Cut bias bridge: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "The '''"Cut bias" bridge]]''' was an iron truss bridge built in 1888, was so named because it crossed the San Lorenzo River at an angle. Its north end was near the north e..."
 
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The '''"Cut bias" bridge]]''' was an iron truss bridge built in 1888, was so named because it crossed the [[San Lorenzo River]] at an angle. Its north end was near the north end of today's [[Riverside Avenue bridge]], but its south end was near where Laurel Street Extension turns away from the riverbank to become Leibrandt Avenue. In 1899, those two streets were the path of an electric streetcar line that ran from downtown to the beachfront Dolphin Bathhouse of the [[Leibbrandt brothers]]. [[Riverside Hotel owners the Barson family gave the city some of the hotel's land for a right-of-way to build the Riverside Avenue approach to the north end of the bridge.
[[File:1905-Sanborn-cut-bias-bridge.png|right]]
*Charles McCaleb, [[Books on Santa Cruz County History: a List by Year of Publication (OHJ article)|Surf, Sand & Streetcars (1977 book)]]
The '''Cut bias" bridge''', an iron truss bridge built in 1888, was supposedly so-named because it crossed the [[San Lorenzo River]] at an angle. However, the Sanborn map detail at right shows that the "bias" angle was not large - possibly less than that of today's bridge. Riverside Hotel owners [[Barson, Alfred and Mary Ellen|Alfred and Mary Ellen Barson]] gave the city some of the hotel's land for a right-of-way to build the approach to the northwest end of the bridge. That end was near the end of today's [[Riverside Avenue bridge]], but its southeast end did not align with the continuation of Riverside Avenue, as the modern bridge does. The map also shows that the cut bias bridge was very narrow - pedestrians crossed at their own risk!
*[https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/134408#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0 Bridges Span Santa Cruz's Past]
*[[History Pages: 50 - Beach Hill: 1870-99]] (includes a photo of the bridge)
*Ross Eric Gibson, [https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/134408#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0 "Bridges Span Santa Cruz's Past"], SCPL


[[Category:Bridges, wharves and piers]]
[[Category:Bridges, wharves and piers]]

Revision as of 20:14, 11 March 2023

The Cut bias" bridge, an iron truss bridge built in 1888, was supposedly so-named because it crossed the San Lorenzo River at an angle. However, the Sanborn map detail at right shows that the "bias" angle was not large - possibly less than that of today's bridge. Riverside Hotel owners Alfred and Mary Ellen Barson gave the city some of the hotel's land for a right-of-way to build the approach to the northwest end of the bridge. That end was near the end of today's Riverside Avenue bridge, but its southeast end did not align with the continuation of Riverside Avenue, as the modern bridge does. The map also shows that the cut bias bridge was very narrow - pedestrians crossed at their own risk!