Bridging the Rock
During a visit to the Rock River Valley in 1841, William Cullen
Bryant, a well known poet, author and biographer wrote of his visit
and impressions of what had become a newly settled territory of
Northern Illinois.
He wrote, "I have just recently returned from an excursion of the
Rock River, one of the most beautiful of our western streams. It
flows through the high prairies and unlike most streams of the West,
through an alluvial country. The current is rapid and the pellucid
waters glide over a bottom of sand and pebbles."
What Mr. Bryant was unaware of was the early spring thaws and the
overflow stages the river reached nearly every year, causing
countless numbers of means and methods to be used to both conquer and
cross the mighty Rock.
Early Indians in the area, first crossed the river near Dixon by
means of rafts, canoes and later, a crude rope drawn ferry. As more
and more settlers came, a more permanent ferry was then constructed
and operated until the first bridge across the Rock River was built
during the winter of 1846.
It was the Rock River Dam and Bridge Company that had constructed
a bridge located at the foot of Ottawa Avenue. The bridge was built
for a cost of $8,000 and primarily operated as a profit-making
venture by its investors. The structure was a toll bridge with the
following charges being made:
5 cents - A man and horse, back and forth the same day; women
free.
15 cents - A horse and buggy.
25 cents - Two horses over and back, all in the same day.
50 cents - By the month for town people, as foot passengers, to
cross often.
$1 - By the month for a person and his team to cross often.
5 cents - By the head on cattle when driven across in a herd.
3 cents - By the head on horses when driven across in a herd.
The bridge served the community only until the next spring when
the north section was swept away by ice jams and flood waters.
Repairs costing $2,000 and raising the bridge two feet higher were
made during the summer. This bridge lasted until the south half of it
was washed away in 1849.
The ferry was now brought back into service as the bridge was not
rebuilt until the summer of 1851. A new bridge was the placed across
the river at the foot of Galena Street and was of short duration,
being destroyed by flood waters in June of 1858.
So once again, in February 1859, and only four months after it
was finished, a large portion was taken out by ice of the newly
constructed bridge.
In August a free bridge was commenced, to take the place of the
toll bridge. The completion of this bridge was considerably delayed
by not having sufficient funds to carry the work forward. "Free
Bridge Parties" were given, and the proceeds added to the generous
contributions of the merchants, finally raising the necessary sum of
$13,000, and the bridge was then opened to the public amidst great
rejoicing on Jan. 1, 1861.
This bridge remained until March of 1868 when ice would again
take out the entire structure. The people of Dixon were ready for a
change in bridge design and construction. And they let their wishes
for something more lasting be known to their elected officials.
Until the city erected the Truesdell Iron Bridge in late 1868,
nine bridges - all of wood resting upon wooden trestles or piers had
been, either in part or wholly, swept away by the raging waters of
the Rock River.
On Jan. 21, 1869 with the dedication ceremonies, the people saw
the results of their desires for a lasting river crossing in the form
of an iron truss bridge....... the L. E. Truesdell Double Truss Iron
Bridge.
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