Turn Off Ads?
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 21

Thread: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

  1. #1
    Resident optimist OldRightHander's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    east of WOY
    Posts
    5,086

    History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Wednesday when I was home recovering from surgery, I watched a lot of the History Channel. On their Modern Marvels program they were talking about bridges, going through history and talking about different bridge designs and who made them. When they got to Suspension Bridges, they mentioned that the first one was built in Europe in the 19th century. Then they went on to talk about Roebbling. They talked about a new design he came up with where he took steel cables and banded them together to make a strong but flexible cable that would support the bridge. Then they went on to say that he built his prototype in New York in 1869, completely ignoring the bridge he completed here in 1865 that was built along the same design. I always thought he built his prototype here to test the design before building the bigger one in Brooklyn. So you see, it's not just the sports media that favors New York over Cincinnati.


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    Joe Oliver love-child Blimpie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Lexington
    Posts
    4,972

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Count me among the confused masses. I always thought the Brooklyn bridge came first--and then Roebbling's used its design to build the bridge over the Ohio.

    At least that's what Jimmy who used to run the old "Stadium Club" bar and restaurant told me about 15 years ago when I used to frequent his establishment.

  4. #3
    Rally Onion! Chip R's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    41,737

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Quote Originally Posted by Blimpie
    Count me among the confused masses. I always thought the Brooklyn bridge came first--and then Roebbling's used its design to build the bridge over the Ohio.
    I think you're right and the bridge here wasn't built till 1869, IIRC.
    Quote Originally Posted by Raisor View Post
    I was wrong
    Quote Originally Posted by Raisor View Post
    Chip is right

  5. #4
    The Mad Monk Jaycint's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Northern Kentucky
    Posts
    1,283

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    If I remember right there is a big engraving as you cross the bridge that says 1869.

  6. #5
    Resident optimist OldRightHander's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    east of WOY
    Posts
    5,086

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Quote Originally Posted by Chip R
    I think you're right and the bridge here wasn't built till 1869, IIRC.
    The bridge here was finished in 1865. There's even a plaque on the bridge with that date. The Brooklyn Bridge was finished 4 years later.

    http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html

    Cincinnati was the first major city in "The West", or what is today known as the Midwest. Its 1850 population of 115,435 ranked sixth in the United States, far ahead of nearby St. Louis (77,860) and Chicago (29,963). Its cross-river neighbors of Covington and Newport were home to 20,000 more residents, and as ferry traffic increased, the necessity of a bridge became apparent. The 1849 charter issued by the state of Ohio required no piers in the river, a length of 1,400ft., and a deck clearance of 112ft. By the time construction started in 1856, a revised charter eased the required length to 1,000ft. and height to 100ft. The ensuing period of construction stretched over a decade, interrupted by financial shortages and the Civil War, during which the city and unfinished bridge were under threat of attack.

    The bridge opened to pedestrians in December 1866, and the 1,057ft. main span was at that time the longest in the world, surpassing the Wheeling, WV suspension bridge (1849). Not only was the Cincinnati Suspension Bridge the world's longest, but it was also the first to utilize both vertical suspenders and diagonal stays fanning from either tower. This advance was next seen on the Brooklyn Bridge (also designed by John Roebling), which surpassed the Cincinnati bridge in length and almost every other statistical category in 1883.

  7. #6
    Joe Oliver love-child Blimpie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Lexington
    Posts
    4,972

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Quote Originally Posted by OldRightHander
    The bridge here was finished in 1865. There's even a plaque on the bridge with that date. The Brooklyn Bridge was finished 4 years later.

    http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html

    Cincinnati was the first major city in "The West", or what is today known as the Midwest. Its 1850 population of 115,435 ranked sixth in the United States, far ahead of nearby St. Louis (77,860) and Chicago (29,963). Its cross-river neighbors of Covington and Newport were home to 20,000 more residents, and as ferry traffic increased, the necessity of a bridge became apparent. The 1849 charter issued by the state of Ohio required no piers in the river, a length of 1,400ft., and a deck clearance of 112ft. By the time construction started in 1856, a revised charter eased the required length to 1,000ft. and height to 100ft. The ensuing period of construction stretched over a decade, interrupted by financial shortages and the Civil War, during which the city and unfinished bridge were under threat of attack.

    The bridge opened to pedestrians in December 1866, and the 1,057ft. main span was at that time the longest in the world, surpassing the Wheeling, WV suspension bridge (1849). Not only was the Cincinnati Suspension Bridge the world's longest, but it was also the first to utilize both vertical suspenders and diagonal stays fanning from either tower. This advance was next seen on the Brooklyn Bridge (also designed by John Roebling), which surpassed the Cincinnati bridge in length and almost every other statistical category in 1883.
    Well, I guess that settles it. Blimpie hates it when bartenders lie to him...

  8. #7
    Joe Oliver love-child Blimpie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Lexington
    Posts
    4,972

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Is is possible that the Cincy bridge was finished in 1865, yet "dedicated" in 1869 (hence the plaque that Jaycint was referring to in his post)?

  9. #8
    For a Level Playing Field
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Oakwood, OH
    Posts
    11,789

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Wow. I know one thing for sure...

    The Great Bridge Controversy pre-dates The Great Radio Controversy!!

    Interesting stuff.

    p.s. unless ORH's pain medicine is making him delusional!!

  10. #9
    "Let's Roll" TeamBoone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Cincinnati
    Posts
    12,841

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Granted, I've only been in Cincinnati a bit over 12 years but everything I've seen states that Roebbling's suspension bridge in Cincinnati was constructed as the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge.

    Ooops, I guess this matter had already been settled. Sorry, I didn't read everything prior to posting. ORH, please set the history channel straight... it is, afterall, their job to get things right!
    "Enjoy this Reds fans, you are watching a legend grow up before your very eyes" ... DoogMinAmo on Adam Dunn

  11. #10
    Resident optimist OldRightHander's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    east of WOY
    Posts
    5,086

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Quote Originally Posted by RedFanAlways1966
    p.s. unless ORH's pain medicine is making him delusional!!
    Maybe. I almost submitted my Ramon Ortiz deserved the Cy Young post until the last pill wore off and the pain snapped me back to my senses.

  12. #11
    Be the ball Roy Tucker's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Mason, OH
    Posts
    18,172

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    She used to wake me up with coffee ever morning

  13. #12
    Resident optimist OldRightHander's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    east of WOY
    Posts
    5,086

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Thanks to Roy for the link. I sent it to the History Channel along with the following message. We'll see if I get any response.

    On Wednesday, November 16, your Modern Marvels show was about bridges. It was a really good show, but there was just one mistake. When you mentioned John Roebling and his improvements to the suspension bridge, you mentioned the bridge in New York as the prototype for his new design. In reality, he built the first bridge according to that design over the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, KY. That bridge was completed in 1866 and was the prototype he used for the bridge he later built in Brooklyn. I really enjoy most of your programming, but this disappointed me. Since I know you value the quality and accuracy of your programs, I trust that you will address this. Here is a link for some further information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roebling_Bridge

    Thank you,

    Real Name

  14. #13
    Mod Law zombie-a-go-go's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Miskatonic University
    Posts
    4,302

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Quote Originally Posted by OldRightHander
    Thanks to Roy for the link. I sent it to the History Channel along with the following message. We'll see if I get any response.

    On Wednesday, November 16, your Modern Marvels show was about bridges. It was a really good show, but there was just one mistake. When you mentioned John Roebling and his improvements to the suspension bridge, you mentioned the bridge in New York as the prototype for his new design. In reality, he built the first bridge according to that design over the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, KY. That bridge was completed in 1866 and was the prototype he used for the bridge he later built in Brooklyn. I really enjoy most of your programming, but this disappointed me. Since I know you value the quality and accuracy of your programs, I trust that you will address this. Here is a link for some further information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roebling_Bridge

    Thank you,

    Real Name
    Man, I wish my folks had given me a cool name like "Real Name." Instead I got stuck with this crappy "*******" name.
    "It's easier to give up. I'm not a very vocal player. I lead by example. I take the attitude that I've got to go out and do it. Because of who I am, I've got to give everything I've got to come back."
    -Ken Griffey Jr.

  15. #14
    Rally Onion! Chip R's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    41,737

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    Quote Originally Posted by OldRightHander
    Thanks to Roy for the link. I sent it to the History Channel along with the following message. We'll see if I get any response.

    On Wednesday, November 16, your Modern Marvels show was about bridges. It was a really good show, but there was just one mistake. When you mentioned John Roebling and his improvements to the suspension bridge, you mentioned the bridge in New York as the prototype for his new design. In reality, he built the first bridge according to that design over the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, KY. That bridge was completed in 1866 and was the prototype he used for the bridge he later built in Brooklyn. I really enjoy most of your programming, but this disappointed me. Since I know you value the quality and accuracy of your programs, I trust that you will address this. Here is a link for some further information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roebling_Bridge

    Thank you,

    Real Name

    Their response:

    Dear ORH,

    You are wrong. Everything important happened in New York City first. You must be on some kind of medication to think that this bridge in Cincinnati was built before the Brooklyn Bridge.

    Your pals,
    The History Channel
    Quote Originally Posted by Raisor View Post
    I was wrong
    Quote Originally Posted by Raisor View Post
    Chip is right

  16. #15
    The Lineups stink. KronoRed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    West N. Carolina
    Posts
    62,138

    Re: History Channel slighted Cincinnati

    I have the show tivod and they did show the Cincy bridge when they were talking about Suspension bridges, you can see Carew tower behind it about 20 mins in, but they didn't mention it was first.

    Jerks
    Go Gators!


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator