Information and Findings From Calgary Historic Resources
Discussion of Bridge
12 Avenue Elbow River Bridge
View of the bridge,
2013
View of the bridge, 2013
Alternate Names: NA
Address: 0 7
ST SE - View map
Year of Construction: 1911
Community: BELTLINE
Resource Type: City Wide Historic Resource
Original Use Type:
Transport
Original Use SubType: Bridge
Architectural Style: N/A
Architect: NA
Builder: Algoma Steel Bridge Company
Provincial
Master Plan Theme: Transportation
Development Era: 1906 to 1913 (Pre
WWI Boom, Age of Optimism)
Legal Description: NA
Other Significant
Dates: As well as the year of completion other significant dates are:
1947-1950 - Removal of street railway tracts
Legally
Protected/Federally Recognized:
Federal: No
Provincial: No
Registered: No
Municipal: No
Significance Summary:
The 12th
Avenue Elbow River Bridge is significant because:
- It represents one
of four, historic Parker-Camelback bridges in Calgary - the most
frequently used design for bridges built in Calgary from 1905 to 1912.
(Design value: City-wide significance )
- it possess symbolic value
as an integral component to the historic industrial and residential
development of East Calgary, Ogden and other areas east of the Elbow
River. (Symbolic value: City-wide significance)
- it was an important
component of the street-railway system to East Calgary, Ogden and other
areas east of the Elbow River; the street-railway system enabled
transportation activity that was integral to Calgary's development; the
bridge is one of a small number of infrastructure elements that remain
to recall the street-railway system. (Activity value: City-wide
significance)
- it is a principle transportation gateway to the
Ramsay and Beltline (Victoria Park) communities, made prominent as a
landmark for its distinctive steel framework. (Landmark value -
City-wide significance)
Statement of Significance
Description:
The 12th Avenue Elbow River Bridge, built in 1911, is a single-span,
Parker-Camelback, riveted-steel, through-truss bridge. This 1911 bridge
is 150ft long and 26ft wide with 5ft wide steel sidewalks flanking both
sides of the superstructure. The bridge's steel superstructure rests on
a substructure consisting of two poured-in-place concrete abutments on
either side of the Elbow River. The bridge carries 12th Avenue across
the Elbow River between the Ramsay and Beltline communities
Heritage Value:
The 12th Avenue Elbow River Bridge, built in 1911,
represents one of four historic Parker Camelback bridges in Calgary -
the most frequent used design for bridges built in Calgary from 1905 to
1912. A through-truss design is distinguished by its network of
triangles which create girders above the deck which are connected by
cross bracing. The top cord is curved, thus distinguishing it from the
Pratt Truss, which has a straight top cord. It is one of four surviving
examples of this type of bridge in Calgary with the other three being
the Langevin Bridge (1910) across the Bow, the Inglewood bridge (1908)
across the Elbow and the bridge across to St. George's Island from
Inglewood (1908). The steel superstructures for such bridges were
supplied by eastern Canadian-based bridge companies and were shipped to
the site where they would be assembled using rivets. The 12th Avenue
Elbow River Bridge superstructure was supplied by the Algoma Steel
Company based upon the information supplied by the City of Calgary
Engineer.
The 12th Avenue Elbow River Bridge possesses symbolic
value as an integral enabler of the historic industrial and residential
development of East Calgary, Ogden and other areas east of the Elbow
River. This bridge was conceived to provide for the expansion of the
street-railway system to the industrial areas of East Calgary, and to
encourage and accommodate the residential development of the Ramsay
community (originally known as Mills Estate) and elsewhere. Industries
which became more accessible due to the street railway included the
Burns meat packing plant, which was an important economic driver at the
time.
The 12th Avenue Elbow River Bridge enabled transportation
activity as part of the street-railway system that was integral to
Calgary's development, and is one of a small number of infrastructure
elements that remain to recall the street-railway system. The bridge was
part of the Mills subdivision line which went into service on October
18, 1911. This line, also known as the Burns Avenue line, soon became
part of the Red & Blue line which ran from Burns Avenue in East Calgary
to Sunnyside. It thus linked a working class district in northwest
Calgary with the industries of East Calgary.
After the Canadian
Pacific Railway's massive repair shops at Ogden became operational in
March 1913 the street-railway line (including the 12th Avenue Elbow
River Bridge) became an important link in carrying hundreds of workers
to their job each day at the facility.
The bridge is a principle
transportation gateway to the Ramsay and Beltline (Victoria Park)
communities, made prominent as a landmark for its distinctive steel
framework.
Character Defining Elements:
- 150ft long and 26ft
wide steel structure comprise a framework of steel structural elements,
in a triangular arrangement, connected at the top with a curved top
cord;
- five-foot-wide steel sidewalks on either side of the
superstructure with lattice type balustrades;
- the maker's plates at
each end of the bridge with 'Algoma Steel Bridge Company';
- two
poured-in-place concrete abutments;
- its original placement at the
location.
Sources
Occupants (Henderson's Directory Search):
NA
Owners (Historical Title Search):
NA
Additional
Sources:
Secondary Sources
Hatcher, Colin. Stampede City
Streetcars The Story of the Calgary Municipal Railway. Montreal:
Railfare Enterprises, 1975. pp. 27-28 These pages outline the beginning
and expansion of the street railway.
Hatcher, Colin Kirk and Tom
Schwarzkopf. Calgary's electric transit: an illustrated history of
electrified public transportation in Canada's oil capital: streetcars,
trolley buses, and light rail vehicles. Montreal: Railfare DC Books, pp.
11. This source gives details on the extension to Ogden.
Primary
Sources
Glenbow Archives photographs NA-2399-111 which shows the
bridge in use after the removal of the street railway tracks.
City of Calgary Corporate Records
Bylaws
City of Calgary
Corporate Records, By-law 1095 dated September 26, 1910 which provided
for the raising of $484,000 for the expansion of the street railway
including the construction of bridges across the Elbow River at 12
Avenue East and 2nd Street East.
Agreements and plans
Agreement
245 dated March 1911 between the City of Calgary and the Algoma Steel
Bridge Company to supply steel superstructure for bridge across the
Elbow at 12th Avenue and across the Elbow at 2nd Street East. Includes
plan of superstructure and substructure
Agreement 246 dated March
1911 between the City of Calgary and Frank Fehrenback to build
substructure for bridge at 12th Avenue across the Elbow and across the
Elbow at 2nd Street East. Includes plan of superstructure and
substructure
Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes |
