History
International Railway Bridge - 150th Anniversary
Opened on November 3, 1973, the International Railway Bridge bolstered growing trade links between Canada and the United States.
Prior to this bridge, cargo had to be ferried across the Niagara River on boats. From 1857 to 1873 trains were transported across the river on a steam ferry. That ferry ran between docks at Porter Avenue in Buffalo and near the foot of Beatrice Street in Fort Erie.
The International Railway Bridge was built near the foot of Robertson Street in Fort Erie and stretches across the Niagara River, Unity Island, and the Black Rock Canal to Black Rock in New York State.
The original structure could accommodate vehicles, trains and pedestrians; however, the large volume of rail traffic prohibited its use by cars or people. This bridge quickly became one of the busiest international crossing points between Canada and the United States.
The Niagara River presented major problems for the builders including treacherous currents, fluctuating water levels, and ice flow. Several times during construction the caissons being installed in the riverbed brock loose and were grounded downriver.
Newspaper reports of the day deemed "the completion of the structure [to be] an impossibility.
Canadian engineer Sir Casimir Gzowski designed solutions to those obstacles and his achievements are commemorated with plaques in both Fort Erie and Black Rock.
The superstructure was replaced in 1901 to accommodate an increase in rail traffic and larger and heavier locomotives and freight. The pedestrian sidewalk was also removed at the time. The 1901 superstructure is of pin-connected truss construction, spans 3,651.5 feet, and has a swing span (which has not operated for several decades).
The economic spin-off to the bridge's construction in 1873 led to the development of a community in this area with boarding houses, stores, taverns, a school, and a church. This community was known by several names over the years including Victoria, International Bridge, and Bridgeburg.
A plaque commemorating the International Railway Bridge's 100th anniversary is located on the southwest side of the bridge. The plaque honouring Sir Casimir Gzowski's engineering achievements is located just south of the bridge.
1882 Accident
The International Railway Bridge was built in the treacherous waters of the Niagara Rivver without any loss of life; however, nine years later a tragic accident on the bridge claimed the lives of two citizens.
A self-propelled passenger car called "The Dummy" transported people across the bridge between Bridgeburg and Black Rock. In 1882, The draw bridge on the American side was open, engineer Charles Bohn failed to see the signal or hear the whistle and the car plunged into the river. Bohn drowned in this accident and Edwin Hershey, the Reeve of Bertie Township, was badly injured and died a few hours later in a Buffalo hospital.
Malcolm Colcleugh, superintendent of the bridge, survived by jumping off the car before it fell. The conductor, Captain Haggart, was injured as were several passengers who were rescued by boat from the river.
1903 Accident
Baseball Hall of Famer
Baseball Hall of Famer, Ed Delahanty, died in 1903 from a "mysterious" fall from the International Railway Bridge.
Delahanty is noted as having been "one of the best players of the 19th century" according to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the only player to win batting titles in both the National and American Leagues.
Most of his career was spent with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he was playing for the Washington Senators at the time of his tragic death. He had just finished a game in Detroit and reports indicate that he was "unhappy playing for Washington. experiencing marital problems, was in debt, and turned to drinking as an outlet for his frustration."
On July 2nd, he took a train from Detroit bound for New York City. On the journey, he reportedly had "five shots of whiskey and was threatening passengers on the train with an open razor." The conductor stopped the train at Bridgeburg and ordered Delahanty to get off. Delahanty then proceeded to walk across the bridge and was stopped by the night watchman, Sam Kingston. A scuffle between the two men ensued and Delahanty escaped Kington's grasp and fell into the river. Some reports of the day blame Kingston for pushing Delahanty and other reports claim he fell.
Delahanty's body was discovered one week later at the base of Niagara Falls. He was 35 years old at the time of his death. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
