Lathrop Avenue Viaduct (Racine, Wisconsin): Difference between revisions

==History==

===Early subway (ca. 1908–1931)===

As early as 1858, a railway had been constructed proceeding in an almost perfectly straight line from [[Racine Junction]], on the south side of Racine, to [[Burlington, Wisconsin|Burlington]] {{convert|27|mi|km}} west at the opposite end of the county.<ref>[http://racinecounty.net/Redding%20and%20Watson/Redding%20and%20Watson.htm Redding & Watson's Map of Racine County - 1858], racinecounty.net.</ref> At this time, what would become Lathrop Avenue was an unpaved farm road, which was laid out and given its name around 1908.<ref>[http://racinecounty.net/Sanborn%20Maps%20-%201908/album/index.html#&gid=1&pid=1 1908 Sanborn Insurance Maps, front cover], racinecounty.net.</ref> A narrow subway, dug into the ground at the crossing, allowed one car at a time to pass under the railroad tracks, but by 1929, this subway had become inadequate for the growing city. At this time, the crossing was located on the boundary between the city of Racine and the town of [[Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin|Mount Pleasant]], and both municipalities urged the railroad to widen the subway.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44108044/the_journal_times/ "Subway Widening Is Sought"], [[Racine Journal-News]], August 14, 1929, page four.</ref> The [[West Racine Businessmen's Association]] also pushed for the subway to be widened, as well as for one to be constructed at [[Cleveland Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Cleveland Avenue]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44108924/the_journal_times/ "Would Make Two Street Changes: West Racine Businessmen Start Move for Subway in Cleveland Ave."], [[Racine Journal-News]], December 3, 1929, front page.</ref>

 

In September 1931, the city of Racine and the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad]] began jointly seeking contractors to excavate Lathrop Avenue at the site and construct a viaduct for the railroad to pass overhead.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44088867/the_journal_times/ "Notice to Grading Contractors"], [[Racine Journal-News]], September 1, 1931, page twelve.</ref> The [[Wisconsin Public Service Commission]] gave the railroad a deadline of December 31, 1931 for the completion of the $68,000 viaduct, which was later extended to April 30, 1932 after construction was hampered by flooding and freezing conditions.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44111013/the_journal_times/ "Hold Up Work For Large Force Of Racine Men: Freezing Weather Halts Work."], [[Racine Journal-News]], December 10, 1931, page nine.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44110459/the_journal_times/ "Builders of Racine: West Racine Business Men's Assn."], [[Racine Journal-News]], February 15, 1932, page two.</ref> By early April, the excavation was complete and a "dangerously narrow" temporary wooden viaduct had been completed, but the railroad requested another deadline extension from the commission to build the permanent viaduct.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44089002/the_journal_times/ "Rail Company Asks For Time To Complete Work"], [[Racine Journal-News]], April 7, 1932, page four.</ref> The deadline was moved to July 1, but by early June the railroad was seeking another extension, leading to protests from residents of Lathrop Avenue, who called on the city council to fight any further extension.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44089197/the_journal_times/ "War Vets Would Restrict Use Of Memorial Hall"], [[Racine Journal-News]], June 8, 1932, page four.</ref> A week before the July 1 deadline, the construction was expected to overrun, but be completed as quickly as possible.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44089527/the_journal_times/ "Work on Viaduct"], [[Racine Journal-News]], June 24, 1932, page four.</ref>

 

 

[[File:Lathrop Avenue Viaduct flooding, 1938.png|thumb|The street underneath the viaduct, seen here after record rainfall in January 1938, was prone to flooding.]]

Thunderstorms believed to be sparked by a tornado trapped two cars under the viaduct on the night of August 16, 1987.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44111714/the_journal_times/ "Wet, wild storm socks Racine"], [[Racine Journal Times]], August 17, 1987, page 3A.</ref> Another rainstorm stranded a motorist there on August 30, 1993.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44111850/the_journal_times/ "STORM"], [[Racine Journal Times]], August 31, 1993, page 9A.</ref>

 

 

===Demolition (1998)===

[[File:Lathrop Avenue Viaduct, Jim Slosiarek, March 1998.png|thumb|The abandoned viaduct, photographed by Jim Slosiarek in March 1998, months before its demolition.]]

 

 

 

==References==

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