Former historic covered bridges: Aqueduct over St. Marys River, Broadway over St. Marys River, and Leo over St. Joseph River from page 6 Series 6: Indiana Covered Bridge Visual Materials from Collection # M0836 OM0476 COVERED TIMBER BRIDGE COMMITTEE COLLECTION, 1930–1979 Collection Information, Historical Sketch, Processed by Laurie Randall, Janet Schmidt, and Dorothy A. Nicholson, October 2009, Manuscript and Visual Collections Department, William Henry Smith Memorial Library, Indiana Historical Society,450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269.
It's #waybackwednesday! Check out this image of the Clinton St. Bridge in Fort Wayne, courtesy of the Harter Postcard Collection in our Community Album.
Be sure to visit Engage Fort Wayne to learn about new projects and stay up-to-date with ongoing ones, like the restoration of the Mechanic St bridge and the rebuilding of the trestle bridge at Lawton Park.
The old Stellhorn Bridge is our topic for Today’s Throwback Thursday. The c. 1885 bridge was built by the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo, Ohio. It was located on Lower Huntington Road and crossed the St. Marys River. During Prohibition, two federal agents were killed in a gun battle near this bridge. (Photo Courtesy of the Allen County Public Library Community Album)
TENNESSEE AVENUE BRIDGE Photo taken May 21, 2024 @ 4:45 a.m. The moon was soooooo bright, & lit up the sky so...
The moon was soooooo bright, & lit up the sky so PERFECTLY-- it looked like a painting, with the different hues of gray & blue, and the wispy clouds!! I think I caught it too!!
Standing NE, looking SW, over the St. Joseph River, towards Anderson Avenue...
The Tennessee Avenue Bridge was designed by:
A.W. GROSVENOR: who also designed the Columbia Street Bridge, the 4th Street Bridge (it used to have beautiful wrought iron elegant Street lamps on it, btw ), "THE" Lincoln Highway Bridge (wrongly named the Harrison Street Bridge Today), & others...
Grosvenor was considered a TOP Bridge designer of his time - That's why he was chosen to design the bridge that is the STARTING POINT of the original 1915 Lincoln Hi-way Route..... (not this bridge)....
The Tennessee River (Avenue) Bridge was dedicated in December 1912
*** best viewed in low light or the dark....
Here is a different perspective of the TENNESSEE AVENUE BRIDGE!! I took this on my short morning walk on May 12, 2024, ...
Here is a different perspective of the TENNESSEE AVENUE BRIDGE!!
I took this on my short morning walk on May 12, 2024, @ 4:45 a.m.
Looking SE, near McAfee Street, towards St. Joseph Blvd....
The Tennessee Ave Bridge was built in 1912, & it was designed by Nationally acclaimed bridge designer A.W. GROSVENOR, of Fort Wayne...
It's a VERY rare bridge, in that it is a Melan Arch Bridge (rare in the US then, & even more now!), & has a dark Flemish Bond Brick covering, with Bedford Limestone columns & accents...
Very EUROPEAN in design -- I saw similar bridges in Paris, and Amsterdam...
Here is a post I posted on my personal page... it has some historical information, that I thought you all might like....
The Tennessee Avenue Bridge is A.W. Grosvenor's oldest surviving Bridge in Fort Wayne, & other cities in the Midwest...
He was a BIG DEAL back in his day...
Some of his surviving MASTERPIECES in Fort Wayne: Columbia Street Bridge, Lincoln Highway Bridge (Harrison Street Bridge), this bridge, & the 4th Street Bridge (which used to have 2 ornate light posts on each side of it), among others....
I hope you all enjoy this!!
Today, Mayor Sharon Tucker and the Vann Family announced a $5 million gift to fund the construction of a bridge that...
Today, Mayor Sharon Tucker and the Vann Family announced a $5 million gift to fund the construction of a bridge that will connect two sections of the Pufferbelly Trail over Coliseum Boulevard.
This morning, Mayor Sharon Tucker, alongside Fort Wayne Trails Executive Director Kent Castleman, announced a $5M gift from the Vann Family Foundation to assist in funding a new pedestrian bridge over Coliseum Blvd. for the Pufferbelly Trail. The bridge will be known as the Vann Family Crossing.
Jim Vann was a former shareholder and chairperson of Rea Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne and has been an instrumental leader and community supporter over the years.
“My wife, Lee, loved the trails system in Fort Wayne,” said Jim Vann. “The bridge is our way of saying thank you to the late Mayor Tom Henry and Mayor Tucker, to all Rea employees, and to our citizens for creating such a special place to live and work. We are proud to call Fort Wayne our home.”
Fort Wayne Trails staff, along with city staff, worked with family representatives to make this gift a reality. James Holm, Director of Community Engagement, created a video presentation showcasing the importance of this bridge and its impact on not only Fort Wayne, but the regional trail system through the Poka-Bache Connector. The Pufferbelly is a segment of the 81-mile visionary trail being developed across four counties. To view the presentation video from November 2023, visit the Fort Wayne Trails Youtube page or view in the comments below this post.
“One of the goals of this important bridge project is to make our trails more useable as public transportation. This bridge will allow for a safe and speedy crossing over Coliseum Blvd. helping trail users to reach downtown Fort Wayne and its many destinations. Eliminating the barrier of Coliseum Blvd. for casual users as well as daily commuters is a generational move for the growth of the system.” commented Castleman. This bridge, which is a part of the section of the Pufferbelly Trail known as the Golden Spike, will connect 85 miles south of Coliseum Blvd. with 35 Miles north to create a 120 mile connected network in Allen County.
In a letter explaining the reasons for their family’s gift, Jim added, “with Rea and through the Vann Family Foundation, a steady stream of donations and strong company volunteerism was sustained in the community. The initial contribution to the Aboite Trails was through the Vann Family Foundation in 2002. The Vann Family Crossing really represents the pinnacle of our thanks to Mayor Henry, Mayor Tucker, the citizens of Fort Wayne, and the generations of Rea Magnet Wire employees. Fort Wayne Trails was one of Lee’s real passions, and we feel truly lucky…. again… to be part of building Fort Wayne’s incredible future.”
The Vann children stated that their parents’ story is just one of many, and what makes Fort Wayne so unique. They have been part of a generational “core of giving” that has been truly inspirational. Fortunately for all of us, our community’s culture of “doing good for others” is as strong as ever and will continue to be the foundation for our City’s future prosperity.
“The kind and generous gift being provided by Mr. Vann and his family is a true testament to thinking of others first and giving back for the betterment of a community,” said Mayor Tucker. “Our trails and greenways provide residents and visitors with a quality-of-life amenity that makes Fort Wayne stronger and more vibrant. This effort will leave a legacy that won’t be forgotten.”
Donor Presentation for Pufferbelly Trail - Coliseum Blvd Bridge Crossing July 18, 2024 Fort Wayne Trails on YouTube
This video was created by Fort Wayne Trails in November 2023 for use in presenting to potential donors for the bridge crossing of the Pufferbelly Trail at Coliseum Blvd. This presentation, along with conversations and planning, with the City of Fort Wayne, ultimately led to a $5M gift from The Vann Foundation facilitated by Jim Vann and family. The bridge will be named the Vann Family Crossing.
