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.

History

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.

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
South Washington Street Parabolic Bridge
Neshanic Station Lenticular Truss Bridge

Buildings

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

References

  1. ↑ "ROPER WHITNEY: About Us". www.roperwhitney.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  2. 1 2 "History of Berlin Steel". www.berlinsteel.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  3. ↑ Knoblock, Glenn A. (2012-01-25). Historic Iron and Steel Bridges in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. McFarland. p. 159. ISBN 9780786486991.
  4. ↑ "Mattabesset River Bridge". Bridgehunter.com. James Baughn & Contributors. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Sheffield Street Bridge". PAST. Public Archaeology Survey Team, Inc. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Highgate Falls Bridge". BridgeHunter. James Baughn & contributors. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Boardman's Bridge". PAST. Public Archaeology Survey Team, Inc. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Melrose Road Bridge". PAST. Public Archaeology Survey Team, Inc. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  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.
  12. ↑ "Town Bridge". Town of Canton CT. Town of Canton, CT. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
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