Lathrop Avenue Viaduct (Racine, Wisconsin): Difference between revisions
Lathrop Avenue Viaduct (Racine, Wisconsin) (edit)
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==History==
[[File:Lathrop Avenue
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>
In
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>
After the construction of the viaduct, Lathrop Avenue remained unpaved. During heavy rainstorms, several feet of water gathered in the street, requiring local residents to clear off the water to prevent accidents. In 1934, the area's alderman, Leroy Olson, called for federal funding to pave the street under the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Emergency_Relief_Administration Federal Emergency Relief Administration] (FERA).<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44090136/the_journal_times/ "City Considers Paving Project: Ald. Olson Anxious to Have Lathrop Ave. Paved"], [[Racine Journal Times]], July 12, 1934, front page.</ref> The segment of road was paved in 1935 with funding from both FERA and its replacement, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration Works Progress Administration].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44090201/the_journal_times/ "More WPA Jobs Approved Here"], [[Racine Journal Times]], September 24, 1935, 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.]]
On January 24, 1938, record rainfall in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois led to significant flooding throughout the region. Lathrop Avenue underneath the viaduct was flooded with water more than four feet deep. The driver of an automobile which drove into the water was believed to have drowned, but it was found that he had safely escaped from the car.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44090270/the_journal_times/ "Flood Menaces Many Racine Areas"], [[Racine Journal Times]], January 24, 1938, front page.</ref> By 1969, sewer backups were becoming a common problem at the underpass, with raw sewage leaking into the basements of houses near the viaduct.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44111165/the_journal_times/ "Will Invite Council to Help with 'Mess'"], [[Racine Journal Times]], March 26, 1969, page 10."</ref>
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad abandoned the Racine–Sturtevant line in 1982 during its lengthy bankruptcy proceedings.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44075412/the_journal_times/ "Boat ramp work, downtown park get council OK"], [[Racine Journal Times]], August 18, 1982, page 5A.</ref> The right-of-way was acquired by Railroad Properties Associates, a group co-founded by the [[Downtown Racine Development Corporation]] and [[Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce|RAMAC]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44075803/the_journal_times/ "Railroad right of way bought by local group"], [[Racine Journal Times]], June 1, 1983, page 4A.</ref> The area surrounding the Lathrop Avenue viaduct was sold to [[Wisconsin Electric Power Company|Wisconsin Electric]] for the construction of power lines, although Wisconsin Electric later stressed that it was not the owner of the viaduct structure, only the land it sat on.<ref name="viaduct-limbo">Buttweiler, Joe. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44081691/the_journal_times/ "Lathrop viaduct still in limbo"], [[Racine Journal Times]], May 8, 1995, pages 1B and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44081710/the_journal_times/ 3B].</ref>
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>
After the railway line was abandoned, the viaduct became a common yet dangerous place for local teenagers to hang out. On September 6, 1993, Labor Day, a 15-year-old boy fell 25 feet from the viaduct to the street below, while attempting to perform a somersault on the viaduct's railing. He suffered a fractured skull, but survived without noticeable brain damage. The boy's father, Jerry Anderson, subsequently began a campaign to have the viaduct removed or fenced off.<ref>Hayman, Rik. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44111956/the_journal_times/ "Boy seriously injured in fall from viaduct"], [[Racine Journal Times]], September 8, 1993, pages 1A and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44112057/the_journal_times/ 7A].</ref> Anderson and city officials struggled to determine ownership of the viaduct, preventing meaningful action from being taken.<ref>Hayman, Rik. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44112494/the_journal_times/ "Injured boy's father hunts for owner of Lathrop viaduct"], [[Racine Journal Times]], September 16, 1993, page 1C.</ref>
==References==
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