The hour-long program of reminiscing will focus on the early 1883 flat top railroad bridge; the1923 round top railroad bridge; and the 1929 auto bridge -- officially named the "Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge."

Former Blair mayor Bud Jenny and Omaha railroad historian Lou Schmitz will be the panelists, and local architect Marty Rump will be the moderator. Schmitz is the author of "The Blair Crossing,” an article published in the 1997 North Western Lines Magazine.

Photographs and drawings of the bridges will be displayed, as well as a copy of the 1886 report on "The Blair Crossing Bridge" by the noted river bridge engineer George S. Morison.

Members of the audience will also have an opportunity to reminiscence about the bridges during an open discussion.

Future programs in the "Blair: Reminisce!" series will continue to focus on historic structures and districts in the community.

Possible Photos:

Cutline:
This flat top Whipple truss railroad bridge was built by George S. Morison in 1883 at the Blair Crossing. The photo dates from the early 1900s. The bridge was replaced in 1923 by the present railroad bridge. The old bridge was sold and moved to Riverton, Wyoming, where now part of it has been incorporated into a rails-to-trails system outside of that town.

 

Cutline:
In the 1880s the chief engineer for the original Blair railroad bridge, George S. Morison, was most noted for perfecting methods for handling the pneumatic foundation of bridge piers.  This drawing is a cross section of the caisson of pier II of the 1883 railroad bridge at Blair. Note the workers excavating sand from inside a pressurized air chamber 30 feet below the surface of the river.
Image from George S. Morison's "The Blair Crossing Bridge" 1886.  Library of Congress    HAER, NEB,89-BLAIR.V,1-4  

Cutline:
The 1929 Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge for car traffic on Highway 30 is shown in front of the round top Parker truss railroad bridge. This 1950s photograph was taken from the Nebraska side of the Missouri River south of the bridges. This bridge was replaced by a new bridge in 1991.

Alternate Photo

Cutline:
The 1929 Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge for car traffic on Highway 30 is shown in front of the round top Parker truss railroad bridge. This 1950s photograph was taken from the Iowa side of the Missouri River south of the bridges. This bridge was replaced by a new bridge in 1991.

For more information, contact:
Nathan Kramer, BHPA program coordinator
nathan@nathankramer.com
office:  402-426-6216
home:  402-426-2828