Celebrating 100 Years of Ashtabula’s Bascule Lift Bridge
100 years of connection! The Ashtabula Lift Bridge is a Strauss bascule bridge that carries Ohio State Route 531 over the Ashtabula River, and is the last remaining single-leaf lift bridge on an Ohio State highway system. Besides its importance as a major transportation route in Ashtabula, the bridge occupies a crucial location in the city's built environment; the Ashtabula Harbor Commercial District terminates at the bridge's western end.
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PURCHASE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY MERCH DESIGNED BY CHRIS RHODES AT 1032 TATTOO!
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Bridge Shirts • Bridge Crewnecks • Bridge Hoodies •
The "Bascule" Lift Bridge, a medieval term for draw bridge, works on the same counterweight system that raised and lowered drawbridges over moats that surrounded fortresses in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1850, a pontoon bridge had been constructed to link the east and west Harbor communities adjacent to the Ashtabula River. The pontoon, or floating bridge, had to be pulled with long ropes and pulleys, which made it very unstable. In 1889, the need to widen the river channel to accommodate larger ships became apparent and a swing bridge replaced the cumbersome pontoon bridge.
During the summer season, the Bascule Lift Bridge is operated 24 hours a day and is lifted on the hour and half hour for pleasure boaters making their way along the Ashtabula River to and from Lake Erie. The bridge is operated by a bridge tender who views the bridge and river from the control room or "operations house" below the counterweight.
Before the bridge opens to its jackknife position, the bridge tender signals a horn and lowers the gates to alert pedestrians and automobiles to stop. Due to its unique structure and history, the bridge was added to the National Register in 1976.
A New York City native, Thomas E. Brown, famous for designing the original elevator in the Eiffel Tower in Paris, developed the first bascule bridge in the 1890's. His bridge invention features overhead counterweights connected to trusswork balance beams. Wendell P. Brown of no relation to Thomas E. Brown, designed the Ashtabula Bascule Lift Bridge in 1925. Through the cooperation of the City, County, State and Federal governments, the Lift Bridge was restored in 1986 at the cost of $5.2 million This bridge is the only one of its kind still used for automobile traffic in the State of Ohio.
LIGHT THE LIFT BRIDGE DONORS
APRIL 2004
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE LIGHTING OF THE BASCULE LIFT BRIDGE POSSIBLE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Kevin Grippi - Chairman
Rhonda Rich - Treasurer
Pete Baldwin
Rick Brewer
Toni Carlisle
Larry Degeorge, Jr.
Warren Dillaway
Gretchen Friend
Billy Johnson
John Mahan
James Mayer
Joe Mayernick
Alicia McFarland
Betty Morrison
Jim Paulchel
Bill Romanko
Marlene Sartini
Tom Simon
Dominic Volpone
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Ashtabula City Port
ODOT- District 4
Ashtabula County- Engineer’s Dept
Ashtabula County Commissioners
Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce
Bridge Street Merchant’s Association
BUY A LIGHT
$5,000 AND UP
Kam Construction
Mark Atzemis, Mike Atzemis, Craig Arnold
Advanced Exteriors
Rick Fortune & Joe Baldwin
Federal Highway Administration
CT Consultants
Donald Bugansky
The Ashtabula Foundation
City of Ashtabula
Union Industrial Contractors
In Loving Memory of Lauretta and John Kerola
MEGA WATT SPONSOR
$1,000 - $4,000
84 Lumber
Civic Development Corporation of Ashtabula County
Robert S. Morrison Foundation
Herzog Family Foundation
A. Louis Supply Co.
Ashtabula County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Sarah & Robert Halman
John Smolen
GE Conneaut Base Plant
Ashtabula Area Chamber Foundation
The Star Beacon
Erin Riddell
FLIP THE SWITCH SOCIETY
$500 - $999
The Cafaro Foundation
East Ohio Gas Company
Gretchen & Marc Friend
Keybank National Association
Kiwanis Club of Ashtabula
Toni Koski
Halman Inc.
In Memory of Gene Harris
Marilyn & John Lampson
O & P Oil & Gas
Vince Oscar
Millenium Chemicals
Walmart Foundation
MC Sign Company
Karen & Larry DeGeorge
David Marshall
GENERATOR CLUB
$300 - $499
Bum Boat Chili Cook-Off
Dixie Yeager
Warren & Young PLL
Norman Gloekler
Helen & George Nassief
Donna & Tom Nelson
Elaine & Rick Richardson
Rich Halas, M.A.
Tom & Marlene Sartini in Memory of Thomas Sartini, Jr.
Baldwin Motor Sports
Dee Riley Photography
Lisa & Kevin Grippi
Jim Paulchel
Shoot the Breeze Disc Golf
Sky Bank
400 WATT LEVEL
$150 - $299
Andover Bank
Jack’s Marine
Elaine & John Maimone
Maggie & Carl Anderson
Avalon Pest Control, Inc.
Candy & Jack Doherty
Cassie & Larry Korland
James Mayer
Sutherland Marine
In Memory of Rick Torquato
Betty Behm
Harbor Yacht Club of Ashtabula
The Ducro Family
Elks Lodge #208
Ashtabula Firefighters Local 165
Norge Village Coin Laundry
SUPPORTING MERCHANTS
A. Louis Supply
AAA Motorists Assoc.
Adelphia
Alleman’s Restaurant
American Network Productions
Andover Back
Antique Boutique
Apple Heating
Applebee’s Bar & Grille
Arbonne International
ARU Marina Inc.
Ashtabula Framing Center
Avalon-Glavis Pest Control
Ayers Music Shop
B J Baker Bicycle Sales & Service
Balkan Baking Co.
Barry’s Backyard Nursery
Bartone’s Car Care
Basic Ingredients
Bloomer’s Florist
The Blue’s Project
Bob Evans Restaurant
Bridgestreet Treasures
Cake & Candy Connection
Capitena’s Floral & Gift Shoppe
Capo’s Pizza III
Carlisle’s Home in the Harbor
Chalet Debonne Winery
Chapel Hills Golf Course
Chapman’s Food Service
Chi-Chi’s Mexican Restaurant
Chubb’s Krazy Dawg
Clear Channel Communications
Cleveland Architectural Products
Dasco Paper Inc.
Dillard’s Ashtabula Mall
Doxsie Deli
Dry Dock
Ferrante Winery & Ristorante
Frosty Harbor
Garfield’s Restaurant
Get the Net Fishing Charters
Great Lakes Auto Network
Guyreino’s Deli
Harbor Realty
Healthy Smile Center
Heavenly Ham
Hil-Mak Sea Food Restaurant
Ivy Rose
Jack Evans Auctioneers
Ken’s Meats
Kent State University
Kister Marina
Lakeway Restaurant
Laurello Winery
Lou’s Billow Beach
Martell Cleaners
MC Sign Company
Mead’s Antique Popcorn Wagon
Meola Catering
Nelson Sand & Gravel
North West Savings Bank
Outdoor Army-Navy
Pinney Dock/Kinder Morgan
Pizza Villa
Post Lumber
Premier Fitness
Rapid Photo
Regis Hair Salon
Riffle & Associates
Riverfront Trader
River Marine
Security Technologies
Silhouette Gift Shoppe
Sims’ Family Tours
Soy Scentsations
Sports & Sports
The Star Beacon
Steak ’n Shake, Inc.
Sweet Justice Boat & Breakfast
The Home Depot
Top’s Friendly Market
BLUE HUE CLIUB
$20-$149
Ashtabula Yacht Sales & Service
Rowena & Pete Baldwin
Norma & Donald Bartone
Marilyn & Howard Barrow
Ward Bennett, Jr.
Janne & Herb Bias
Klara Banzer
Ralph Bacon
Sharon Bentley
Lloyd Bogue
Eunice Brace
Jean & Chuck Bronson
Janet Caruso
Capitena’s Floral & Gift Shoppe
The Coburn Family
Alice & Joe Cook
Janice & James Cook
Dorothy Cogan
Marge & Don Coutts
Beverly & George Dubina
Bob Crombie
Debbie & Martin Crombie
Carol Daily
Jillian Demarco
E & T DiCesare
The Family of Beth Ann Digiacomo
Kathie & Tom Dunham
Doxie Deli
Joe & Mary Kay Delpriore
Alexander & Zachary Delpriore
Martha & Richard Ellers
Josephine Fauris
Fenton Manufacturing, Inc.
Patricia & Robert Felt
Judith Flis
Grace & Richard Flower
Friend’s Auto Electric
David Flautt
Francine Beauty Salon
Larry Fink Electrical & Plumbing
Karen Flack
Kelly Frasure
Margaret Fuller-Ostendorf
Laureen & Bob Gabrich
Ed Gathagan
Inez, Stan & Claude Gaumer
Gene Gephart
Barbara Gowan
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Grippi
Jeannette Huile
Patricia Hall
Fran Hanselman
Alma Hansen
Carol & Bill Heidrich
Janis & Terry Hall
Lois Ottman-Howland
Carolyn Harris
Elizabeth Heitikko
Lavette & Mike Hennigan
Rudolph Herzog
Thomas Hitchock
Linda Koski-Kennedy
Marion Hughes
Mary Lou Jaskela
Laura Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Sanford Jacobs
Carolyn D. Johnson
Laura Johnson
Kathleen Kennedy
Kenneth Kane
Marsha & David King
George Lahti
Adah Perew Lamborn
In Memory of Louis Laveck
Sherrie Laveck
Mary Ellen & David Lehtoma
Ingrid Lundquist
John & Patricia Luttrelle
Gloria Kaull
Linda & William Kalinowski
Betty Kist
Nancy & Clyde Koski
Paul Madar
Ashtabula Marine Museum
Louie Matrisciano
Jane Miller
Yvonne Y. Miller
Millennium Community Funding Committee
Laurie & Lou Mazzola
George Morgan
Josephine & Kenneth Misener
The O’Donnell-McCarthy Family
Geraldine Notter
North End Club
Dick Pavolino
Shari & Ron Della Penna
Michael Primc
Lee, Carole & Kirstie Ranta
Signe & Martin Ruuska
Jay & Laura Jane Sartini
Ken Schoenfeld
Kathleen & David Serrone
Joan & Eugene Skiljan
For Kyle Paul
Cheryl Jones-Syracuse
Steve Reichert
Shirley & Maynard Mickleson
Bruce Miller
Eileen Muto
Bill Myllymaki
Ellie Palmer
In Memory of the Jacob E. Palo Family
Ralph Paulchel
Kay Powers
Paula Raffenaud
Veronica Randall
Mary Jo & Don Reed
Paul & Robert Reed
In Memory of Evelyn Reed
Paul Reichert
Bill & Georgia Romanko
Randy Ryel
Norman Ross
Sandra & James Richards
Pam Rossi
Rhonda Rich
Marilyn & Jim Salo
Sally & Steve Searl
Theresa & Steve Salo
Katie Shaughnessy
Joan & Eugene Skiljan
Susan & Anthony Stocker
Evelyn & Loren Swedenborg
Janice Szalma
Rev. John Thomas
Gary Wetherill
Jean Wrightnour
Lou Marie & Thomas
Ann Tickner
Vikki & Timothy Unruh
Janet & Ron Vettel
Jo Waller
Wilbert Willey
Carol & Lellian Wintz
Sandra & Don Zalimini, Sr.
LIGHT THE LIFT BRIDGE DONORS II (Upper Level L.E.D.’s)
APRIL 2008
ODOT – District 4
Ohio Department of Transportation – Transportation Enhancement
LIGHT THE LIFT BRIDGE DONORS III (Street Level L.E.D.’s)
APRIL 2018
Ashtabula County Engineer’s Office
Ohio Department of Transportation – District 4
Ashtabula County Commissioners
Northeast Ohio Pubic Energy Commission (NOPEC)
The Robert S. Morrison Foundation
Lift Bridge Community Association
Ashtabula Rotary Club