Property Record
W END OF CASS ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Cass Street Bridge |
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| Other Name: | Cass Street Bridge |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 42432 |
| Location (Address): | W END OF CASS ST |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | La Crosse |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1939 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19962017 |
| Historic Use: | bridge |
| Architectural Style: | NA (unknown or not a building) |
| Structural System: | Bedstead Truss |
| Wall Material: | Metal |
| Architect: | Klug and Smith; Wisconsin Highway Commission |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| 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 Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Large masonry piers support steel cables and overhead trusses radiating stays for aerodynamic stability and deck bracing. KLUG AND SMITH OF MILWAUKEE WERE THE BUILDERS. DOT BRIDGE #B-32-0300. Even though it was the height of the Depression, trade across the Mississippi River had to go on. Construction took two years, with the two central piers causing the most difficulty. The steel truss system was a new design that was later used for other bridges throughout the state. Streets had to be changed and buildings demolished to accommodate the new structure, just as happened with the construction of the new bridge. The Cass Street Bridge replaced the 1891 Mt. Vernon Street swing bridge. In recent years a second bridge with curving arch spans was added along the south side of the 1939 Cass Street Bridge. The changing of streets and buildings that accompanied the installation of that new bridge was similar to what occurred more than 75 years ago. Bridge Fabricators: Klug and Smith, Milwaukee. Bridge Abutments: Minneapolis Bridge Co. Supervising Engineer: Henry Sparby. 2017 UPDATE - THE CASS STREET BRIDGE APPEARS TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY UNCHANGED SINCE IT WAS LAST SURVEYED IN 1996, AND DETERMINED ELIGIBLE IN 2004. Overhead truss bridge |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. La Crosse Tribune, 21 September 1939, 21 September 1939. B. Crocker, Leslie. La Crosse Buildings through Time. La Crosse: La Crosse Public Library Archives Department, 2015. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |