Friday, July 31, 2015

Mead Avenue Bridge Disassembled, SAVED (+Old Photos?)

Received the following from our correspondent in NW Pennsylvania.   This is slightly off the topic of trains and model railroading, but perhaps some of our readers has some additional information they could share.  These bridges were located in Meadville and Mercer County, Pennsylvania. 


FYI, the gentleman who graciously purchased this incredibly historic structure over French Creek in Meadville for preservation would like to restore it as accurately as he possibly can. He needs as many vintage photographs as he can get, especially of ornamental details, in order to faithfully rejuvenate or recreate them, such as the column spires that stood at the end portal corners. The Crawford County Historical Society and other sources have scant few old pictures of the Historic Mead Avenue Bridge. Does anyone know of (or have) any such photos?  Also, if you know the whereabouts of any actual trim / ornamentation from these trusses, please contact me (Nathan Clark ), and I can put you in touch with him. The Mead Avenue Bridge is already 75% dismantled and safely removed for storage and eventual reassembly. 

Mead Avenue Bridge web page:  
   http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=truss/mead/#photosvideos

The owner has also purchased the big through-truss bridge over French Creek at Carlton in the northeast corner of Mercer County. If you know of old photographs or surviving features from it, those would be appreciated by the new owner and restoration team, as well.

Carlton Bridge web page:
     http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=truss/carlton/