These years , we incline to think of New York ’s bridges as dealings obstacle . But at the turn of the last century , the Harry Bridges that sprang up in thickets around Manhattan ’s shore were objects of wonder and civic pride — near magical pieces of infrastructure that took many years ( and lives ) to build .
A New York Times article about theNew Tappan Zee Bridge this calendar week include a rattling log of construction photosfrom the original intersection , which got under way in 1952 . That was relatively late , compared to most of the metropolis ’s cracking bridges , and it made me wonder what other photos were float around out there — not only of the Tappan Zee , but of the smashing boom in bridge building that start in the 1870s and lasted until the 1920s .
These were the year when the Brooklyn Bridge , the Manhattan Bridge , the Williamsburg Bridge , and the Queensboro Bridge were all progress . The age when 27 worker ( including the lead applied scientist ) buy the farm build up the Brooklyn Bridge , and when 30 died to build the “ New East River Bridge , ” aka the Williamsburg Bridge . When getting home from work could meanswinging from a single line of rope .
In short , it was a very unlike — and very dangerous — undertaking , and the exposure below prove it .
The Brooklyn Bridge, 1870
Construction shots from around 1877 . [ Brooklyn Visual Heritage;Ross Wolfe ]
The building of Brooklyn Bridge , shot by George Bradford Brainerd from around 1872 - 1887 . [ Brooklyn Museum ]
An 1883 clip cover demo doer lashing the arrest of the Brooklyn Bridge . [ LOC ]
Plates from a March 10 , 1877 outcome of Scientific American show worker puddle and lashing the conducting wire stays for the Brooklyn Bridge . [ Marcel Douwe Dekker ]
On May 24 , 1883 , the Brooklyn Bridge at last afford , after 14 year of work . [ Racontrs ]
The Williamsburg Bridge, 1896
The “ New East River Bridge , ” aka the Williamsburg Bridge , is picture partially completed in this 1906 plate from Detroit Publishing Co. [ LOC ]
A shot of first pack of cards being laid . [ pds209 ]
firework in February 1907 , at the first step of the novel bridge , publish in Harper ’s powder magazine .
The Manhattan Bridge, 1901
Manhattan Bridge , under - expression , seen from Dumbo . [ Eugene de Salignac / Courtesy NYC Municipal Archives ]
The Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn , 1909 . [ LOC ]
Footpaths on Manhattan Bridge rent worker access their jobs from the metropolis , take between 1907 and 1915 . [ LOC ]
An epitome of the decks being lay on the bridgework . [ Recuerdos de Pandora ]
The Queensboro Bridge, 1901
Queensboro Bridge under construction , on August 8 , 1907 . [ Eugene de Salignac / Courtesy NYC Municipal Archives ]
Hell Gate Bridge, 1912
The final composition of the Hell Gate Bridge being put into seat . [ LOC ]
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