Avis Overhead Bridge

Beginning of works:	1928
Completion:	1929
Status:	out of service

Location:	Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia, USA
Coordinates:	37° 40' 5.71" N    80° 53' 31.32" W

Show coordinates on a map

Concrete volume used: 292,493 cubic yards
Steel reinforcing: 275,000 pounds

After deliberating the demolition of the bridge, the State Dept. of Transportation has committed itself to not dismantle the bridge. It will be converted into a pedestrian bridge instead.

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RUN NOV. 26th. / RR # 199

C&O Railway Crossing In Avis Replaced By Overhead Bridge

Part 1 By Roy Long

When the main section of Hinton was Front Street, the only route for wagons, horseback riders and pedestrians to Hinton from Avis and points east was over the railroad tracks in Avis and up the 14 percent grade, known as Avis Hill. As early as the 1880's people began discussing the need for a bridge over the railroad tracks at Avis Crossing.

Following the great building boom of early 1900's and when the C. & O. yard tracks were constructed in Avis, agitation began in earnest to secure an overhead bridge to eliminate the dangerous crossing. There was great delays because of the crossing being blocked by trains pulling into yard tracks and by the yard engines switching over the grade crossing. There was also great danger to life because of buildings going up near the crossing blocking the view of those attempting to cross the railroad tracks.

Hobsen Marks remembers working for the ice company in Avis in 1911, delivering ice to business houses and to citizens homes in Hinton. Because of the steep hill, two horses weighing a ton each would only pull twenty-four pounds of ice each of three trips up the steep hill daily.

No one with authority seemed to possess the initiative or ability to get the project off the ground and for years, all that was accomplished was a lot of talk and no real action, somewhat like it is today.

In 1924, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, recognizing the need to eliminate Avis Crossing because of delays and for safety reasons, offered to building a steel over-head bridge at a cost of $75,000.00 provided the County and State would purchase the right-of-way.

At a meeting of the County Court July 16, 1924, Attorney R. F. Dunlap pointed out to the Court that two years ago, in 1922, an accurate count of traffic over the Avis Crossing was made for four consecutive days and that it was found that the daily average of vehicles passing over the crossing was as follows: 1110 automobiles; 1755 pedestrians; 212 trucks; 180 double horse teams; 53 one horse teams; 70 saddle horses and 12 motorcycles. This count also disclose that the crossing was blocked four hours out of twenty-four each day by trains.

The C. & O. Railway was represented at the County Court meeting by Attorney W. S. King of the law firm of Fitzpatrick, Brown and Davis of Huntington, W. VA. At the conclusion of Mr. Dunlaps argument, Mr. King agreed there was a great need for a bridge and stated the Railway Company was willing to start work on the construction as soon as a right-of-way was purchased by the County and State.

The County Court then passed the following conditional order:

"It having been brought to the attention of the Court that the C. & O. Railroad Company had prepared plans for the construction of an overhead bridge at or near the Avis crossing and that it, when completed, would become a part of State Route No. 21 from Huntington to Alderson, and that the C. & O. Railway Company and State Road Commission would reach an amicable adjustment as to the character and location of the bridge, and it further appearing that there is a heavy traffic over the present crossing with the approaches to the same being on dangerous grade and buildings so constructed that the approach of trains is easily concealed making the crossing a menace to all those using the same, and that the interests of the people not only of the cities of Hinton and Avis but the surrounding country demands that this bridge be build for the protection as well as the convenience of those using the same.

"It is therefore ordered that this Court is willing and hereby agrees to contribute the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) toward the purchase of the necessary right of way and property damage for the construction of the necessary right of way and property damage for the construction of said bridge, provided the C. & O. Railway Company will erect the same as proposed or as may be required or as may be agreed between it and the State Road Commission, and further provided the State Road Commission will make a sufficient contribution out of the funds due to Summers County from the bonds already sold or to be sold equal to the total cost of necessary rights of way and property damage and that this Court, if necessary, will institute such condemnations proceedings as may be necessary to acquire such right of way and will take such action as soon as assurances are given to it by the C. & O. Railway Company and the State Road Commission that the terms of this order are acceptable to each. "

(Source of information, Hinton Daily News and Leader, July 16, 1924).

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RR # 200 / RUN DEC. 3RD

C&O Railway Crossing In Avis Replaced By Overhead Bridge

Part 2 By Roy Long

In July 1924 it appeared an overhead bridge to displace the dangerous Avis Crossing connecting Hinton and Avis was at long last about to become a reality, but, as it had been for the past twenty years, or more, it was all talk with nothing happening. City officials, the State Road Commission and the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company could not agree on the type of bridge or its location. They were unable to come to terms on anything except that the bridge was badly needed. The railway company was willing to build an iron bridge at Avis Crossing. Avis Hill had a fourteen percent grade and the State Road Commission would not agree to a road having more than a seven percent grade, their rules and regulations apparently having been changed. City Officials lacked the ability to compromise the situation.

Over the past two years, traffic using the road crossing had almost doubled. Long lines of various types of conveyances were being held up for hours while trains entered the railroad yard tracks or while yard engines were shifting back and forth making up trains. Some pedestrians, tired of standing around waiting to get across, would use the very dangerous method of crawling over cars, standing or in motion.

Business houses on Avis Hill, especially those locked near the crossing were putting up strong opposition in their campaign against a change of any kind. For almost two more years, about all that was accomplished was talk, no positive action. But the situation was becoming desperate. Something had to be done and quickly. The citizens were up in arms and demanded that city officials correct the bottleneck on Main Street at Avis Crossing.

City Council met April 7, 1927 for further discussion of the railway crossing and decided it was necessary the crossing and the public street known as Main Street be separated and that it should be laid in the hands of President Harahan of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company in Richmond, Virginia. All members of Council were present except three and the following Order was unanimously passed and adopted:

"The Council of the City of Hinton, upon proper application made to it, and proper proceedings from which it is advised of its judgment, finds it necessary, in the judgment of the Council, for the safety of the traveling public, that the grade of the steam railroad owned and operated by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, and the public street in the city, known as Main Street, should be separated and the said street relocated for that purpose.

"The Council doth therefore order that the said Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, a corporation, the owner of the railroad referred to, do separate the grades of the said railroad and the said street known as Main Street where the said street crosses at grade the railroad tracks point known as Avis Crossing, in this city, the location of the crossing and street to be substituted to be as near as practicable to the present location and to be according to one or either of the three propositions shown upon a certain map and plan furnished there of by the said Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, Chief Engineer's Office Richmond, Virginia, Location Plan, Overhead Crossing, Avis, West Virginia, Date November 13, 1926, Drawing No. 7684A"; The grade of the crossing or road to be substituted to be shown by said map and plan, or the proposition thereon that may be adopted pursuant to law; said road or street to pass over the railroad tracks, and the street to be re-located accordingly, or such change to be made by additional roadway as may be necessary.

"And the said railroad company is hereby ordered to separate the said grades accordingly; and a certified copy of this order shall be furnished by registered mail to the President or Attorney of record of the said, The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company."

At long last, City Council acted in a forceful, vigorous manner to the delight of Hinton's citizens. Trouble was, the C. & O. Railway and State Road Commission were forceful and vigorous too.

(Source of information, Hinton Daily News, April 8, 1927.)

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RR # 201 / RUN DEC. 10th.

Hinton Gets An Overhead Bridge After Many Years Of Discussion

Part 3 By Roy Long

After many disappointments in an effort to replace Avis Crossing over the C. & O. Railway tracks with an overhead bridge and all efforts seemingly leading nowhere, City Council, at a meeting April 7, 1927 ordered the C. & O., through President Harahan to separate the grades of the railroad and Main Street according to one of three plans submitted by the railway that could be adopted pursuant to law.

In the meantime, the State Road Commission met with the City Council on July 5th. and offered a plan the Commission would approve. This plan was adopted by majority vote and the railway company ordered to build a bridge according to said plans.

Upon instructions from Mr. Harahan, in reply to Council's order, Chief Engineer of the C. & O., Mr. C.W. Johns, met with City Council in a special meeting August 3, 1927. Mr. Johns presented a plan that carried a grade of eleven percent together with two very stiff curves and would cost, he said, approximately $75,000.00 to build, not counting property damage. Again, it had to be pointed out that grade above seven percent could not be accepted and Council voted 9 to 1 to stand pat on the ordinance adopted earlier. A plan discussed at this meeting was one that would locate the bridge at the end of Park Avenue back of the Greenbrier School building and at an estimated cost of $164,000.00 exclusive of property damage. Mr. Johns responded by stating that the railway company was not interested in this plan as it would not do away with Avis Crossing, and that the elimination of the crossing was what the railway company was interested in.

When City Council adopted the resolution to stand pat on the previous ordinance, Mr. King, Attorney for the C. & O. asked to leave in order to file a protest against the ordinance which had to be done within five days. This leave was granted. (Hinton Daily News, August 3, 1927.) The minds of members of the three entities, the C. & O. R.R., the State Road Commission and City Council could not jell into one and a compromise seemed to be out of the question. The meeting opened in the morning with enthusiasm and ended in the afternoon shrouded in gloom.

In the meantime, Mr. Hume K. Nowlan was employed as Hinton's City Manager and he, along with Mayor E. M. Meadows, provided expert leadership for the City Council body, leadership that finally, at last, things started looking up although a lot remained to be done.

At a meeting of City Council September 13, 1927 Mr. Dice, Attorney for the C. & O. Railway Company asked the Council to rescind its action in which the railroad was ordered to build an overhead bridge in Avis according to plans submitted by the State Road Commission. A motion to that effect was made, duly seconded and carried by a vote of twelve to two. A committee composed of the Mayor, City Manager, City Attorney and two councilmen was formed to secure the service of an outside engineer to work out a plan agreeable to the three bodies involved.

A new year, 1928, dawns and still no concrete (no pun intended) evidence that an overhead bridge would ever be built. But something had to be done. The railway company was being delayed making switching movements because of heavy traffic over the crossing. The only protection for persons using the crossing was a little bell on top of a short post beside the crossing which rang constantly when a train or engine approached a short distance ahead from either direction. The bell continued to ring until the entire train cleared the track circuit. The little post and bell was located on Avis side of the tracks on the left. Once Mr. J. A. Yancey was at the crossing when express train No. 101 came though. A dog was standing between the rails which Mr. Yancey thought would surely be killed but when the train passed over, the dog got up and ran from the railway. The dog had the good sense to get between the ties and not move until all danger had passed. The C. & O. Railway Company was!

constantly in danger of being sued in the event of a death or personal injury on the crossing, therefore, officials of the C. & O. asked to meet again with city officials to try to resolve their differences.

Railway officials, Vice President R. N. Begien, General Manager G. D. Brooke, Chief Engineer C. V. Johns and General Superintendent E. L. Bock met with city officials on February 1, 1928 and agreed to plans previously presented by the State Road Commission. They agreed to give the City of Hinton $75,000.00 and would have nothing to do with calling for bids, letting contracts and the actual construction would be handled entirely by the City of Hinton. City officials felt, at that time, $75,000.00 would equal at least half and possibly more of the actual cost and one-half of the cost is the limit of C. & O. liability at law. The plans agreed to and drawn up by the State Road Commission called for a new street to be opened up back of the Bigony Hospital and to intersect with Main Street at Mr. Wingfield's residence on Avis Hill. The bridge proper would start at that point and cross the tracks at a right angle, the foot of it being between Main and Pleasant Streets.

(Source: Hinton Daily News, Feb. 1, 1928.)

For the first time in over a quarter of a century, citizens were beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

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RR # 202 / RUN DEC. 17th.

Hinton Gets An Overhead Bridge After Many Years Of Discussion

Part 4 By Roy Long

Various bridge building companies were notified of the project and asked to submit bids for construction of the overhead bridge connecting Hinton and Avis. Luten Bridge Company of York, PA., sent their estimating engineering to make an on site inspection. Rumor has been circulating around town that the bridge would be a "great tall, ugly thing which jumps off the cliff back of the Greenbrier School into gaping mid-air at a dizzy height finally landing at Farley's filling station after a perilous journey hundreds of feet above the railway tracks." Luten's engineer put the matter to rest by stressing that nothing could be further from the truth. The bridge would be designed by Daniel B. Luten, designing engineer of national fame. He was the artist-engineer who was responsible for the miraculous Navy Memorial Bridge at Little Rock, Arkansas, which cost over a million dollars and also the new structures at Clearwater and Miami, Florida. Born at Grand Rapids , Michigan, in 1867,!

he was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1894 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Mr. Luten was assistant to Professor Charles E. Green, an authority on the elastic theory of arch analysis, and who was Arthur of Green's Graphic Method of Truss and Arch Analysis. After a year he joined Perdue University and became instructor in Architectural Engineering teaching courses in arch design and theory of hydraulics. Mr. Luten left Perdue in 1901 and for five years designed and constructed approximately five hundred concrete bridges. Since 1906 he limited his practice to design and supervision of approximately 20,000 concrete bridges. City Council was assured the bridge here would be a structure of incomparable beauty and durability.

At a meeting of City Council August 7, 1928, Luten Bridge Company was awarded the contract at a bid price of $75,556.00. A Luten representative said construction would begin within ten days with the employment of sixteen to twenty men as work progressed and Hinton citizens were jubilant over the awarding of the bridge contract.

Contract for the approaches to the bridge was let to Mirable and Defuria of Welch, W. VA.

The engineers on the project were E. N. Blackwood and C. M. Gilson. Mr. Blackwood was a graduate of West Virginia University engineering school with "BS" and "CE" degrees and had been employed by the State Road Commission since graduation. Mr. Gilson, also with the State Road Commission, was Material Inspector and Assistant Engineer of the overhead bridge.

While the bridge was being constructed, much interest was shown by the citizens. Hundreds of people would inspect the structure after working hours each day. A big delay in construction and greater expense incurred when it was found necessary to excavate very deep to reach solid rock for pier footers. With each passing day, the citizens were one day closer to the closing of the dangerous railroad crossing and anxiety was reaching a high pitch. Hinton citizens, most of whom were employees of the C. & O., were quick to give credit and praise to the railway for their part in seeing this dream come true. City officials publicly stated it was a real pleasure that the City of Hinton was associated with such an organization as the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company.

Work on the bridge continued throughout the Fall and Winter months and on into Spring of 1929. By the middle of May, it was projected the job would be complete the latter part of June and a big celebration was planned by the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs.

At last the engineers of the bridge notified City Officials their work would be completed Friday, June 28, 1929 except one very important detail. The design presented by Luten Bridge Company called for ornamental lights to be installed at additional expense to the city. Conduit and wiring for fourteen lights were installed but the city officials decided there was enough lighting at each end of the bridge and the money was needed for more important things. It was decided to delay installing the ornamental lights until a later date. That was sixty-one years ago. When you drive over the bridge take note of the exposed conduit for the ornamental lights.

Committees for the celebration were formed and immediately made plans for the big day. Invitations were sent out to the Governor, the State Road Commissioner, Secretary of State and Attorney General of West Virginia. The President, Vice-President and Chief Engineer of the C. & O., the Mayor and President of the Chambers of Commerce of Ronceverte, Alderson, Lewisburg, Princeton, Beckley and Thurmond were invited to attend. A big parade, daylight fireworks, a baseball game, banquet for the quests and a dance at McCreery Hotel was arranged.

The big day arrived and the city was filled to overflow. The celebration started with a parade at 2:30 p.m., starting at Rose's corner and proceeded to the overhead bridge via Temple Street, Second Avenue, Ballangee Street, Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue to the railway span. At 2:45 p.m., daylight fireworks were shown, introduced by R. F. Dunlap followed the fireworks at 3:00 p.m. Mr. A. B. Whitaker of Luten Bridge Co., delivered the project to C. & O. representative E. I. Ford who then delivered the bridge to Mayor E. M. Meadows. Mayor Meadows delivered the bridge to Dr. O. O. Cooper representing the citizens followed by the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the plaque. At 3:30 p.m., everyone proceeded to the C. & O. baseball park via the opened overhead bridge. The parade disbanded at the ball park. At 3:45 p.m., a baseball game was played between the C. & O. team and Beckley Blank Nights. I understand A. P. Terry of Hinton House is the only living member of the team today. A !

reception for the guest, dinner and dance was held at the Hotel McCreery at 7:00 p.m.

At last it was over, the bridge is open to the public and the dangerous road crossing can now be closed. But wait, said Judge Ward, the closing is postponed by an injunction sought by businessman G. K. Dick.

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RR # 203 / RUN DEC. 24th.

Hinton Gets An Overhead Bridge After Many Years Of Discussion

Part 5 By Roy Long

G. K. Dick, in his own name but supported by other businessmen in the area of Avis Hill and Avis Crossing, seeking an injunction to prevent the closing of the crossing was granted a temporary restraining order by Judge C. M. Ward on June 28, 1929. The case was docketed to be heard during April 1930 term of Circuit Court in Hinton.

Judge Ward, in a written opinion on February 1, 1930, held that the City of Hinton had the right to close the crossing and that the order passed by City Council was sufficient, but that if Mr. Dick, and others had suffered damages or injury, he would continue the injunction until the amount of damages could be determined by a jury.

Because of the injunction preventing the crossing from being closed, the railway company withheld their final payment of $40,000., having previously paid $35,000., pending outcome of the law suit by Mr. Dick. This delay cost the City of Hinton approximately $200.00 a month in penalty waiting for the payment from the railway company.

A jury heard the case at the April 1930 term of Circuit Court in the City of Hinton and after considerable evidence had been heard from both sides, the jury, after deliberating nearly one hour and a half, delivered a judgment in favor of Mr. Dick for $2,000.

Following the decision, attorneys for the city asked that the verdict be set aside, but the motion was overruled. The City Council instructed their attorneys, P. J. Carr and R. F. Dunlap, to appeal the case to the State Supreme Court which was promptly done.

On the morning of July 30th., Judge Ward made the injunction permanent or until the city paid the $2,000. Judgment granted Mr. Dick by jury at the April term of court. Fate of the closing of the crossing and collection of funds due the city for the bridge was now in the hands of the Appellate Court. On November 25, 1930, the Appellate Court in Charleston, W. VA., in their decision said, "If the property abutted on a street suffers damage from the action of a part of the street, he is ordinarily limited to an action at law for his compensation," and held the Circuit Court was without jurisdiction to proceed in the case. The Supreme Court, Christmas Day 1930, dismissed the action and cancelled the Circuit Court damage award. (Hinton Daily News Nov. 25, 1930).

If the opening of the overhead bridge on June 28, 1929 was cause for celebration, city officials must have felt a celebration at this time would have been most welcome. The gloom that was felt by Officers of the City of Hinton and the C. & O. Railway lifted and no time was lost putting up barriers and permanently closing Avis Crossing. Signal maintainers for the railway company hastened to remove the short post with the little bell on top which announced the approach of trains ending its almost constant ringing.

After a long series of conferences between the City Council and officials of the C. & O. Railway Company relative to the completion of the payment to the city for construction of the bridge, the railway delivered to the city a check in the amount of $40,602.48 on January 23, 1931. This was the full balance due from the C. & O. on the $75,000. they promised toward construction of this important improvement. (Hinton Daily News, Jan. 25, 1931).

The plaque located at the south end of the bridge reads as follows:

"Avis overhead bridge constructed jointly by the C. & O. Railway and the City of Hinton.

Avis Bridge 1928.

(The plaque had been made many months before the bridge was complete.) Mayor E. M. Meadows E. N. Blackwood and C. M. Gilsan Resident Engineers.

Councilmen: S. A. Comer, J. L. Crush, W. M. Daugherty, L. D. Ellison, H. F. Glass, E. F. Hiner, M. Hutchison, H. Lawrence, C. H. Laws, C. R. Maddy, F. B. Neely, W. C. Neely, W. H. Roberts, P. E. Rollyson, W. B. Skaggs, J. D. Stinnett.

Designed and built by Luten Bridge Company, York, PA."

It is ironic, but typical of what often happens. A man who had as much to do with getting the work under way, and probably more than anyone listed, was not mentioned on the plaque. I refer to Hume K. Nowlan, Hinton City Manager.