MINNESOTA ARCHITECTURE - HISTORY INVENTORY FORM

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1 Identification Historic Name Bridge L8477 (Lincoln Park Bridge) Current Name Bridge L8477 Field # Address 10 th Street over Miller s Creek and Lincoln Park Drive City/Twp City of Duluth County St. Louis Legal Desc. Twp 50N Range 14W Sec 32 QQ NWSE USGS Quad Duluth Heights SHPO Inventory Number Review and Compliance Number Form (New or Updated) Updated Description Linear Feature? No HPC Status Unknown Resource Type Structure Architect/Engineer W. H. Cruikshank Style Neoclassical UTM Zone 15 Datum 27 Construction Date 1927 Easting Northing Original Use Transportation Property ID (PIN) Current Use Transportation Description Constructed in 1927, Bridge L8477, also known as the Lincoln Park Bridge, is a two-span, reinforced-concrete arch bridge. The bridge carries 10 th Street over Miller Creek and Lincoln Park Drive in Duluth. The western span is 24 feet and carries traffic over Lincoln Park Drive; the eastern span is 80 feet and crosses Miller creek and a pedestrian trail. The Lincoln Park Bridge is a reinforced-concrete, filled-spandrel, barrel-arch bridge with an overall length of 198 feet and maximum span length of 80 feet. The bridge is framed by flared, stone masonry wingwalls, and the railings, headwalls, and retaining walls are faced with stone. It has an out-out width of 52 feet, and carries a 28-foot roadway with 10-foot sidewalks over the bridge and 5-foot sidewalks along the approach roadway. Stylistic details consist of limestone caps on the parapet, stone-faced pilasters with inset panels that extend up from the springline of the arch to the parapet, stylized stone bases atop the pilasters that support bridge lighting, horizontal limestone stringcourse at the base of the parapet, and limestone arch ring with keystone. End posts are modest simple square posts with stone veneer and decorative limestone caps. The pilasters, coursing, arch ring, and accentuated architectural details result in an overall formal and refined appearance indicative of the Neoclassical style. The extensive use of uncoursed, rough-ashlar stone on the bridge also reflects rustic elements and the natural park environment. Bridge L8477 represents an amalgam of Neoclassical and rustic stylistic elements. The arches rise from concrete spread footing abutments that bear on bedrock. The earth-filled arches are topped with concrete sidewalks and curbs on each side of a 28-foot-wide bituminous roadway. A bronze plaque on the northeast corner of the bridge acknowledges the mayor and city council, as well as the Hillside Improvement Club, and its president, Hans Hillman. A long cobblestone wall of similar stone extends south from the west span, protecting the roadway from the creek slope. In 2004 a rehabilitation study was prepared for Bridge L8477 in order to comply with Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) State Aid designs for horizontal and vertical alignment, lane width, and railing height. In 2005 the MnDOT Cultural Resources Unit (CRU) determined that the bridge was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places

2 (National Register) under Criterion C for its aesthetics and that the proposed rehabilitation would have No Adverse Effect, and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) concurred. In 2006 and 2007 the bridge underwent rehabilitation. The bridge was redecked and sidewalks were added on both sides of the roadway. Other rehabilitation activities consisted of surface repairs to the underside of the concrete arches, excavation of the top of the arches to repair the concrete, application of a waterproof membrane to the tops of the arches and the walls, and the installation of a new drainage system. Areas along the wingwalls, abutments, retaining walls, and railings were also repointed. A short metal railing was installed atop the historic parapet and ornamental lighting that is compatible with the bridge and does not detract from the historic character of the bridge was installed atop the stone pilasters. The bridge suffered minor damage in a June 2012 flood event. A repair plan has been prepared and the work was scheduled for the summer of 2014 to re-set the northwest wing wall cap stones, underpin the southwest retaining wall (Lincoln Park Drive) and the east abutment retaining wall (along stream), and replace the washed out trail along the east abutment of the east span. EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS Historical Context Reinforced-Concrete Highway Bridges in Minnesota, Historical Narrative Historical background information provided below is based on information in the November 2011 Skyline Parkway Cultural Resources Inventory. Bridge L8477 is located within Lincoln Park, a component of the Skyline Parkway (Parkway) in the city of Duluth. The history of the bridge is closely linked with development of Lincoln Park and the Parkway. The Parkway generally extends in a southwest-northeast direction from the southern part of St. Louis County, along the bluff on Duluth s western periphery, to the unincorporated townships of Duluth and Midway at the shore of Lake Superior located northeast of downtown Duluth. The Parkway consists of 13 segments defined by geographic location and construction periods: Congdon North Shore Boulevard Segment, Snively/Seven Bridge Road Segment, Amity Creek Segment, Hawk Ridge Segment, UMD Gap Segment, Congdon Park Drive Segment, Chester Park Drive Segment, Rogers (Terrace) Parkway Segment, Western Extension Segment, Bardon s Peak Segment, Knowlton Creek Boulevard Segment, Mission Creek Segment, and the Lincoln Park Drive Segment. The Parkway connects each of the segments and has both urban and natural settings with a variety of associated resources, including Lincoln Park. The concept of developing a parkway or boulevard system in Duluth was first conceived in the early 1860s but no real work occurred until the 1880s, when the city was re-chartered and more financially sound. Resulting from efforts by William K. Rogers, who had interests in mining and banking, the city council passed a resolution in 1887 to create a system of public parks and avenues. A Board of Park Commissioners eventually formed and state legislation passed in 1889 empowered the commission to begin construction on a system of parks and a parkway. This original portion of the Parkway followed Chester Creek up to Terrace Drive to a point near 17 th Avenue West and included bridges and culverts. After the State Legislature passed a new law that limited the power of the Board of Parks Commissioners, the commission reformed in 1891and issued its first annual report. By this time the commission had acquired substantial property for the parkway, which stretched from Chester Creek to Miller s Creek. Miller s Creek is a key feature within the naturalistic Lincoln Park. In 1894

3 Terrace Drive was renamed Rogers Boulevard in honor of William K. Rogers, former president of the Park Board and original promoter of the parkway connecting the city s parks. Lincoln Parkway was designed in the 1890s as the western end of Terrace Parkway. The park and parkway feature a number of stone-faced retaining walls, bridges, and the Lincoln Park Pavilion, all with similar Neoclassical and rustic stylistic elements. Between approximately 1900 and 1910 the Park Board focused its efforts on the reconstruction and extension of Rogers Boulevard to the west and the acquisition and redevelopment of Congdon Park along Tischer s Creek and Snively Boulevard on the city s east side. Samuel Snively, who worked as a lawyer and developer, constructed Snively Parkway between 1899 and Snively assembled land with the intention of building a picturesque parkway that would connect to Rogers Parkway. He secured the right-of-way from adjacent landowners, including 60 acres of his own land, on the condition that a roadway be built. He also personally pledged and collected $1,600 to build the road, and the city offered $1,500 with the stipulation that the completed road be turned over to the City of Duluth. Snively s parkway criss-crossed Amity Creek on a series of rustic timber bridges. Snively donated the road and bridges to the City of Duluth in Snively eventually became mayor and oversaw many improvements along Lincoln Parkway during the 1920s, including the construction of Bridge L8477. Desiring access to the rest of the city and an increase in property values, members of the West End Hillside Improvement Club and Duluth citizens residing north and west of Lincoln Park campaigned for a bridge crossing to help meet their objectives. W.H. Cruikshank, of the City Engineers Office, drew up the plans for the bridge and the city council approved $72,000 in funding for the bridge in May In July of 1925, to the city issued a $70,000 bond to finance construction. The bridge was designed to carry two streetcar tracks, in addition to motor traffic, with the intention of extending the Piedmont Avenue line of the streetcar system to the west. A.A. Bodin & Sons Builders worked as the contractor and the bridge was completed in the fall of 1927 and reflected similar Neoclassical and rustic stylistic elements of the existing retaining walls, bridges, and Lincoln Park Pavillion. Bridge L8477 was dedicated with great fanfare on November 27 of that year. The bronze tablet on the northeast corner of the bridge acknowledges the mayor and city council, as well as the Hillside Improvement Club, and its president, Hans Hillman, who advocated for the structure for many years. After construction was completed, the bridge experienced little change until the rehabilitation project in Rehabilitation activities were conducted in order to comply with MnDOT State Aid designs for horizontal and vertical alignment, lane width, and railing heights. As a result of a flood event in 2012, a rehabilitation project is scheduled for summer 2014 to address damaged cap stones, retaining walls, and the adjacent trail along the east abutment, which was washed out. Significance Bridge L8477 was previously evaluated as a contributing resource to the Skyline Parkway Historic District, a linear resource that has been determined eligible for listing in the National Register. However, the bridge was not previously evaluated individually for its design and engineering significance. Under Criterion C, the bridge, as an individual resource, possesses aesthetic value as demonstrated in its architectural details. According to the historic context Reinforced-Concrete Highway Bridges in Minnesota, " and the Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) associated with this context, reinforced-concrete bridges may be eligible for listing in the National Register if their architectural style and ornamentation represent extraordinary aesthetic efforts to enhance a crossing at an important location, typically at entrances to cities and in park settings. Bridge L8477 demonstrates outstanding architectural style and ornamentation in its pilasters, coursing, arch rings, and other architectural details that convey the formality and refined appearance indicative of the Neoclassical style. Extensive use of uncoursed, rough-ashlar stone on the bridge also reflects rustic elements resulting in a distinctive style that is an amalgam of Neoclassical and rustic stylistic elements. The design and ornamentation on Bridge L8477 is complementary to other structures and amenities in Lincoln Park and along the Parkway that feature similar materials and Neoclassical and rustic stylistic elements.

4 Integrity Bridge L8477 underwent rehabilitation in 2006 and 2007 but no project activities severely diminished the overall integrity of the structure. Rehabilitation activities consisted of surface repairs to the underside of the concrete arches, excavation of the top of the arches to repair the concrete, application of a waterproof membrane to the tops of the arches and the walls, and the installation of a new drainage system. These activities were conducted with an emphasis on maintaining integrity to the original design and did not severely alter the decorative and aesthetic features for which the bridge is eligible. Stone masonry along the wingwalls, abutments, retaining walls, and railings was repointed, and the places of mortar replacement are compatible with the original mortar in terms of color, texture, and thickness and do not result in a loss of integrity. The simple design of a short metal railing installed atop the historic parapet is differentiated from the original parapet but does not detract from the Neoclassical and rustic stylistic elements on the bridge. New ornamental lighting was also installed atop the stone masonry pilasters and although not exact replicas of the originals, the lights are compatible with the overall design aesthetic of the bridge and do not detract from its historic character. The bridge was redecked and sidewalks were added on both sides of the roadway, which did not diminish the integrity of the bridge or its significant architectural features. Section 106 compliance files located at the SHPO indicate that in April 2006, MnDOT CRU found that rehabilitation activities met the Secretary of the Interior s Standards, and SHPO concurred with the finding. As such, Bridge L8477 retains integrity of location, setting, materials, workmanship, design, feeling, and association. In the summer of 2014 a scheduled rehabilitation project will address damage caused by a 2012 flood event. The project will extend the concrete underpin wall, which is located along the stream to hold up the aggregate trail/walkway, to arrest the scouring of the base of the wall; repoint the exposed areas of the interior face of the wall; and replace the aggregate fill of the walkway. The other stone retaining wall is located along Lincoln Park Drive on the southwest corner of the bridge where the roadway passes under the west arch. During the 2012 flood a portion of the base of the wall was scoured. The south end of the wall will be underpinned in order to protect it from further deterioration. The stone caps on the northwest wingwall were dislodged during the flood of 2012 and will be removed and re-set during the 2014 rehabilitation project. Activities proposed for this rehabilitation project are relatively minor and will not impact the significant aesthetic features. Therefore, the bridge retains integrity and conveys its significance under Criterion C for its aesthetic value. Recommendation Bridge L8477 was previously identified as a contributing resource to the National Register-eligible Skyline Parkway Historic District. The bridge is also recommended individually eligible for National Register listing under Criterion C: Engineering for high artistic value. Within the historic context of Reinforced-Concrete Highway Bridges in Minnesota, " and the MPDF associated with this context, Registration Criterion 5 states that a concrete highway bridge may be eligible under Criterion C if it displays notable aesthetics. Bridge L8477 satisfied this criterion based on its Neoclassical and rustic stylistic elements and ornamentation. The period of significance for Bridge L8477 is 1927 to correspond with its date of construction. The bridge retains integrity of setting, location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and conveys its historic significance as a contributing resource to the Skyline Parkway Historic District and its design significance as demonstrated through its Neoclassical and rustic stylistic ornamentation.

5 Sources Bridge L-8477 Structure Inventory Sheet & related documents, MnDOT files, St. Paul. "Council O.K.'s Lincoln Park Bridge Project." Duluth News Tribune, 30 March "Council Votes Sale of $70,000 Bridge Bonds." Duluth News Tribune, 14 July Frame, Robert M. L8477. Statewide Bridge Survey Inventory Form, "Here's Sketch of Proposed Lincoln Park Bridge." Duluth News Tribune, 31 March Historic Context for Reinforced-Concrete Highway Bridges in Minnesota, Nunnally, Patrick D. Jewel of the North: Duluth's Parkway System: A Historic Landscape Evaluation Study Submitted to the Duluth Heritage Preservation Commission "Ordinance for Bridge Bonds." Duluth Herald, 7 July Project Memorandum for SP , Minn Proj. No. BH 6906 (108), West 10 th Street (MSAS 203), August "Tenth St. Span Opening Today." Duluth News Tribune, 26 November "Second Street Plan Approved." Duluth Herald, 15 May Stark, William E. Lincoln Park Bridge. Minnesota Architecture-history Inventory Form, Stark Preservation Planning, L.L.C. Skyline Parkway Cultural Resources Inventory, Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Prepared for the City of Duluth and Minnesota Department of Transportation, November Field investigation by LHB and Mead & Hunt, Inc. 28 August 2013 Consultant s Recommendation of Eligibility Eligible Individually; Contributing to Skyline Parkway Historic District Prepared By Mead & Hunt, Inc. Date Surveyed 8/28/13

6 Property Photographs Elevation, Lincoln Park Drive in foreground, view facing southeast Deck view, view facing east

7 Detail of arch underside, limestone arch ring, and pilasters with inset panels, view facing north New ornamental lighting and small metal railing atop historic parapet, detail view

8 Location Map

MINNESOTA ARCHITECTURE - HISTORY INVENTORY FORM

MINNESOTA ARCHITECTURE - HISTORY INVENTORY FORM Identification Historic Name Bridge L8503 Current Name Bridge L8503 Field # Address Seven Bridges Road over Amity Creek City/Twp City of Duluth County St. Louis Legal Desc. Twp 51N Range 13W Sec 32 QQ