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Dixon Bridge Disaster
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Dixon Bridge Disaster
The Dixon Bridge Disaster, also known as the Truesdell Bridge Disaster, occurred on Sunday, May 4, 1873, when the bridge across the Rock River at Dixon, Illinois, collapsed while spectators were observing a baptism ceremony in the river below. The collapse killed 46 people and injured at least 56 others. In terms of total deaths and injuries, the event was one of the worst road bridge disasters in American history.
A coroner's jury ruled that the Dixon City Council erred in judgment in selecting the Truesdell bridge design, which was determined to be faulty.
At the time of the collapse, Dixon was a growing town and a primary crossing point over the Rock River for those traveling from downstate Illinois to Galena, Illinois. In 1870, the population of Dixon was 4,055, almost double its population in 1860.
The city was served by a mayor and eight aldermen, seven churches, and two weekly newspapers, The Dixon Sun and The Dixon Telegraph. In the five years prior to 1873, the city had enjoyed a significant growth of construction and infrastructure. The city had two bridges: a railroad bridge built in 1855 and a bridge for pedestrians and vehicles. Most residents lived within 10 blocks of the vehicular bridge.
From the city's founding in 1830 until 1846, residents crossed the river primarily by ferry. Between 1846 and 1868, the city had at least eight wooden bridges across the Rock River. None of them survived more than a few years, usually being destroyed by the high water and floating ice jams that occurred each spring.
In 1868, after another bridge failure, the city sought a more durable solution and accepted bids from 14 contractors. In May 1868, the Dixon bridge committee had personally visited many of the proposed bridge designs.
Bridge contractor L. E. Truesdell, originally of Warren, Mass., had proposed an iron bridge that was based on his 1856 patent for a lattice bridge design. The Chicago Daily Tribune reported that Truesdell's design was built on the idea that “an iron bridge might be built of short light pieces, easy of transportation to the almost inaccessible localities where bridges might be needed.” As of 1868, Truesdell had built several bridges in Illinois, but none as long as the proposed 660' bridge in Dixon. The Decatur (Ill.) Republican reported, “Mr. Truesdell warrants every bridge to give perfect satisfaction. … He certainly has the best thing yet out … They are unequalled for strength and symmetry and are rapidly growing into favor.”
The Dixon city council took three ballots before finally favoring the Truesdell bid on a 5-3 vote. As Alderman W. N. Underwood Jr. recalled in the Inter-Ocean newspaper, “The people were crazy on (an) iron bridge.”
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Dixon Bridge Disaster
The Dixon Bridge Disaster, also known as the Truesdell Bridge Disaster, occurred on Sunday, May 4, 1873, when the bridge across the Rock River at Dixon, Illinois, collapsed while spectators were observing a baptism ceremony in the river below. The collapse killed 46 people and injured at least 56 others. In terms of total deaths and injuries, the event was one of the worst road bridge disasters in American history.
A coroner's jury ruled that the Dixon City Council erred in judgment in selecting the Truesdell bridge design, which was determined to be faulty.
At the time of the collapse, Dixon was a growing town and a primary crossing point over the Rock River for those traveling from downstate Illinois to Galena, Illinois. In 1870, the population of Dixon was 4,055, almost double its population in 1860.
The city was served by a mayor and eight aldermen, seven churches, and two weekly newspapers, The Dixon Sun and The Dixon Telegraph. In the five years prior to 1873, the city had enjoyed a significant growth of construction and infrastructure. The city had two bridges: a railroad bridge built in 1855 and a bridge for pedestrians and vehicles. Most residents lived within 10 blocks of the vehicular bridge.
From the city's founding in 1830 until 1846, residents crossed the river primarily by ferry. Between 1846 and 1868, the city had at least eight wooden bridges across the Rock River. None of them survived more than a few years, usually being destroyed by the high water and floating ice jams that occurred each spring.
In 1868, after another bridge failure, the city sought a more durable solution and accepted bids from 14 contractors. In May 1868, the Dixon bridge committee had personally visited many of the proposed bridge designs.
Bridge contractor L. E. Truesdell, originally of Warren, Mass., had proposed an iron bridge that was based on his 1856 patent for a lattice bridge design. The Chicago Daily Tribune reported that Truesdell's design was built on the idea that “an iron bridge might be built of short light pieces, easy of transportation to the almost inaccessible localities where bridges might be needed.” As of 1868, Truesdell had built several bridges in Illinois, but none as long as the proposed 660' bridge in Dixon. The Decatur (Ill.) Republican reported, “Mr. Truesdell warrants every bridge to give perfect satisfaction. … He certainly has the best thing yet out … They are unequalled for strength and symmetry and are rapidly growing into favor.”
The Dixon city council took three ballots before finally favoring the Truesdell bid on a 5-3 vote. As Alderman W. N. Underwood Jr. recalled in the Inter-Ocean newspaper, “The people were crazy on (an) iron bridge.”
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