Property Record
COUNTY HIGHWAY D / PEARL ST OVER THE WOLF RIVER
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Pearl Street Bridge |
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| Other Name: | Pearl Street Bridge |
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| Reference Number: | 151721 |
| Location (Address): | COUNTY HIGHWAY D / PEARL ST OVER THE WOLF RIVER |
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| County: | Waupaca |
| City: | New London |
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| Year Built: | 1939 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 20092020 |
| Historic Use: | bridge |
| Architectural Style: | |
| Structural System: | Steel Frame |
| Wall Material: | |
| Architect: | Wisconsin Highway Commission (designer); Worden-Allen Company (builder) |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | This two-span, post-and-beam, plate-girder bridge was constructed in 1939 and spans the Wolf River at South Pearl Street. The 205-foot long structure rests on two poured-concrete abutments and a single intermediate pier. Two large steel beams support the 30-foot wide concrete traffic deck. These beams are formed with riveted plates and angels and are 18¼ inches wide and rise 45½ inches above the traffic deck. This deck rests upon seven rolled I-beam stringers which, in turn, are supported by sixteen rolled I-beam floor beams that connect to the aforementioned plate girder beams. Smaller, tapered, plate-girder beams extend from the outward side of each main beam and carry a replacement concrete sidewalk guarded by the original steel railing. The railing is 38¾ inches tall and consists of rolled I-beam posts spaced 18 feet apart with the balustrade consisting of square 1 inch bars spaced on 6 inch centers. Three replacement light posts reside on the east sidewalk while the west sidewalk carries four. It carries a plaque at each end inscribed with "PEARL STREET BRIDGE, FEDERAL EMERGENCY ADMINSTRATION OF PUBLIC WORKS, PROJECT NO. WIS. 1622-F, 1939, BRIDGE NO. 425, BUILT BY STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN, IN COOPERATION WITH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC WORKS, CONTRACTOR, WORDEN-ALLEN CO." The Wisconsin Highway Commission authorized the replacement of an 18-foot wide overhead truss bridge at this location in July 1938. In August 1939, the Highway Commission obtained $45,000 in funds from the Public Works Adminstration (PWA). The highway commission paid for the remainder of the bridge. A $75,000 contract was let to the Worden-Allen Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and work commenced in December 1938. The project utilized local relief workers. The bridge opened to traffic on 1 September 1939 and was formally dedicated on 30 September 1939. In order to show the greatest amount of detail, the photo submitted in 2009 shows only one of the bridge's two spans -- both of which are identical. 2020 - Surveyed bridge no longer extant. Replaced by new bridge in ca. 2010. steel beam or plate girder bridge |
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| Bibliographic References: | New London (WI) Press-Republican, 29 Dec 1938, 7 Sep 1939 (includes picture),5 Oct 1939; Bridge Plaque Pearl Street Bridge Replacement Survey, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (2009) “Architecture/History Survey: Replace CTH D (Pearl St.) Bridge Over Wolf River -New London.” WHS project number 09-0200/WP. January 2009. Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |