Chester Bridge

Photos 

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Full View Of Bridge, Looking Northwest The bridge was located adjacent to the Horicon Marsh Wildlife Refuge and was owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record View photos at Library of Congress

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Full View Of Bridge, Showing Inclined End Post (Hatter Post), Portal Bracing, And Portal Strut At East Portal, Looking West Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record View photos at Library of Congress

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View Of Top Chord, Strut, Panel Vertical, Diagonals, And Top Lateral Bracing, Looking West Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record View photos at Library of Congress

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View Of Floor Beam, Bottom Lateral Bracing, Lower Chord, And Deck At South Truss The cracking in the abutment explains part of the reasoning for removing the bridge. Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record View photos at Library of Congress

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Detail View Of Floor Beam, Bottom Lateral Bracing, Lower Chord, And Deck At South Truss Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record View photos at Library of Congress

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Detail View Of Inclined End Post, Lower Chord, Expansion Bearing, And East Abutment At North Truss Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record View photos at Library of Congress

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Detail View Of Inclined End Post, Top Chord, Hip Vertical, Portal Strut, Portal Bracing, And Diagonal At West End, North Truss Photo taken by Historic American Engineering Record View photos at Library of Congress

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Former Location The location is on the western edge of the 32,000 acre Horicon Marsh Federal Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in January 2009 View high-res version

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East Abutment/Mount The bridge is gone but the abutments remain. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in January 2009 View high-res version

Map 

Vicinity map Map links: Google Maps Yahoo! Maps TopoZone Terraserver USA

Chester Bridge 

Chester Bridge is considered important in Wisconsin history because it is a type of bridge that is rapidly disappearing in the State, it is a link in the development of truss bridge construction, and it is an early example of a bridge built by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company.

Facts 

Overview

Pratt through truss bridge over Rock River on Old Marsh Road, former Wisconsin SH 49 in Town of Chester

Location

Town of Chester, Dodge County, Wisconsin

Status

Demolished

History

Built 1892-93; Removed ca. 1989

Builder

- Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Design

6 panel Pratt through truss

Dimensions

Total length: 87 ft.

Approximate latitude, longitude

+43.62138, -88.68382   (decimal degrees)
43°37'17" N, 88°41'02" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")

Approximate UTM coordinates

16/364144/4831199 (zone/easting/northing)

USGS topographic map

Waupun South

Inventory number

BH 37015 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Update Log 

• February 2, 2009: Updated by J.R. Manning: Updated Status to Lost
• August 1, 2008: Essay added by J.R. Manning

Sources 

• J.R. Manning - thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
• HAER WI-59 - Chester Bridge, Spanning Rock River on Old Marsh Road, Chester Township, Dodge County, WI

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