Guelph in Wellington County, Ontario — Central Canada
Heffernan Street Footbridge
This graceful, arched bridge of reinforced concrete was built in 1914, replacing the original 1881 steel bridge, to plans by E.E. Clawson, City Engineer. A unique feature of the riverscape and important pedestrian link to the city's commercial core.architectural interest by the City of Guelph
1990
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. 43° 32.858′ N, 80° 14.871′ W. Marker is in Guelph, Ontario, in Wellington County. Marker can be reached from Woolwich Street, 0.1 kilometers west of Thorp Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is on bridge wall at the south approach. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Guelph ON N1H 3T9, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); John Galt's Town Plan (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); John Galt (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Duncan-McPhee Building (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Guelph's Original Town Hall
this page online
Regarding Heffernan Street Footbridge. Excerpt from the City of Guelph bylaw designating the bridge a historical landmark:
The bridge was built for City Council in 1914 by contractors Galbraiteh and Cate to plans prepared by Ernest E. Clawson, City Engineer. It replaced the original metal arch footbridge, built by the City in 1881, to provide convenient pedestrian access to the downtown for residents of the east side of the river. Although popular with local citizens, the original bridge was ordered removed by the Dominion Railway Commission as it provided no means of safe access over the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks on the east bank. City Council’s decision to again erect a footbridge at this site re-established the bridge’s functional importance as a mid-block pedestrian link to the City’s commercial core and its visual importance as a distinctive piece of Guelph’s landscape.
Also see . . . Heffernan Street Bridge. Details and photographs of the historic span. (HistoricBridges.org) (Submitted on April 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Courtesy Guelph Museums (public domain), circa 1912
3. Postcard of original Heffernan Street footbridge
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 65 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 22, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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