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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




EAGLE POINT BRIDGE

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c. 1962 Photo courtesy: Carol Pfeiler

EAGLE POINT BRIDGE. In 1894 Joseph A. RHOMBERG organized the DUBUQUE AND WISCONSIN BRIDGE COMPANY.

Bridge Ticket. Photo courtesy: Darlene Reifsteck
Bridge Ticket. Photo courtesy: Darlene Reifsteck

Articles of incorporation filed on May 30, 1894 called for the project to be capitalized at $100,000. The board of directors included M. Kirkberg, Jamestown, Wisconsin; George Kieler, Kieler, Wisconsin; John Langbotham, Dickeyville, Wisconsin; J. A. Rhomberg; George FENGLER; Paul TRAUT; S. D. Ryan, ; Marshall M. WALKER; John Morrison, and Adam Francis JAEGER, Jr.. (1)

Concern that the new bridge would affect the traffic on the HIGH BRIDGE was quickly rejected. It was felt that the new bridge would actually encourage traffic into Dubuque from an area not then being served. (2) Ironically in the same year, the company operating the WAGON BRIDGE petitioned the city council to cancel the 1893 tax due to the city. The charter of the company stated the bridge would not be taxed any year it did not generate 8% interest on the capital invested. (3)

Citizens in the Fifth Ward were not opposed to the Wagon Bridge being made free, if they also had a bridge. A proposal before the city council, however, looked to them as an attempt by the "lower end of town" to have a free bridge while preventing them from having any bridge at all. (4)

The first money was solicited in 1894. By August 1899, company officials together with members of the DUBUQUE TRAVELING AND BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION had gathered $15,000 in subscriptions from farmers in Wisconsin. (5) They were able to state that the project was already a financial success before beginning the subscription program on the Iowa side. (6) This was affirmed at the end of October when over $50,000 of the total $100,000 needed for construction had been subscribed in Wisconsin and only the Fifth Ward of Dubuque. A city-wide subscription was being planned. (7) When the company had achieved all the money necessary for the project, the Dubuque city council awarded $25,000 as a bonus. (8)

Plans were changed. In 1899 E. R. Shankland, a civil engineer and contractor who worked on the Chicago World's Fair, arrived in Dubuque and decided to move the location of the bridge six hundred feet north of the original proposal. (9) The river commission in 1900 decided that the three spans would each be 350 feet wide. Shankland then had to redraw plans on submit them to an engineer in Rock Island for approval. (10) In 1900 Senator William Boyd ALLISON introduced the necessary bill in Congress stating that the bridge would be constructed near EAGLE POINT and that it would not be constructed within two miles of any other bridge. The direction would be a responsibility of the Secretary of War and work was to be completed within three years of the passage of the bill. (11)

The company directors continued to hope that construction starting with bridge piers could be completed by the time the river froze. (12) Almost immediately, however, unforeseen obstacles arose. When the site was mapped, engineers did not expect to find any rock. Their surprise when driving the first piles for the piers was to encounter a 56 x 24 foot rock six feet below the surface. (13) This necessitated the construction of a coffer dam by the firm of LINEHAN & MOLO which had the contract for driving piles and constructing bridge piers. (14)

The western approach to the bridge also caused problems. The route affecting the Fengler property was a piece of ground 600 feet long and fifty feet wide. To determine an evaluation, a jury was formed which visited the site and then returned to the courthouse to reach a decision. (15) The eastern portion of the bridge was made of wood instead of the iron used on the western side. The bend in the bridge near the Wisconsin side was used to save additional money. The 1,100 foot-long bridge stretched from Eagle Point into an area in Wisconsin formerly known as Kimbel's Slough or KIMBEL'S PARK over an additional 1,800 feet of trestle. This trestle ran over land except during high water when the slough area would be under water.

Undated photo. Library of Congress.

The opening of the bridge was not celebrated as might have been expected. Bridge company officials chose not to invest their money in a ceremony. (16) No reason was given for the fact that the Dubuque Retailer Association abandoned its plans for a celebration.

Builder's plate. Undated photo. Library of Congress.

Pedestrian crossings costing five cents began on May 3rd although the bridge was not opened for teams of horses until May 6, 1902. Mrs. George Gantenbein was the first to pay the twenty-five cent toll to drive a team of horses with a load of produce to the Central Market.

Although organized celebrations failed, the opening of the bridge did create local interest. On May 18,1902 an estimated five thousand people crossed the new bridge in answer to a plan of the DUBUQUE SAENGERBUND. The fraternal organization announced May 18th as the day for Dubuque residents to cross the bridge into Wisconsin for a day of beer drinking and dancing at Kimball's Park.

Toll ticket. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Toll takers working for the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge Company worked twelve hour split shifts.

In 1922 the east approach to the Eagle Point high bridge was renovated. Structural steel was used to replace the wooden structure at a cost of $25,000. Work was done so that traffic moving in either direction was not affected. (17) Painting the bridge in 1926 took over four hundred gallons of paint with the most difficult part being the inverted fifth span. (18) The inverted span, according to the bridge company, was used to save money while providing the same structural support. (19) In 1928 the wooden joists of the bridge were replaced with steel girders and the floor was replaced. With the steel girders, the carrying weight of the bridge increased to twenty tons. The new flooring was composed of creosoted wooden planks covered with tarvia and stone. (20)

Construction continued in 1935. As originally planned, a new roadway to the eastern side of the bridge was planned 600 feet south of the highway that then connected the roadway to Wisconsin Highway 61. The planned was dropped due to its cost. Excavation on the island just west of the Wisconsin shore reduced the level to that of the official low water stage of the river. This created sufficient water storage to allow the operation of the lock and dam at a "fixed stage." The island, known officially as "Island 27" on government engineer's maps, "Squatter's Island," or "Lenstra's Island." had thirty summer cottages located on it that had to be removed. The sharp bend in the bridge was removed so that the bridge was nearly a straight line from shore to shore. The part of the bridge reconstructed by the government resulted in no cost to the bridge owners and had a concrete floor. While work was underway, a wooden trestle was used so that traffic was never halted. (21)

The use of the bridge was reduced in 1969 when both the Iowa and Wisconsin departments of transportation removed the bridge from highway designations. U. S. 151 and 61 were routed to the JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE and weight limits were imposed on the Eagle Point Bridge. Only cars and pickup trucks were allowed to cross. Semi-trucks had been banned since 1967. Despite this, between three thousand and four thousand vehicles continued to use it daily, many drivers headed for the JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS north of the city. (22)

Congestion on the bridge led to a proposal in 1974. The DUBUQUE AND WISCONSIN BRIDGE COMPANY suggested a plan to add a second toll booth and widen the access on the Iowa side. Traffic into Dubuque from Wisconsin would use two lanes and both toll booths in the morning. Traffic to Wisconsin would use one lane and one booth. The pattern would be reversed at night. (23)

Drivers crossing the bridge into Wisconsin purchased a ticket (top). If they picked up a passenger in Wisconsin, a second ticket had to be purchased (bottom).Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

In 1979 when the bridge was purchased by the State of Iowa for $769,700, part-time help was hired, and shifts ran eight hours long. The state paid overtime to the toll-takers and paid extra for working on holidays. While the bridge company paid neither of these benefits, employees usually received a Christmas bonus of several hundred dollars something not paid by the state. During the first eight months the state owned the bridge, it took in $272,000 against expenses of $66,673. Tolls at this time were: (24)

        30 cents for a single occupant vehicle
        45 cents for a vehicle carrying one or more additional people
        60 cents for a vehicle towing a trailer
The famous bridge lies in ruin after all attempts to save it failed.Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

In 1982, despite suggestions that the bridge be kept open for pedestrian and bicycle traffic and an inspection showing the bridge was structurally and functionally sound, the span was demolished at a cost of $500,000. (25) Iowa officials explained that the federal government which was paying for the new DUBUQUE-WISCONSIN BRIDGE would not allow the old bridge to remain. (26) Profits from tolls were used to help pay the cost of demolition. (27) Rumors that the owners would sue to block construction of a new bridge across the river were denied.

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey
Toll keeper's station. Library of Congress
This postcard shows the road leading to the Eagle Point Bridge. Years later this roadway was partially used as a parking lot for the TOLLBRIDGE INN (THE). Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium-Captain William D. Bowell, Sr. River Library-James Wall-Wild, Registrar
1904 postcard
The rattling of tires on the open grid of the bridge convinced many that either their cars were in need of repair or the bridge was weak.


See: DUBUQUE PONTOON BRIDGE COMPANY

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Source:

1. "The Eagle Point Bridge," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 30, 1894, p. 4.

2. "Will Aid Dubuque," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 19, 1894, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940519&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

3. "Postponed for Two Weeks," Dubuque Daily Herald, June 5, 1894, p. 4

4. "Trouble Brewing," Dubuque Daily Herald, February 1, 1895, p. 8. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18950201&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

5. "Credit Where Due," Dubuque Daily Telegraph, April 7, 1901, p. 6. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kDdBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y6gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2908,1897904&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

6. "Eagle Point Bridge," Dubuque Daily Herald, August 11, 1899, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bwhBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OagMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2078,4934833&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

7. "The Eagle Point Bridge," October 29, 1899, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BRhBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cKgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2934,1607339&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

8. "They Vote $25,000," Dubuque Daily Herald, November 5, 1895, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qrBFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LL0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=3137,6288801&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

9. "Eagle Point Bridge," August 11, 1899"

10. "Eagle Point Bridge, Dubuque Daily Herald, June 14, 1900, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XyNBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kagMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2229,991149&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

11. "Eagle Point Bridge," Dubuque Daily Herald, January 19, 1900, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RhhBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cKgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3001,7141367&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

12. "The New Bridge," Dubuque Daily Telegraph, August 4, 1901, p. 8

13. Ibid.

14. "Is Ready to Begin," Dubuque Daily Telegraph, June 2, 1901, p. 2

15. "Bridge Approach," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, October 30, 1901, p. 3

16. "Big Celebration," Dubuque Telegraph Herald, March 15, 1902, p. 3. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bWhBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MqkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5026,33516&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

17. "Push Eagle Point Bridge Project," Telegraph Herald, Sept. 10, 1922, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xahjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=js0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4652,109136&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

18. "Work on Eagle Point Bridge Nearing Completion," Telegraph Herald, October 10, 1926, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BDVFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=krsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3294,5681095&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

19. Bulkley, John. "Iowa Bidding for Eagle Point Bridge," Telegraph Herald, February 7, 1979, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D9hBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LqoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6949,932970&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

20. "Eagle Point Bridge to Get Improvements," Telegraph Herald and Times Journal, December 17, 1928, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=godFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pbwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4051,285914&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

21. "Part of Eagle Point Bridge to be Rebuilt," Telegraph Herald, August 4, 1935, p. 23. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TLxBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tqkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=7192,3340237&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

22. Kelly, Steve and Kircher, Steve. "Bridge Repairs Exact Toll in Downtown Traffic," Telegraph Herald, May 22, 1979, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M-5BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PqoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4513,3177103&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

23. "Second Toll Booth and Extra Lane Proposed for Eagle Point Bridge," Telegraph Herald, October 17, 1974, p. 11. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-gVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Gr8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=7238,4078241&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

24. Bulkley, John. "Iowa Votes to Buy Point Bridge for $769,700, Telegraph Herald, March 20, 1979, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hPhBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R6oMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2059,2384459&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

25. "Contract Awarded for Demolition of Eagle Point Bridge," Telegraph Herald, July 11, 1982, p. 4. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HJFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wNAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6728,1212934&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en

26. Ibid.

27. Bigelow, Bruce."Bridge Tolls to Pay for Dismantlement," Telegraph Herald, February 21, 1980, p. 11. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SOlFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XwUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5826,2846344&dq=eagle+point+bridge&hl=en