Winters in Yolo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
J. Robert Chapman Memorial Bridge
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 6, 2014
1. J. Robert Chapman Memorial Bridge Marker
Inscription.
J. Robert Chapman Memorial Bridge. . The Vaca Valley Railroad built a rail and wagon trestle bridge across Putah Creek into Yolo County at this site in 1875, bringing about the birth of the town of Winters. The bridge was built with the financial assistance of prospective businessmen and landowners, including Theodore Winters and D.P. Edwards. Growth of the area's first town, Buckeye, ended that year. Many of Buckeye's residents moved to Winters, in some instances hauling their homes with them, pulled by horses over a distance of two miles., The Southern Pacific Railroad replaced the 1875 wood trestle bridge with this steel Pratt truss railroad bridge in 1906. On April 1, 1908, a celebration was held dedicating this bridge and the new "Yolo-Solano Concrete Bridge" for automobiles. The celebration was attended by 3000 people, for which the Chamber of Commerce published a special illustrated brochure., In 1977, Southern Pacific donated the bridge and a 60 foot right-of-way on either side of Putah Creek to the City of Winters, for the use of visitors on foot and bicycle. The generous gift was made with the encouragement of Southern Pacific Vice President and Chief Counsel Allen C. Furth, whose family had business and farming interests in Winters. Along with this gift, Southern Pacific sold a land parcel to the city for construction of the Winters Community Center in 1980., In 2006 the City of Winters undertook the rehabilitation of the formerly dilapidated railroad bridge, now reborn for safe transit and viewing of Putah Creek by strollers and cyclists., The renovated bridge is dedicated to the memory of Winters native Robert Chapman, who server the city for 21 years, 14 years as mayor.
The Vaca Valley Railroad built a rail and wagon trestle bridge across Putah Creek into Yolo County at this site in 1875, bringing about the birth of the town of Winters. The bridge was built with the financial assistance of prospective businessmen and landowners, including Theodore Winters and D.P. Edwards. Growth of the area's first town, Buckeye, ended that year. Many of Buckeye's residents moved to Winters, in some instances hauling their homes with them, pulled by horses over a distance of two miles.
The Southern Pacific Railroad replaced the 1875 wood trestle bridge with this steel Pratt truss railroad bridge in 1906. On April 1, 1908, a celebration was held dedicating this bridge and the new "Yolo-Solano Concrete Bridge" for automobiles. The celebration was attended by 3000 people, for which the Chamber of Commerce published a special illustrated brochure.
In 1977, Southern Pacific donated the bridge and a 60 foot right-of-way on either side of Putah Creek to the City of Winters, for the use of visitors on foot and bicycle. The generous gift was made with the encouragement of Southern Pacific Vice President and Chief Counsel Allen C. Furth, whose family had business and farming interests in Winters. Along with this gift, Southern Pacific sold a land parcel to the city for construction of the Winters Community Center
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in 1980.
In 2006 the City of Winters undertook the rehabilitation of the formerly dilapidated railroad bridge, now reborn for safe transit and viewing of Putah Creek by strollers and cyclists.
The renovated bridge is dedicated to the memory of Winters native Robert Chapman, who server the city for 21 years, 14 years as mayor.
Location. 38° 31.238′ N, 121° 58.069′ W. Marker is in Winters, California, in Yolo County. Marker is on Winters Rd, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winters CA 95694, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. J. Robert Chapman Memorial Bridge Renovation Marker
In recognition of those who contributed to
the renovation of this historic
1906 steel Pratt truss railroad bridge.
Winters City Council Members
Cecilia Agular-Curry • Steve Godden
Harold Anderson • Bruce Guelden
Chris Calvert • Michael Martin
J. Robert Chapman • Dan Martinez
John Frazier • Jiley Romney
Woody Fridae • Tom Stone
John W. Donlevy, Jr.
City Manager
John C. Wallace
City Attorney
Nick Ponticello
City Engineer
Ponticello Enterprises
Quincy Engineering, Inc.
Engineering
Tony Look
California Trails Foundation
Dan Sokolow
Community Development Directory
Alan Mitchell
Assistant City Engineer
Ponticello Enterprises
William P. Young Construction
Contractor
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 6, 2014
4. J. Robert Chapman Memorial Bridge Renovation Marker
Marker is located next to the Vaca Valley Railroad marker.
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 6, 2014
5. J. Robert Chapman Memorial Bridge
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 6, 2014
6. View from the Bridge
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 972 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 8, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.