historic context of maryland highway bridges built between 1948 ...

SECTIONFIVEConsulting Engineers and Contractors6. Section 4 F OUR Consultin g En gin eers and ContractorsThe following is a list of contractors and engineering firms that were active in either highway orbridge construction in Maryland during the twentieth century. Some of these firms have beenabsorbed by other firms or have fallen out of business while some remain strong competitors.AMERICAN BRIDGE COMPANYThe American Bridge Company was formed in 1870. In 1900, financier J.P. Morgan combinedhis firm with 28 other bridge companies, while retaining the American Bridge Company name(American Bridge Company 2004).The Pittsburgh Bridge Company, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company, was incorporatedin 1881 following a founding date of 1878. The company specialized in metal truss bridgesbefore they were integrated with the American Bridge Company in 1900. The Pittsburgh BridgeCompany continued to use its own moniker until 1903.The Wrought Iron Bridge Company was also bought out by the American Bridge Company in1900. In 1864, David Hammond organized this Canton, Ohio based company; it was laterincorporated in 1871. This company is known to have constructed many late-nineteenth centuryPratt through truss bridges in the State of Maryland. The company patented a metal arch-trussbridge and made it available to markets in the eastern United States. It also was an innovator andleader among later nineteenth century bridge manufacturers. Hammond staunchly advocated thevirtues of wrought iron over wood and cast iron (Spero and Berger & Associates 1995: B-10).In 1900 the Youngstown Bridge Company was purchased by the American Bridge Company.This Youngstown, Ohio based bridge company operated as the Morse Bridge Company from1878 until circa 1888 when it changed its name to the Youngstown Bridge Company. In 1891,the Youngstown Bridge Company constructed the Waverly Street Bridge that passes overGeorge‘s Creek in Westernport, Allegany County, Maryland. The firm produced bridges until1900 when it was consolidated into the larger firm (Spero and Berger & Associates 1995: B-10).Following these purchases and incorporations under the American Bridge Company umbrella,the American Bridge Company became a subsidiary of the newly consolidated steel trust, UnitedStates Steel Corporation in 1901. Prior to this, the American Bridge Company pioneered the useof steel as a construction material (American Bridge Company 2004).The American Bridge Company built the MD 213 Bridge completed in 1949 over theChesapeake and Delaware Canal. This metal tied arch bridge is the most visible Maryland bridgedesigned by the American Bridge Company during this period(Mountford 2002).BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATIONThis Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based steel producing giant constructed the Paper Mill Bridgeover the Gunpowder Falls River and the no longer extant Deep Creek Lake Bridge formerlylocated on US 219 (Spero and Berger & Associates 1995: B-2). The Paper Mill Bridge was builtin 1922 (Janburg 2004). The Deep Creek Lake Bridge was built in the late 19 th century (GarrettCounty Historical Society Museum 2004). A large Bethlehem Steel plant was located atSparrows Point, Maryland (Spero and Berger & Associates 1995: B-2).\15-SEP-11\\ 6-1