Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower

[MQT1223]

Something I have started. Hopefully things start to heat up soon! Follow the progress here!

https://www.facebook.com/Restore-the-Br ... 12/?ref=hl

[MQT1223]

I know I have been posting a lot about this tower lately, but with things heating up on the possibility of a restoration I am looking for some important information that I am still lacking.

Does anyone know when the current tower at Bridge Street was built? It replaced an earlier structure that I have seen photos of. It oddly enough resembled a lighthouse in many ways. Most indicators that I can find say that the existing tower was built by the PRR after the takeover of the GR&I using leftover materials. I have gone to the Grand Rapids Model Railroad Club in Comstock Park, Michigan to find information on the tower and they do not seem to know when it was built either. Does anyone have an idea who might know when it was built or where I could find build information on the structure?

[Saturnalia]

When is the last photo of the old tower that you're aware of? That could provide a clue.

I'd be wondering if this structure replaced the old one after the big floods...but that's just a wild guess.

[MQT1223]

When is the last photo of the old tower that you're aware of? That could provide a clue.

I'd be wondering if this structure replaced the old one after the big floods...but that's just a wild guess.

The photos I've seen were all taken around the same time. Model T's were everywhere, and those are the only photos I've seen. The next photos I've found of sister towers such as Leonard and Cherry St all have EMD F7's in them, so there is a fairly large gap in there that I have been unable to fill.

[MQT1223]

We didn't get the deal, tower was bought last night.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-mich ... ll_be.html

[MQT1223]

We have partnered up with the new owners on restoring the tower!

[NS3322]

Thanks for posting. I didn't even know it existed. I'll defiantly check this out the next time I'm in GR.

[MQT1223]

Thanks for posting. I didn't even know it existed. I'll defiantly check this out the next time I'm in GR.

Follow the Facebook page to watch the restoration! Search "Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower"!

[J T]

Thanks for posting. I didn't even know it existed. I'll defiantly check this out the next time I'm in GR.

Follow the Facebook page to watch the restoration! Search "Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower"!

Are all those posts under the name "Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower" from you?

[MQT1223]

Thanks for posting. I didn't even know it existed. I'll defiantly check this out the next time I'm in GR.

Follow the Facebook page to watch the restoration! Search "Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower"!

Are all those posts under the name "Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower" from you?

The majority. There are a few others with permissions to post on the page. It should show under the posts who posted what.

[iKJames]

The majority. There are a few others with permissions to post on the page. It should show under the posts who posted what.

Facebook only shows who posted what to the people running the page, not to the general public.

[iandt]

The photos I've seen were all taken around the same time. Model T's were everywhere, and those are the only photos I've seen. The next photos I've found of sister towers such as Leonard and Cherry St all have EMD F7's in them, so there is a fairly large gap in there that I have been unable to fill.

Are there any digital copies of this image you are able to post to the forum? Users may be able to pick out specific points of their own interest that may help date the photo

[MQT1223]

The photos I've seen were all taken around the same time. Model T's were everywhere, and those are the only photos I've seen. The next photos I've found of sister towers such as Leonard and Cherry St all have EMD F7's in them, so there is a fairly large gap in there that I have been unable to fill.

Are there any digital copies of this image you are able to post to the forum? Users may be able to pick out specific points of their own interest that may help date the photo

I will take and copy and paste a photo later to the historical Q&A board to see if it can be dated. I'm currently not home so it's a tad harder to do on my phone.

[Tom Train]

The Bridge St. tower was erected between 1870 and 1880. and was still in use in October 1977 as per the article I have. Let me know if you still want it, PM 1223.

[MQT1223]

The Bridge St. tower was erected between 1870 and 1880. and was still in use in October 1977 as per the article I have. Let me know if you still want it, PM 1223.

The year I've commonly heard was 1890, because the rail that is holding the entire thing up is dated 1889.

[Tom Train]

All I know is what is stated in the feature story in the GR Press. I am looking right at it.

[MQT1223]

The Tower's wood cabin is scheduled to be lifted either Thursday or Friday to be loaded onto a flatbed and shipped away for restoration while the metal tower and foundation work begins at a later date.

[Saturnalia]

admin edit: thx saturn, merged his new thread yet again with his existing.
Don't you already have a thread concerning this restoration process?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=33265&hilit=bridge+street+tower

There's a reason I use one thread for CSX updates. Much easier to follow along in the long term. I know you don't care right now, but you will in 15 years when you're trying to find everything again!

[MQT1223]

Tower lift has been rescheduled to next week due to stability concerns of the wood cabin during the lift.

[MQT1223]

Tower is now set to have the wood cabin removed on the morning of June 9th. No set time yet, but Rockford Construction is building supports to fasten to the wood cabin to keep it from collapsing in the lift.