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| Name | Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1599 Schlitz Brewery Ice House Tunnel |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Milwaukee County |
| Builder | Chicago & North Western Railway Company Forces |
| Length | 15 Feet Total |
| Width | 2 Tracks (95 Feet) |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1892 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 1599 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 2/11/2023 |
In 1873, the Northwestern Union Railway (NWU) constructed 63 miles of new railroad, extending from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The NWU was consolidated into the Chicago and Milwaukee Railway (C&M) in 1881. During 1881, the C&M became part of the Chicago, Milwaukee and North Western Railway (CM&NW), which was purchased by the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1883. At the southern end, the line connected to an existing mainline between Chicago and Milwaukee. At the north end, the line connected to an existing mainline between Janesville, Wisconsin and Green Bay, Wisconsin. This line provided the C&NW with a direct connection between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac, shortening the travel time between Chicago and Green Bay. A large depot was constructed at the end of Wisconsin Avenue along Lake Michigan in 1890.
By the early 20th Century, the C&NW was one of the premiere Midwest railroads, operating an extensive network of lines throughout the area. This route initially served as a mainline for both freight and passenger service. Bypasses of Milwaukee constructed between 1910 and 1912 allowed freight trains to bypass downtown Milwaukee, instead joining this line at Wiscona, a junction on the north side of Milwaukee. In 1964, Milwaukee County purchased the Lake Front Depot and surrounding areas for future freeway construction. In 1966, a portion of the line through the Lower East Side of Milwaukee was abandoned, and the depot would be demolished in 1968. South of Wiscona, this line would continue to be used as an industrial lead, serving a handful of industries.
In 1988, the C&NW sold the Granville, Wisconsin to Fond du Lac segment of this line to the Fox River Valley Railroad, which became the Fox Valley and Western Ltd. (FV&W) in 1993. The FV&W was a subsidiary of the successful Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WC), which had acquired a large amount of former Milwaukee Road and Soo Line trackage in Wisconsin. Also in 1993, the C&NW abandoned the remaining line south of Hampton Avenue, and the right-of-way was acquired for trail use. The C&NW was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1995. A short connection between the WC tracks and the former C&NW line at Fond du Lac was constructed in the late 1990s, and the northern portion of the C&NW line was abandoned. A portion of the line between south of West Bend and Eden was abandoned in 1998, and also acquired for trail use. In 2001, WC was purchased by Canadian National Railway (CN), and became the American subsidiary of the railroad. UP abandoned the line south of Wiscona in 2008, and the railroad was acquired for trail use. In 2021, CN sold the Granville to West Bend and Eden to Fond du Lac segments of the line to Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR). Today, UP operates the Granville Industrial Lead between Wiscona and Granville; WSOR operates the West Bend Subdivision between Granville and West Bend and the Eden Spur between Fond du Lac and Eden. The former railroad between West Bend and Eden is used as part of the Eisenbahn State Trail, while much of the former railroad between downtown Milwaukee and Wiscona is used as part of the Oak Leaf Trail.
Located at Hampshire Street and Cambridge Avenue in Milwaukee, this large stone arch bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway mainline over an unnamed ditch. The first bridge at this location likely consisted of a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. During the 1880s and 1890s, the C&NW invested significant capital into this line, replacing timber bridges with new stone and iron structures. In 1892, a new stone arch bridge was constructed at this location, likely to cross a stormwater outflow. It is also possible that the bridge was constructed to cross an entrance to an ice production operation. Schlitz Brewery owned and operated an ice harvesting and ice house operation on the opposite bank of the Milwaukee River, directly west of this bridge. At some point in the early 20th Century, the east face of the bridge was sealed with concrete and covered by earth, giving the structure its present configuration. Currently, the bridge consists of a 15-foot stone arch, set onto stone substructures and constructed at a width of 95 feet. The superstructure uses a standard design, with a semicircular arch. This arch is constructed of cut limestone on the outside, and a rubble limestone forming the interior arch. The substructures use a custom design, with a lengthy retaining wall on both the southwest and northwest quadrants. Stone for the bridge consists of white limestone, which was likely quarried at Duck Creek, Wisconsin. Railroad records indicate that C&NW company forces constructed the arch, a practice which many railroads used. However, the C&NW often preferred to use contract labor, and it is possible that company labor was used due to the bridges proximity of a major terminal. Stone arches were commonly used by railroads in the 19th Century, as they were durable and easy to construct. The C&NW continued to use the design into the 20th Century, as the railroad had access to numerous railroad-owned quarries which produced high quality stone. Since the east side was filled, the bridge has seen no significant changes, and now carries the Oak Leaf Trail. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some cracking and stone loss. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Chicago & North Western Railway Valuation Notes at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |