & Dock CO. Substructure
Norwood-Noonan CO. Electrical Equipment
Frank A. Berry Resident Engineer
The Ketler-Elliot CO. Superstructure
Ralph H. Simpson CO. Houses & Enclosures
James J. Barrett – Plumbing 1927
Figure 8 Truss and rivet elements. Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Figure 7 Rivets. Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Figure 6 Partial portal. Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Figure 5 West Tower and bird resting on top.
Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Figure 4 East Tower and rivet elements.
Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Preservation:
The bridge retains a high-level of original elements and is in great condition. It has been determined that the bridge is ineligible for historic (NRHP) status, despite its excellent condition of historical integrity. As the threat of demolition looms over most of Chicago’s river bridges due to the costs of maintaining old now-obsolete movable bridges, no danger seems imminent for the 100th Street Bridge. However, the city has demolished several historic bascule bridges in the past few years, so caution should be used.
Figure 3 Calumet River and barges, from deck. Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Figure 2 Deck walkway. Photo taken on 10/4/2013.
Design:
The 100th Street Bridge, like many bridges in Chicago, is a Chicago (fixed-trunnion) bascule bridge. Bascule bridges are a type of movable bridge that utilizes counterweights to balance spans (“leafs”) in a vertical position in order to allow clearance for river traffic. It contains riveted connections which required riveting in the field of construction. In all, the total length of the structure is about 326 feet.[3]
According to Nathan Holth, the Calumet River is Chicago’s only river where the water is still continuously used by barges and other large ships.[4] This requires the 100th Street Bridge to operate constantly, almost one-hundred years after it was first built.
[1] Holth, Nathan. Chicago's Bridges. Oxford: Shire Publications, 2012. Print. p. 52.
[2] "Charles Fitz Simons." Journal of the Western Society of Engineers X. Jan-Dec. (1905): 555. Google Book Search. Google. Web. 14 July 2014. Nathan Holth discusses Simons and the 100th Street Bridge on his website historicbridges.org.
[3] HistoricBridges.org. National Bridge Inventory Data Sheet - 100th Street Bridge. 2010. Raw data. Chicago.
[4] Holth, Nathan. Chicago's Bridges. Oxford: Shire Publications, 2012. Print. p. 53.
Location:
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. 100th Street over Calumet River. East Side community.
History:
Built in 1927 by both the Ketler-Elliot Company (the superstructure) and Fitz Simons and Connell Company (the substructure), the 100th Street Bridge has provided a link over the Calumet River for almost a century.[1] The Fitz Simons and Connell Company was founded by Charles Fitz Simons (1834-1904), a Civil War veteran who was seriously wounded multiple times during the war.[2] His company helped to create several spans in the Chicago area which helped to crown Chicago as one of the great bridge capitals of the world.
Figure 1 100th Street Bridge. Photo taken on 10/4/2013.