DIXON'S STREET ARCHES

During 1855 industry was just as an important segment of the life in Dixon as any other facet. Various factories were expanding to meet the needs of a growing community with the arrival of the Illinois Central Railroad in that year.

The Illinois Central was built mainly due to the Illinois Land Grant Act of 1850. A railroad system encompassing some 700 miles and stretching from Cairo to East Dubuque rapidly came to be, over a span of just five years. An additional line built to Chicago also occurred in that time span.

One of the problems which the I.C. had to overcome was getting its trains across the Rock River. A stone mason by the name of Robert F. Laing was hired by the railroad as a contractor to build piers so that a wooden bridge could be constructed to carry the trains over the river. In addition, his job consisted of building stone arches over three of the town's streets for the trains to pass over.

Mr. Laing, born in Edinburgh, Scotland left his homeland at the age of sixteen for his journey to this country just as many others were doing at the time. After times of living in the states of New York and Massachusetts, he departed for Illinois, arriving here during 1851 and was shortly thereafter contracted by the railroad. He so liked the area and town of Dixon that he sent for his family to join him and made his home in town on East Everett Street until his death.

The task of building five large piers for the 1,056 foot railroad bridge, some 50 feet above the river was undertaken at the same time the street arches were being built. Stone was used from the Dement Quarry located on Dixon's northeast side located along the Rock River. The stone quarried and used was what is known as Galena Limestone, which was able to withstand the pressures of ice and debris which the spring floods brought down the river

It was known as one of the best types of rock in the country and able to support tremendous amounts of weight. Huge stones in great quantities were dressed into the proper size and shape, right at the quarry. This type of stone was also used for building foundations and wells.

The three arches going over the streets are of different heights due to the contour of the land leading to the rivers edge. The Third Street arch has a height allowing a 12 foot clearance, the Second Street arch allows a clearance of 15 feet and the First Street arch, a 14 foot clearance. The large blocks of limestone were so perfectly cut, shaped and balanced that through the many years they have resisted cracking or shifting.

In February of 1855 the first train ran through Dixon. Prior to the completion of the bridge spanning the river, passengers would leave the train at the river to be taken across by boat to a waiting train on the other side for completion of their journey.

The Illinois Central Railroad Bridge was finally completed in the early part of 1855, having been built atop the five massive piers constructed in the river bottom. This bridge lasted until 1862 when another bridge built entirely of iron was constructed. This bridge would last some 55 years before again being replaced by another. Additionally the piers made of stone were replaced by modern day cement piers.

Today all that remains of the railroad bridge is the empty piers standing alone in the river. The bridge having been torn down after abandonment of the rail line by the railroad. But the street arches remain, as strong as ever and as a constant reminder of an era and a dimension in travel - the railroad.

Dixon's three stone arch bridges were placed on the Register of Historic places in late 1987. They now are included with the four buildings in the city which also appear on the register.

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