While researching the B&OCT bridge across the South Branch before it was straightened, I found some information on the swing and rolling bridges that used to be at Taylor Street.
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| Period postcard, License: Released into public domain Forgotten Chicago |
The first Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge in Chicago was built in 1900 and removed in 1929. It was removed because of the river straightening project. It was not replaced, but you can still see remnants of the west abutment and where the east abutment was.
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| Satellite |
Forgotten Chicago explains that citizens of the Near West Side worked since the 1850s to get a Taylor Street Bridge built. As you can see, their success was short lived because it lasted just 30 years.
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| MWRD posted A view to the east showing a bucket dredge in operation on the South Branch of the Chicago River near Taylor Street in Chicago, Illinois, on March 22, 1917. |
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| MWRD posted on Sep 15, 2022 A view to the east showing a bucket dredge in operation on the South Branch of the Chicago River near Taylor Street on March 22, 1917. MWRD posted again Dennis DeBruler shared That is obviously a railroad interlocking tower behind the cables of the shovel. According to the topo map that I added as a comment, it is a B&OCT tower. What would be the name of that tower? |
The oldest aerial available is after the river was straightened. But this part of the river did not change much.
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| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
Below, in the background, is the Taylor Street rolling bridge in the upright position. It appears that a dredging machine is working under it. Or is it a marine crane that is removing the center pier for the former swing bridge?
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| Martin G. Sorenson posted Chicago circa 1900. "12th Street Bascule Bridge." Dinosaurs of the ... top (north) bridge is no longer in use - it served the old Grand Central Station (B&O and others) at Wells and Harrison until the late 50s. David Daruszka The boat is a tour boat of the recently completed "drainage canal". The Sanitary and Ship Canal was an engineering marvel, and the techniques used in it's construction were replicated at the Panama Canal. [This photo was taken from the 12th Street (Roosevelt Blvd.) Bridge, not of the 12th Street Bridge. This bridge was replaced by the Strauss bridge near 16th Street when the river was straightened.] Mike Savad posted a watercolor of this photo. |
Another view of Taylor Street in the background.
These Scherzer rolling lift bridges replaced swing bridges.
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Public Domain photo from Bridge Hunter, cropped
From "Scherzer rolling lift bridges" by the Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company, Chicago. Published 1908 |
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| Bridge Hunter, Public Domain, eBook, p 695 |
Taylor Street's swing bridge would not allow contemporary (1899, 478') ships to pass. The center pier also prevented the 300,000 cubic feet of water per minute flow required to flush the river down the new drainage canal. Removal of the center pier also provided the 120' navigation channel required by the United States War Department for the Chicago River. [eBook, p 696]
The swing bridge still exists in the background of this image of the B&OCT bridge.
The swing bridge still exists in the background of this image of the B&OCT bridge.
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| Public Domain, eBook, p 696 |
Looking through the bridge in the foreground, we can see the Taylor Street swing span on the right and the viaduct to the west that crossed the Pennsylvania and CB&Q rail yards south of Union Station.
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| Public Domain, eBook, p 608 |
Finally, I found a clear view of the swingbridge.
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| MWRD posted The South Branch of the Chicago River on July 26, 1910, looking north from an area near 12th Street (now Roosevelt Road), taken to document the dock conditions on the west side of the river. Dennis DeBruler: This is the first clear view I have seen of the Taylor Street swingbridge. The grain elevator on the right was the Rock Island "A" elevator. |
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