1918
Citation: 11.49.1-2 (Full image size: 53Kb)
This photo, looking east, shows the Lincoln Way bridge over Squaw Creek after it collapsed in June 1918. A flood earlier in the month weakened the structure and it collapsed as the Goddard family car crossed it. The occupants of the car were not injured and were rescued with ropes and ladders. Photo, courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation. (See also: 11.49.4-5; 18.86.2).
Citation: 110.604.4 (Full image size: 49Kb)
Sightseers on the streetcar bridge after the 1918 flood in Ames. Water surrounding them is from Squaw Creek which had reached flood stage. The damaged footbridge can be seen behind them. (See also: 156.864.2)
Citation: 112.615.2 (Full image size: 134Kb)
Looking westerly on the temporary detour bridge over Squaw Creek in 1918. The "permanent" concrete bridge had collapsed following the flood of 1918 and this narrow bridge served until a new bridge could be constructed to replace the concrete one that had fallen into the creek. Notice that an autombile has veered off the bridge--probably the driver had approached the bridge at too high a speed and had lost control. The process of replacing the concrete bridge took over a year because of disagreement about who should pay for the replacement--the state, the county or the city. The Iowa Highway Commission was not as highly organized in 1918 as it is today [2004]. It was not until 1921 that the new bridge was open for use; and, as it turned out all three governmental agencies helped pay for its construction.
Citation: 122.669.1 (Full image size: 49Kb)
The Skunk River bridge on Thirteenth Street east of Ames following the flood of 1918. Looking east across the bridge toward the intersection with Stage Coach Road that runs north on the east side of the river. A number of bridges in the vicinity were washed out or were severely damaged as was this one. A support pier near the east bank was partially dislodged by high waters.
Citation: 122.669.2 (Full image size: 50Kb)
The Thirteenth Street bridge over the Skunk River had to be closed during the June, 1918 flood due to the threatening sag toward the east approach. This photo was taken after the first day of flooding.
Citation: 134.739.2 (Full image size: 107Kb)
The approach to the Lincoln Way bridge after it had collapsed a few weeks after the June 3, 1918 flood. The bridge had been built in 1908. For further information, see pp. 15-16, "Damaging Flood of 1918," in Farwell Brown's "Ames in Word and Picture; Book Two: Further Tales and Personal Memories," 1999.
Citation: 134.739.3 (Full image size: 59Kb)
The Squaw Creek bridge on Lincoln Way collapsed following the flood of June 3, 1918. The bridge had been new in 1908 and had been subjected to flooding at least one other time. The Goddard family of Ames had been on the bridge when it collapsed and their car was badly damaged. Fortunately, the flood waters had receded substantially. It was 1921 before a new bridge was in place. Photo, courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Citation: 171.953.1 (Full image size: 65Kb)
Washed-out bridge over Squaw Creek during the flood of 1918. Highway is no. 4820. (Photo, courtesy of the Iowa Dept. of Transportation)
Citation: 171.955.3 (Full image size: 56Kb)
Flood damage to the Skunk River bridge on Thirteenth Street in Ames in June, 1918. The photo is looking east at the south side of the bridge. The east abutment has been undermined by the flood waters.(Photo courtesy of the Iowa Dept. of Transportation)
Citation: 171.956.3 (Full image size: 53Kb)
The washed-out section of Lincoln Way west of Squaw Creek. Not only was the bridge soon to collapse, but the road bed and utility lines would have to be reestablished. Note the Iowa State College power and heating plant in the background of photo. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa D. O. T.)
Citation: 174.975.2 (Full image size: 61Kb)
The 1918 flood took out many small bridges on the side roads in the vicinity of Ames. The exact location of this photo is not known, but it was near town.
Citation: 174.975.3 (Full image size: 35Kb)
The 1918 flood water. A partially washed-out bridge can be seen in the background. The location is probably on the Skunk River bottom north of 13th Street. All of the Skunk River and Squaw Creek bridges were either destroyed or severely damaged by the 1918 flood.
Citation: 18.86.3 (Full image size: 48Kb)
June, 1918 collapse of the Lincoln Way Bridge. Taken from east end of bridge. After heavy rains in early June, area had been under water. Lincoln Way (named in 1913) was gravel. Bridge, built by county in 1910; specs had been shaved to save costs. After collapse, some engineers blamed disaster on county engineer and the change from the original design. Dean Anson Marston, ISC College of Engineering, had called for more materials in the bridge and for what he believed to be a stronger design. Goddard family was coming from west when bridge collapsed. No one was hurt in the mishap which occurred in early evening. Family was rescued with ropes and ladders. Photo, courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Citation: 203.1148.1-3 (Full image size: 61Kb)
Looking at the south abutment of the old red bridge over the Skunk River about two miles north of Ames, taken in 1918 following the complete destruction of the bridge in the heavy flood of that year. This bridge ran north-south at a point about a half mile around the river bend to the north of the present (1998) bridge on West Riverside Road. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa D. O. T.)
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Published: 08/29/2007 10:02:34 am