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This story first published April 12, 1984: Although on several occasions I have dabbled with the story of thebuilding of the Main Street viaduct in 1908, it has been suggestedthat I tell once again of the speed and small cost to the localtaxpayers of that construction 75 years ago (in 1984). My researchproduced facts and figures most interesting in comparison with theproposed cost and time involved in the plans for re-building thebridge in the near future. Early in 1907 General Managers Calish and Hillery, representativesof the Buffalo and Lake Erie Traction Company, met the Town andVillage Boards and Highway Commissioner Miller at Tennant andTennant's office and presented a plan for a viaduct acrossChautauqua Creek, which was estimated at cost $66,520 for a 34-footdriveway or $72,880 for a 40-foot driveway, with oak roadbed andpine sidewalks. This plan did not meet with approval and Mr. Calishwas asked to furnish a new plan with concrete roadbed. Followingthis meeting the trolley company entered into an agreement with theVillage Board to unite with the Town in erecting a viaduct not tocost less than $95,000, provided that the Town pay $35,000, and asuitable contract could be made with the Town Board after thematter was voted upon at a special Town meeting. The meeting washeld on July 20, 1907 and the proposition carried. Nothing more washeard from the company until July 1908 when Supervisor Thompson wasinformed that representatives of the company would like to meet theTown Board and present plans. Plans were presented at a meeting of the Town Board for a steelviaduct, the steel structure to be 1,050 feet, and the total lengthof the structure 1,430 feet, with a plank roadway. HighwayCommissioner Miller opposed the plank roadway and said he wouldnever accept it unless the floor be made of concrete. In AugustSupervisor W.H. Thompson, Justice R.D. Powers, Benj. Breads, M.D.Tennant, H.L. Munson, Trustee A.H. Harris and Highway CommissionerMiller went to Buffalo to investigate the bridge question. The menreturned fully convinced that a plank floor was better than aconcrete, asphalt or brick. Mr. Tennant said he had talked withCity Engineer Lamy and told him how we were situated. Mr. Lamy saidfrom his eight years' experience he would advise an oak floor. Hesaid it was impossible to cross a concrete bridge in winter on asleigh. The Sept. 2, 1908 Westfield Republican reported that, "From presentindications work will soon be rushing on the viaduct. Severalcarloads of machinery and material have arrived and been unloaded.A house for the storage of tools has been erected near the oldbridge on Water Street and another is being built on the J.C.property for the accommodation of the laborers ... It is expectedthat the contract will be presented to the Town Board some timethis week." Important meetings of the Town Board were held Sept. 3 and 4. Aspecial Town meeting was called for Sept. 26 and the Buffalo andLake Erie Traction Company was given permission to commence work,pending the vote at the Town meeting. On Sept. 16 it was reported that, "The trolley people have a largeforce of men and teams at work on the viaduct and rapid progress isbeing made in the preliminary work before freezing weather sets in,provided our citizens again vote in favor of the project, whichthere is every indication of their doing." On Sept. 26 theproposition was carried by a large majority. About Nov. 20-21 cars of iron arrived for the big viaduct and onMonday morning, Nov. 23, a large force of men commenced on the jobof putting the iron in place, and it was witnessed by nearly thewhole of the male population of the village. The first section wasup at noon, and things were moving like magic. Six sections were upby Tuesday night ... With the continuance of good weather it wasexpected that the structure would be practically completed by themiddle of January. You have heard the exciting story of the first trolley car crossingthe viaduct on New Year's Day 1909 giving the Buffalo and Lake ErieTraction Company an unbroken connection between Erie and Buffalo.There was still work to be done on the viaduct but the work ofplanking was being rushed and it was only a short time before thebridge was opened for general use. The viaduct was built by the American Bridge Company ofPhiladelphia, and was capable of supporting a weight of 50-ton carson both tracks. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as PP Preform Mould Manufacturer , China 5 Gallon mould, and more. For more , please visit Cap Mould today!
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