Bridges of Cleveland and "The Flats"

By: Jeff Glenn, driver of the # 73 Boise Cascade Office Products Barber Dodge Race Car

I have only visited Cleveland once before (for about two hours). I was intrigued by the number of bridges in the "Flats", and thought I would do a little checking on their age.

A brief history of the Flats, and bridges that span the Cuyahoga River:

In the heart of the city lies the Flats entertainment district featuring a unique blend of businesses, restaurants and night clubs along the Cuyahoga River. The Cuyahoga River travels 100 miles, twisting and turning through Geauga, Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga counties before it ends at Lake Erie. The river was named after the Mohawk Indian word "Cahagaga" meaning "crooked river."

In 1797, the Lorenzo Carter family became the first permanent settlers on the river. Many major companies and wealthy families in Cleveland had their early beginnings in the Flats: John D. Rockefeller, Sherwin-Williams, Austin Powder, White Sewing Machine and Beeman's gum. The west side of the river was known as Ohio City. The rivalry between Cleveland on the east bank of the Cuyahoga and Ohio City on the west bank erupted in the mid-1830's. This is referred to as the "Bridge War." The west side of the river became a part of Cleveland in 1854.

The Center Street Bridge, built in 1901, is the only remaining swing bridge on the river. Since 1902, over 5,000,000 bushels of wheat a year come from fields across the United States to Cereal Food Processors in the Flats to be turned into flour. The processed flour is then shipped locally and to various states.

In 1915 the Detroit-Superior Bridge, (below) now known as the Veterans Memorial Bridge, was started. There was a need for a bridge that vessels could pass underneath, without opening and closing the bridge. The bridge opened in 1918 and was the largest double-decked concrete bridge in the world. Streetcars traveled across the bridge on the second deck. The bridge is now on the Register of Historic Places.

	In 1932 the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge, now the Hope Memorial Bridge, was opened. The bridge is unique with stone carvings at each end representing symbols of transportation.
	Ground was broken in 1938 for the Main Avenue Bridge, a bridge that did not go through downtown. Rehabilitation began in 1991 and was completed in 1994.
	The Old Detroit Viaduct - Opened December 28, 1878
	A Rail-Lift Bridge, near the Powerhouse. The Powerhouse in the Flats was built by Marcus Hanna to supply electricity for streetcars. The last streetcar in Cleveland was run on January 27, 1954.
	Urban renewal along the waterfront on Lake Erie

/ home / news / updates / schedule / driver info / photos / services / sponsors / Barber Dodge Pro Series / tracks / contact