Peru's Illinois River Bridges (IL-251/US-51)

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(IDOT: simple detailed, John Weeks III, Bridge Hunter, Historic Bridges) This early 1960s cantilever Warren through truss bridge is 2292' long and goes bluff-to-bluff. It has a long span of 477' to provide a navigation clearance of 400'x44'.
Historic Bridges has a full West elevation shot that also shows a stretch of the IR/.../CB&Q/IV&N that was evidently washed out.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

An aerial photo indicates that this bridge replaced a bridge that was in downtown Peru at Putnam Street. That would explain why the pubs on Water Street were close to that area. The old bridge appeared to be a swing bridge. I have not been able to find any info on it. In addition to replacing this bridge, it moved US-51 traffic from downtown La Salle and the Shippingsport Bridge. US-51 was moved to I-39 when that bridge was built. That is, US-51 was originally on what is now IL-351. Then it was moved to a new route that bypassed La Salle using this bridge. Then that route became IL-251 when US-51 was rerouted to I-39.

Fortunately for Peru, the state has continued to maintain this former US-51 route. Even though the IDOT database does not have an entry for the "Reconstructed" field, it was rehabilitated in 1992, including the replacement of the deck. It was repainted in 2009.

Andy Zukowski posted
Swing Bridge in Peru, Illinois Circa 1910

Michael Nieslawski posted
Peru, Illinois - Birds eye view of lower Peru during High Water 05-20-1908

Andy Zukowski posted
Swing Bridge on the Illinois River in Peru, Illinois. Early 1900’s

Andy Zukowski posted
Another view from the Swing Bridge in Peru, Illinois. C.1910

Andy commented on his post
The key to turn the Old Peru Swing Bridge is on display along with a plaque and a few Photos of the bridge in the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center near Starved Rock Lock and Dam

 

Michael Nieslawski posted, cropped
Peru Illinois - Swing Bridge at base of Putnam Street, don't know year or details on this photo. If anyone has more information, please comment. Look at all the people on the bridge viewing this Event - WOW!

Andy Zukowski: This man, known as Paul "Chicago" (born Paul Christman), was a professional entertainer and a star of the Dance Marathon circuit during the late 1920s and 1930s.

While he made his living on the dance floor, he was most famous for his "water-walking" stunts, which he used as a massive publicity tool to draw crowds to the marathons he was competing in.

The Stunt in Peru, Illinois

This specific photo likely dates to 1930 or 1931.

• The Apparatus: Paul used "water shoes" or pontoons—long, hollow wooden boxes—strapped to his feet. He used a double-ended paddle (like a kayak paddle) to maintain balance and propel himself.

• The Bridge: As mentioned, that is the old Peru-LaSalle Bridge (a swing bridge). The massive crowd on the bridge shows just how effective his publicity stunts were; in an era before television, a man "walking on water" was a major local sensation.

• The Purpose: He would perform these feats in cities along the Illinois River (like Joliet, Peoria, and Peru) to announce that a dance marathon was beginning. Spectators would follow him from the riverbank straight to the dance hall, paying a quarter to watch the competition.

Who was "Paul Chicago"?

• Professional Marathoner: He was one of the "professionals" who traveled the country. These pros were the "ringers" of the dance marathon world—they knew how to sleep while standing up and how to entertain the crowd with jokes and stunts to keep the energy high during the weeks-long events.

• A "Human Duck": Newspapers of the time often referred to him as the "Human Duck" or the "Man who Walks on Water."

• Survival Artist: Like many during the Great Depression, Paul used his physical endurance to survive. In a dance marathon, contestants were fed seven meals a day as long as they kept moving, which was a powerful incentive during the 1930s.

Why Peru?

The LaSalle-Peru area was a popular stop for traveling shows because of its dense population of industrial and river workers. The local dance marathons were often held in large armories or converted warehouses nearby.

Michael Nieslawski posted
Peru South Shore Boat Club of Yesteryear when actually on South Shore - Swing Bridge seen behind

 

Michael Nieslawski posted two photos with the comment: "Barge nearing Swing Bridge Peru."

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Bob Dellinger posted
I got this pic from a local group. The bridge in my pic of the remains in my post below. This carried US rt 51 over the river at Peru Il. This is after it was closed to traffic and tied open for river traffic. The north span is gone, so this was taken after removal had begun. (closed in 1949, all removed by 1955)
[Some comments indicate this is going East, upstream.]
Lloyd Scott Hardin shared

The swing bridge is in the background of this photo.

Peru Historical Society posted

Peru Water St. 1916 showing flood waters. Also the location of the bridge, for inquiry from a previous post.

Peru Historical Society posted
Peru, Illinois - here is that shot again looking West along Water Street in May of 1892 during high water. From my personal collection of original photos. Enlarge and Enjoy - Mike

IDOT Photo from Bridge Hunter

According to Bridge Hunter, even though construction started in 1958, it was not opened until about 1964. The Bridge Hunter site has more IDOT pictures of installing the suspended span including its storage in the Steamboat Basin of the I&M Canal until it was needed.

Bryan Ruby posted

Bob Dellinger: My dad worked on that job. My mom kept me home from school that day and took me down there to watch the center span be raised..

From the Maze Lumber parking lot, I needed three pictures to capture the east side of the bridge from bluff to bluff. The tracks were a CB&Q branch. They are now owned by the Illinois Railway (IR).

The south portal.

A video of a Hudson Bay Railway locomotive pulling a westbound IR train with 5 cars under this bridge.

Eric Skretteberg: Sounds like all the track bolts needed retightened.