Guide to the Northern Liberties Bridge Company Ledger, 1836-1909 DAR.1937.24
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- Northern Liberties Bridge Company Ledger
- Creator
- Northern Liberties Bridge Company
- Collection Number
- DAR.1937.24
- Extent
- 0.42 Linear Feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1836-1909
- Abstract
- The Northern Liberties Bridge Company Ledger is comprised of transactions, minutes from meetings, and contracts made with the state of Pennsylvania regarding the Mechanics Street Bridge, which was built in 1836 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Further administrative records related to operations within Pittsburgh are included. The ledger spans from 1836 to 1909. Digital reproductions of this collection are available online.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
History
The Northern Liberties Bridge Company was chartered by the state of Pennsylvania in 1836 to build a bridge from Mechanics Street (later renamed 16th Street) in the Borough of Northern Liberties (incorporated into Pittsburgh in 1837) to span the Allegheny River. The bridge, called the Mechanics Street Bridge, was completed in 1838. It was damaged by fire in 1851 and flood in 1865, and burned again in 1918. Today, the 16th Street Bridge stands where the Mechanics Street Bridge use to be, connecting the North Shore to the Strip District.
Scope and Content Notes
In the Northern Liberties Bridge Company ledger, which covers the years from 1836 to 1909, there is a variety of information, including: contract and rules of the bridge construction, names of stockholders, records of monetary transactions, including all bills paid, and minutes from the board of manager meetings. The ledger commences with the basic information about the project, and then discusses various "by-laws" describing what will happen once the bridge is built and how it will be maintained. For example, there are a few entries written on the intended cost of tolls paid when crossing the bridge. The tolls were calculated by wheels or the horses on a wagon, or other vehicles, and maintains and provides a corresponding price. The rest of the ledger is comprised with minutes from meetings, usually held twice a year, with lists of bills paid and a short section on the changes in managerial staff in downtown Pittsburgh.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Unknown
Custodial History
This collection was located in the Darlington Memorial Library in the University's Cathedral of Learning until 2007 when it was moved to the ULS Archives Service Center for processing, storage, preservation and service. However, it remains in the custodianship of the ULS Special Collections Department.
Preferred Citation
Northern Liberties Bridge Company Ledger, 1836-1909, DAR.1937.24, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Previous Citation
Northern Liberties Bridge Company Ledger, 1836-1909, DAR.1937.24, Darlington Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Nicole Mader in May 2008.
Copyright
No copyright restrictions.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital reproductions of this collection are available online.
Subjects
- Northern Liberties Bridge Company
- Kopp & Voegtly Sawmill and Lumber Yard
- Morrison, William
- Voegtly, Edwin B.
- Voegtly, Nicholas
- McNeill, H. M.
- Allegheny River (Pa. and N.Y.)
- Mechanics Street Bridge (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- History
- Northern Liberties (Pittsburgh, Pa.) -- History
- Business records
- Ledgers (Account books)
- Bridges -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Design and construction