Third Coliseum

Site of Third Coliseum

     In the history of Chicago, there were three buildings that bore the name Chicago Coliseum.

     The first was located at State and Washington Streets in the 1860’s.  This was in the downtown region.  History of the building is unclear as to its opening and closing.   It apparently hosted various events such as horse shows, boxing masses and circus acts.

     The second colosseum building was located on the south side of Chicago in the Woodlawn neighborhood.  Construction began  in 1895 on a 14 acre site of the Columbian Exposition.   However,on August 22nd, the incomplete structure collapsed and construction had to restart.  The building was 300 by 700 feet.  Building required 2.5 million pounds of steel, 3.2 million feet of lumber and and 3 million bricks.  It was completed in 1896.  Building was twice as large as Madison Square Garden. The facility had 7 acre of interior space.

  Buffalo Wild West Show was the first event at the facility in July, 1896.   It hosted the Democratic convention in October, 1896.  The facility was used in multiple college football games.  It hosted trade show, bicycle races, agricultural exhibitions.

     In December, 1897, the building was destroyed in a massive fire.

     At the site of the third Coliseum (1513 South Wabash Avenue), Charles Gunther originally  built a structure known as the Libby Prison War Museum( a collection of Civil War memorabilia) in 1889.  The interesting thing about this structure is that it was previously  a southern Civil War Prison in Richmond, Virginia.  Gunther arranged for it to be deconstructed, shipped by train to Chicago and reassembled.  After 10 years, Gunther tore the building down except for the castellated front wall.  This was incorporated into the new 3rd Coliseum Building in 1899.  The architects were Frost and Granger.   The capacity was 14,000.

     During its existence, the Coliseum sponsored, political conventions, sporting events, concerts, roller derbies, religious events, and bowling tournaments.

     On March 13, 1971, the city of Chicago closed the Coliseum because of fire code violations.  In 1982, the building was sold for redevelopment, which unfortunately never happened.  It was eventually demolished in the 1990’s.

Plaque McClintic Marshall Company of Chicago, Illinois and Pittsburgh, PA

   UP Bridge over Forked Creek is located in Wilmington, Will Count, Illinois.  This was originally a three track bridge.  The outer tracks were abandoned.  Style was a deck plate girder bridge

     The southern most span was built in 1884. Middle span was built in 1929. The spur span was built in 1930.

     There were multiple builders over the years: American Bridge Company of New York ( middle span), Detroit Bridge and Iron Company ( southern span), McClintic Marshall Company of Chicago, Illinois and Pittsburgh, PA. Spur span.

     Over the years, the bridge was used by multiples railroads : Amtrak, Chicago and Alton, Guf, Mobile and Ohio, IC, ICG 1972–1988, UP.

     The largest span of the bridge is 59 feet.  Total bridge length is 175 feet.

UP Forked Creek Bridges

Same as above

UP Forked Creek Bridges

UP Forked Creek Bridges

Same as above

Bob Michel Bridge

     The Bob Michel Bridge crosses the Illinois River in Peoria on Illinois 40. It was constructed in 1993.  

     It is a deck plate girder design.  The total length is 2,365 feet.  Deck width is 62 feet.  There is a sidewalk.  The bridge carries four lanes of traffic.

Bob Michel Bridge

BNSF Beardstown

     This is the BNSF railroad bridge over the Illinois River at Beardstown.  It is a through truss vertical lift bridge.  It has been used by the BBQ and the BNSF

BNSF Beardstown

BNSF Beardstown

Joe Page Bridge

     The Joe Page Bridge is a vertical lift bridge over the Illinois River on IL 100 at Hardin, Illinois.  The bridge was constructed in 1931.  It is a two lane traffic bridge.

     The bridge type is a vertical lift Parker through truss.  Its largest span is 310.9 feet.  Total length is 2,149.3 feet.  Deck width is 22 feet.

     Bridge is named after Joseph Page.  He was a Civil War veteran and a local politician.

Joe Page Bridge

Joe Page Bridge

Wabash Memorial Bridge

     Wabash Memorial Bridge is a steel arch bridge over the Wabash River. It connects IN 62  and IL 141 between Mount Vernon, IN and New Haven, IL.

     The bridge was built in 1956 by the Olinger Brothers and Traylor Brothers.  The design is cantilevered steel through arch.

    The length of the largest span is 426.7 feet.

     Total length is 2,400 feet.

     Deck.width is 25.9 feet

Wabash Memorial Bridge

New Harmony Bridge

New Harmony Bridge

    New Harmony Bridge is a four span riveted through truss toll bridge over the Wabash River on IL 14 at New Harmony, Indiana.

New Harmony Bridge

     It was built in 1928 by the Big Wabash Bridge Company  of Carmi as a toll  bridge for $535, 796.  In 1941, Congress established a 3 member panel  (White County Bridge Commission to operate the bridge.  Over the years, the devs on the bridge accumulated.  Bridge was closed in 2007–2008.    It was permanently closed in 2012.

     Largest span was 299.8 feet

     Total length was 2578.4 feet

     Width was 20 feet

     The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October, 2007.

New Harmony Bridge

CSX Wabash Bridge Lafayette

     This bridge is currently known as the CSX Railroad Bridge over the Wabah River.

     There are two through truss spans in the center, two deck girders on the north end and two pony girders on the south end.  This is a single track bridge.  Total length is 600 feet.

     Bridge was used by the Monon, L & N, and the CSX.

CSX Wabash River Bridge

CSX Bridge Wabash River Bridge

Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company

     The Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company building was constructed from 1898–2006.   The building was located at One South State Street, Chicago.    In 1890 at this site, Schlesinger and Mayer hired Adler and Sullivan to remove the attic story of the Bowen Building and add two stories here and and at the adjacent building to the south.   In 1898, the original building at State and Madison was removed.  It was replaced with a nine story building designed by Sullivan.   In 1902, Schlesinger had Sullivan extend the building to 12 stories The building was originally occupied by Schlesinger   Around 1904 the store was sold by Schlesinger and Mayer to  Harry G. Selfridges for a department store.  There was a short turn around in the same year when the building was sold to Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company.

     The building was 12 stories.  It is a steel framed structure.  There are large bay windows separated by bands of terra cotta.

     Samuel Carson, John T. Pirie, and George and Robert Scott bought the store in 1904.  The architect was Louis Sullivan.    Before acquiring this building, Carson’s was located in the Reliance Building one block North on State Street.  Daniel Burnham supervised the 1906 additions. The 1960-61 additions were made by Holabird and Root.  Exterior renovations were made by John Vinci in 1979-1980.

     In 1988, PA. Bergner purchased the Carson’s Building.     Since 1988, Saks has been the owner.

     Buildings previously located at this site were:  Schlesinger and Mayer Building ( 1872), Johnge’s Hotel and the Windsor Craft Hotel