Property Record
W FRANKLIN ST, BEAVER CREEK
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | FRANKLIN STREET BRIDGE |
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| Other Name: | Franklin Street Bridge |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27930 |
| Location (Address): | W FRANKLIN ST, BEAVER CREEK |
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| County: | Monroe |
| City: | Sparta |
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| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1927 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1989 |
| Historic Use: | bridge |
| Architectural Style: | NA (unknown or not a building) |
| Structural System: | Concrete Beam |
| Wall Material: | Concrete |
| Architect: | Frank Davy; A.R. Cofton |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Water Street Commercial Historic District |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 11/12/1992 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 7/3/1992 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. In 1927, the current concrete bridge was constructed by the Wisconsin Board of Public works during Mayor W.O. Naset's term. Frank Davy was the engineer and A.R. Coffeen was the contractor for the project. Ever since Sparta's early history, various types of bridges have been located over Beaver Creek at this point. Prior to 1900, this bridge was probably a timber bridge of one sort or another. Sometime between 1900 and 1911, it was replaced by a steel bridge. The present-day concrete bridge replaced the former steel bridge. This bridge meets National Register Criterion A. This area was probably a historical crossing for Beaver Creek since Sparta's founding in 1854. Although this bridge was constructed in 1927, it is located at the same general crossing point as previous bridges, thereby maintaining the integrity of historical location. The bridge's period of historical significance stems from 1927. Constructed over Bevear Crek on West Franklin Street, this well-preserved concrete bridge is a one-span bridge exhibiting concrete beams supported yb massive concrete piers, which also serve as retaining walls for the banks of this small waterway. Concrete balustrades featuring concrete Classic styled spindle balusters border both sides of the deck. This small concrete bridge over Beaver Creek was constructed in 1927 to replace an iron bridge built in the early 1900s. The Franklin Bridge was constructed by the A.R. Coften Construction Company according to a Classical influenced design by Frank Davy, an engineer from La Crosse. The Franklin Street Bridge is significant under Criterion A as a representative of a type of bridge construction for its time when it was built in 1927, this concrete girder bridge is one of few remaining in the area. Particularly appropriate for residential neighborhoods, this ornamental bridge contributes an interesting element to the proposed Water Street Historic District. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Bridge Memorial Plaque, East Franklin Street. (B) Sanborn Insurance Map 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 1922, 1931. (C) Sparta Monroe County Democrat 7/20/1995. (D) Map of Sparta, Wisconsin. Milwaukee: Phoenix Map Company of Milwaukee, 1875. (E) Standard Atlas of Monroe County, Wisconsin. Chicago: George A. Ogle and Company, 1897. (F) Atlas of Monroe County, Wisconsin. Chicago: George A. Ogle and Company, 1915. Sparta Herald 10/27/1997. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |