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Old Bridge Still Swings
Trains, like the one at top, have steamed across this bridge for nearly nine decades. It is the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad swing bridge. The Council Bluffs span was built in 1893. A second span, on the Omaha side, was built in 1904 when the…
Relaxing At The Swing
Manning the entrance of one of two swing bridges in the United States is Bernardo Benavides. The Council Bluffs span was built in 1893, and the Omaha side was built later when the river changed course. Only the Council Bluffs side is used today.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger
Oiling The Gears . . . in the bridge operating house is Bernardo Benavides, 2000 Fourth Ave., who has been working on the bridge for many years. Power for the swing starts in the operating house and is transmitted to the turntables through heavy…
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger
Many Wheels . . . allow the bulky swing sections to turn on the piers that rest on bedrock. Illinois Central Trainmaster John Moran explained that the weight of the 75 foot wide bridge is not known.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger
The Illinois Central Missouri River swing bridge is one of only three of its type in the United States and has been serving the railroad since 1893. The first swing span was built on the Iowa side in 1893, but a change in the river channel forced the…
Old Bridge Is Real Swinger
The old Illinois Central railroad bridge on the north edge of Council Bluffs has been a swinger for nearly a century. This old photo (top) shows ladies with parasols crossing the bridge on foot. Below, a bridge tender uses the same route but for a…
It began with drunken knock; Found Lemen had faith
A Bird's Eye View...of the Christian Home was painted on a postcard years ago. Most of the brick homes pictured have been removed although the Home is still on the same site near downtown Council Bluffs.
It began with drunken knock; Found Lemen had faith
The good old days. The sturdy brick dormitories of the old Christian Home dwarf the trio of little residents pictured nearby. Today's home, however, has neither the building nor the little orphans. But the vision of the founder, the Rev. J.G.…
It began with drunken knock; Found Lemen had faithful
Rev. J.G. Lemen
Old Mystery Is Solved
Home Executive Director David Lemen...found the cornerstone included a hand-written letter from his great-great-grandfather revealing E.C. Clapp, president of the Bank of Shelby, donated $25,000 of his parents' money for the building. Other contents…
Home Finds Relics Of Its Past
Examining Chest Of Century-Old Newspapers...found at the Christian Home is Mrs. Marvin Vinton, market research director at the Home. The newspapers were edited by the Rev. Joseph Lemen, founder of the Home.
It Pays To Advertise
The Christian Home provides excellent service in childless couples in this area. Some persons had trouble finding the Home at 714 Avenue E, so the Home contracted for a bright new sign on the side of a downtown building. A portion of an old sign…
Building Boom Sets All-time City Record; New construction Value at $5,355,271
Christian Home Chapel...on Avenue E between Seventh and Eighth streets is example of non-residential construction that helped make 1951 a record year.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
Like The Captain Of A Ship . . . Axtell can watch the comings and goings along his stretch of the Missouri River from the observation deck near the control house. An excursion boat passes by as he watches for other traffic.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
Opening The East Draw . . . is a noisy business as the 255-foot span swings to allow river traffic through. Here the west span remains closed. A series of gears and two motors completes the turning process.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
Although It's Busy . . . when a boat or train comes by, many lonely hours are spent reading or just watching the river for H.J. Axtell, 1518 Avenue J, day bridge engineer. A phone is his only company.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
Well-Worn Steps . . . are climbed by the bridge engineer before and after each bridge opening. Rails are loosened downstairs, switches pulled, and motors energized upstairs.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
From The Nebraska Side . . . of the drawbridge it is easy to see why it takes 10 to 15 minutes to swing it open. The towboat Davey Crockett pushes a dredging outfit owned by Pentzine Co. of Omaha. Between March 3 and June 24, 213 boats passed through…
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
Tugboat And Barges Swish Downstream . . . and are framed by the east span of the Illinois Central Railroad's drawbridge north of Council Bluffs. Heavy wheels just above the main gear at left, carry the weight of the two, 522-foot spans or "draws".…
Illinois Central Drawbridge Is One Of Largest Of Its Type
Shown above is a typical scene at the Illinois Central bridge over the Missouri River as it is opened to permit the passage upstream of an army engineer's paddle wheeler with a barge load of building materials. The draw which is open, is on the Iowa…