Questions from Visitors to this Site
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Q. If the caissons were made out of wood, wouldn't they rot/decay after years of being submerged in mud? Curtis W., Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 7:57 PM A. Wood decay is caused by aerobic insects and bacteria, ones that need air to stay alive. When wood is submerged where there is no air, it remains in good condition indefinitely. Cities like Venice in Italy are supported on wood pilings that are, in some cases, 1000 years old. I get this question several times each year, some times from visitors who insist that the information is wrong, but the fact is that tens of thousands of tons of masonry rest on a 140 year old piece of wood at the bottom of the East River. More from John M., sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 2:35 PM Your answer is partially correct. Wood will not decay in low/no oxygen conditions. Secondly, however, the caisson was constructed from "yellow" pine from Georgia and Florida. The heartwood of yellow pine is high in resin content that makes it rot resistant. Because it has such a high resin content, we still find buildings over 100 years old (built from yellow pine) that have little decay. Apparently, Roebling chose "yellow" pine because it was the only wood that could withstand the 40-50 lbs of pressure that was added to the inside of the caisson. Reference is from The Great Bridge, David McCullough, Simon and Schuster, New York pg. 174-175. I'd be real interested to find out if any business records exist as to whom (what lumber companies) the wood was bought from. Do a web search on river recovered heart pine. A whole industry has blossomed in the south that recovers "yellow pine" logs that sunk while being floated down rivers and streams to saw mills 100+ years ago--i.e., they don't decay under water. Q. A fine site you have and one question if I may. I am interested in charting when the Brooklyn Bridge received its current name. That is to say, for how long was it called the East River Bridge or the Great East River Bridge? I assume there was concurrent naming for awhile but when did the Brooklyn Bridge as moniker wholly take over? Leonard B., Sunday, October 03, 2004 5:05 PM A. I'm sure there is no specific date. John Roebling and the early reports on the Bridge call it the East River Bridge. As early as 1873, the New York Tribune was using the term "Brooklyn Bridge" interchangeably with "East River Bridge". The title on the Opening Ceremonies book calls it the New York and Brooklyn Bridge. The contemoprary news reports at the 1883 opening vary between the East River Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge. Certainly by the time the Willimasburg Bridge opened in 1903, Roebling's bridge was popularly known as the Brooklyn Bridge. So, the answer is the name was used almost exclusively not earlier than 1883 and not later than 1903, but the "Brooklyn Bridge" was being used as early as 1873 with clarity. Q. Wasn't the Brooklyn Bridge Leased in the 80's? I think they tried to make it into a wine store? TZ, Tuesday, July 27, 2004 7:23 AM A. The Brooklyn Bridge has never been leased. Several "industrious" salesmen have attempted to sell the bridge, but since it opened in 1883, the bridge has always been the property of the City of New York, always used for transportation over the East River. I hope there is some element of truth in whatever story you heard, but a wine store was never part of the deal. From Peter J. Alsen Friday, July 14, 2006 7:41 PM: A. ... you state that the bridge was always owned by the city of NY. However, as I am sure you are aware, greater NYC was formed in 1898, long after the bridge was completed. Prior to the consolidation, Brooklyn was not part of New York. The bridge for a time was managed by a joint commission after completion; and before completion, it was for a time privately owned, a large stake owned by Boss Tweed. Further, I believe the questioner was referring to the vaults under the approaches being used as wine cellars; Roebling himself promoted the fact that the vaults would bring in significant rentals... Q. I understand that the caisson for the Brooklyn side of the Great Bridge was built at a Shipyard in Greenpoint. Was that shipyard located on what is now Newtown Creek? Do you know the name of that old shipyard or the name of the company that owned it? Thank-you in advance for any information you can provide. John M., Monday, Sunday, June 01, 2003 8:56 AM A. From The Builders of the Bridge by D.B Steinman; Harcourt, Brace and Co., Inc.; 1945: Design weight supported by Brooklyn Caisson - 80,000 tons (DBS) Thickness of top of Brooklyn wooden caisson - 15 feet of yellow pine. (DBS) Brooklyn caisson launched from Greenpoint shipyard (5 miles North) - 19 March 1870 Launching Size of Brooklyn Caisson - 168' x 102' x 14½' Launching Weight of Brooklyn Caisson - 3000 tons There are several references to the "Greenpoint Shipyard", I've always taken that to be the name of the business. Also several references to Greenpoint at Newton Creek, and at 5 miles North of the bridge, it would have to be the same Newton Creek. Q. My great grandfather was brought over from Hungary to work for John Roebling. He paid his passage and in return he worked for Roebling until his "indenture" was paid. He was a "wire drawer" and worked on the bridge. He was not killed but I do have in my possession a Trenton Business directory circa 1900 that may have names in it that would perhaps be of interest to some people searching their geneology. Many people were brought over to this country by Roebling and survived to work in his factory so maybe they would be in the directory? Lee T.., Monday, September 03, 2001 4:34 AM A. Thanks, Lee. I will post your note and invite readers to contact me for further information. Q. A few years ago I heard of a bridge where it was the only place on earth where an airplane could fly over a pedestrian that was walking over a car that was driving over a train that was over a boat. Or something similar to that. Is this the bridge that they were mentioning? Claude G.., January 28, 2001 A. I never really thougt of it that way but on the Brooklyn Bridge an airplane could fly over a pedestrian who was walking over a car that was driving over a boat that was over a train. (The subway runs under the East River) From Hugh Peltz, July 30,2001: A. ... the Boston University Bridge in Boston is the only place in the world where an airplane can fly over a person walking over a car going over a train going over a boat. From: Peter Nersesian, 26 February 2002: A. There's an incorrect item on your page. On the BU Bridge, it's possible to walk over a train going over a side-by-side car and boat, but impossible to walk over any car that's over a boat or train. The only cars that go over boats (or trains) there are without any walkways above them, just alongside. Theoretically, one could climb the bridge superstructure, but that's kind of outside the spirit of the question. Evidentiary link: Cambridge Bridges Q. My grandfather, Charles Edward Rasche was born in lower Manhattan in 1884 and died in 1988. He told the story of his father, a German baker, and the house his family home in lower Manhattan, before his birth. The story goes that there was a knock on the door and it was the city saying they were taking the Rasche family home for the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Any idea where I can check out this story and discover the location of the home? Thank you Judith K., Tuesday, July 06, 2004 9:35 AM A. Judith - You will have to do some investigative work, but with a name and a date, I'm sure you can find the address and location. It will be in the City directory or other reference inventory of properties. It will probably not be in the records of the Bridge Company. A good start is at About.com with many good links and advice: http://manhattan.about.com/od/genealogyhistory/index.htm |
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