Tag Archives: Brooklyn Bridge

Project #5- Summary

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The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the beautiful landmarks in New York. Built by so many workers with so much hard work this bridge is the one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. According to the World Steel Association it’s the first steel wire bridge ever built in the whole world. It is 1,595 feet long. The designer of this bridge John Roebling died because of a foot injury which leaded to an infection. His son Washington Roebling then took over the work but unfortunately died later on also from a disease. This bridge stands out to most attractive tourist sites in New York. There have been many stories of people who jumped from the bridge. Films have also been shot on the bridge. Giorgio Pessi piloted a Caproni Ca.5 under the bridge. The bridge has also had anniversary celebrations which held for about 5 days. Many American poets also use to Brooklyn Bridge in their poetry. As of being New Yorkers we should have some knowledge of the bridge and of other famous historical buildings our states has. We should also go visit these historical areas instead of leaving them abandoned and also enjoy the beauty our state has.

 

“Brooklyn Bridge.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

“Building the Brooklyn Bridge.” About.com 19th . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

 

Project #4- Brooklyn Bridge

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The Brooklyn Bridge

            There are many beautiful historical landmarks in New York. Many of them are created recently or have been there from a long time. They all make our state look very beautiful and are also attraction points for tourist all around the world. Many of these landmarks include Empire State building, Brooklyn Historical Society, Governors Island etc. Whenever I heard the word Brooklyn the first thing that came in my mind was the Brooklyn Bridge. I have seen it many times and always wanted to know the history of it. Instead of visiting these areas and enjoying we should also learn about there history and have some knowledge about it. We never gave much attention to one of the beautiful landmark. I will also tell you some interesting facts and why this bridge should be on a walking tour.

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Now we are talking about late 1800’s. Suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge started on January 3, 1870 and ended on May 24, 1883. Brooklyn Bridge connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. With a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903. The Brooklyn Bridge is also the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world. The Brooklyn Bridge was initially designed by German immigrant John Roebling, who had previously designed and constructed shorter suspension bridges. John Roebling however died because of a tetanus infection in his foot. The towers are built of limestone, granite, and Rosendale cement. Other than the Brooklyn historical society building, Empire State building, Governors Island etc. Brooklyn Bridge is also one of the most popular and a well-known landmark in New York. There have also been many stories of people jumping from the bridge, in 1919, Giorgio Pessi piloted what was then the world’s largest airplane, the Caproni Ca.5, under the bridge. There has also been an anniversary celebration of the ridge. It has been shown in many films also. Some American poets also use the Brooklyn Bridge in there poetry. Since this bridge is a historical landmark and its very famous as you can see it should be given the respect it needs.

On May 30, 1883, six days after the opening, an estimated 20,000 people were on the bridge when a rumor was spread that the Bridge was going to collapse which then caused a stampede, which was responsible for at least twelve people being crushed and killed. On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum helped to get rid of the doubts that people had about the bridge’s stability by leading a parade of 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge did not collapse or break and the rumor was proved wrong. No changes came about in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, except that more police were stationed on the pedestrian promenade. At the time it opened, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It was 50% longer than any previously built and it has become a treasured landmark. For several years the towers of the bridge were the tallest structures in the Western Hemisphere. Since the 1980s, it has been floodlit at night to highlight its architectural features. The towers are built of limestone, granite, and Rosendale cement. Their architectural style is neo-Gothic. About 20 people died during the construction of the bridge. Other workers fell off the 276-foot-high towers, were hit by falling debris or succumbed to caisson disease, better known as “the bends”.  No official figure exists for the number of men killed, but estimates range from 20 to over 30. Dozens more suffered debilitating injuries, including Roebling’s son Washington, who became bedridden with the bends after taking over as chief engineer from his father.

There have also been stories in which people have jumped off the bridge. On May 19, 1885 the first person to jump from the bridge was Robert Emmet Odlum, brother of women’s rights activist Charlotte Odlum Smith. He struck the water at an angle and died shortly thereafter from internal injuries. Steve Brodie was the most famous jumper. Cartoonist Otto Eppers jumped and survived in 1910, and was then tried and acquitted for attempted suicide. There have also been celebrations on the bridge like th 100th anniversary celebration. The centennial celebrations on May 24, 1983, saw a cavalcade of cars crossing the bridge, led by President Ronald Reagan. A flotilla of ships visited the harbor, parades were held, and in the evening the sky over the bridge was illuminated by fireworks. The Brooklyn Museum also exhibited a selection of the original drawings made for the bridge’s construction, some by the son of Roebling, Washington Roebling. As well as the 100th anniversary there was also a 125th anniversary celebration which was held for 5 days. There have also been films shooting on the bridge for various movies including Hollywood and Bollywood. On October 1, 2011 there was a mass arrest of more than 700 protesters with the Wall Street movement were arrested while attempting to march across the bridge on the roadway.

While having such a beautiful landmark in New York we should give the respect it has as one of our oldest bridge in the world and show some respect for the workers who worked so hard to make such thing. We should have more historical knowledge of the historical buildings we have so that if any random tourist asks us a question about a specific place we know what to answer them instead of being like “I don’t know”. We should also go visit these places instead of leaving them abandoned. I hope that today you gained more knowledge about the bridge and that in the future you will go visit it and enjoy the beauty our state has.

Work Cited

“Brooklyn Bridge.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

“Building the Brooklyn Bridge.” About.com 19th . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary of The Visions of the Brooklyn bridge

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The Brooklyn bridge was and still is a historical landmark, that many don’t appreciate it. Many don’t know the usefulness that bridge is to both cities New York and Manhattan . It made it easier for people to go across the east river. Before the bridge was built , they only could get across by taking the ferry, and even there sometimes there was no space. And when it snowed , it was impossible most of the time to use the boat. The east river would freeze , but not solid enough to walk across. They were many ways of looking at the new bridge that was constructed. The Bridge gave many people visions on how the bridge could of been useful to themselves. One of those who had their own vision of the Brooklyn bridge was the biggest showman in the 19th century P.T Barnum who wanted to use the bridge to promote his business and also display how safe the Brooklyn bridge is. Washington Roebling son of John Roebling also had different visions of the bridge. His vision was to make it easier for people to get across from one city to the other. Although both had different visions ,They wanted the bridge to be a success.

The curse of the Brooklyn Bridge

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The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most famous bridges worldwide. It opened in 1883, connecting from Brooklyn to Manhattan. John Augustus Roebling designed the bridge, but after an accident that resulted in Roebling’s death, it was continued by his son Washington Roebling. Ever since this death, a series of other deaths have accured on the Brooklyn Bridge. One being the Brooklyn Bridge stampede on May 30, 1883. Rumors began to spread that the Bridge was about to collapse which resulted in people running in fear and trampling others. A legendary showman named P.T Barnum offered to walk his circus elephants weighing approximately 42 tons across the brooklyn bridge to prove the Brooklyn bridge was not a danger. Over the years many have attempted to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, some succeeding and others failing. Robert Odlum, a swimming instructor was the first person to jump the Brooklyn Bridge on May 19, 1885. Although Odlum survived the fall, a few hours later he was reported dead due to internal bleeding. According to Odlum’s friends, he did it for fame and money. Following this incident many also tried to do the same, Larry Donovan was the first to succefully jump off the Brooklyn Bridge and survive the jump. The Brooklyn Bridge has a history with interesting stories that have resulted in tragic accidents.

Citations:

CBS. “Brookiyn Bridge – Creating Grandeur.” CBSForum.com. CBS Team, 2 May 2003. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.

Prentzas, G. S. The Brooklyn Bridge. New York: Chelsea House, 2009. Print.

“Odlum’s Fatal Leap.” The New York Times. 7 June 1885.  Nytimes. Web. Nov. 2013.

The Vision’s of the Bridge

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The Brooklyn Bridge was an amazing accomplishment from both father and son, one did the design and the other finished that construction after the bridge was finished many saw the bridge in many different aspects, many saw the bridge as a death instrument other saw it as one of the wonders of the world. Two stories was first, the crossing of the circus animals, the show he displayed, and the showman’s vision of the bridge. The other was the vision the Roebling family had on the use the Brooklyn Bridge, and what is could help many people. The vision the circus showman had and the Roebling family had were different in some ways but also were similar.
John Augustus Roebling was born June 12, 1806 in Germany. He was a German-born U.S. civil engineer. He was in that time, world’s most trusted bridge builder. John A. Roebling noticed one winter that when the east river froze, there was no way of crossing towards Manhattan. (History)The ferry usually would cross between the two cities trying to make it possible for people to cross. But when it was winter, the river would freeze up and it would be impossible for the ferry to travel. So John A. Roebling noticed a bridge was in need of building , he started designing the building, after a while a bad accident happened and he died shortly after, he died July 22, 1869, in Brooklyn Heights, New York . He died into the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. His son Washington Roebling continued with his dad’s vision. But he later too, got sick with a horrible disease, a disease called “caisson disease.” The term “caisson disease “means a sometimes fatal disorder that is marked by neuralgic pains and paralysis, distress in breathing, and often collapse and that is caused by the release of gas bubbles (as of nitrogen) in tissue upon too rapid decrease in air pressure after a stay in a compressed atmosphere. (Merriam-Webster) This disease left him motionless, he couldn’t walk, so from his building he observed the work and sent his wife, Emily Warren Roebling to give out the orders, She kept records, answered the mail, and represented her husband at social functions. On the day that the bridge opened Washington Roebling didn’t come out of his house to celebrate with everyone.
When the bridge had recently been finished, many started to create rumors, many started saying the bridge wasn’t going to hold, and that it wasn’t safe. Six days after the bridge was opened to the public, a rumor quickly spread that the new bridge was about to collapse. The resulting panic caused such a massive stampede that 12 were killed in the crush. The tragic incident started the afternoon of May 30, 1883 when a woman tripped and fell descending the wooden stairs on the Manhattan side of the bridge. This caused another woman to scream at the top of her lungs, which caused those nearby to rush towards the scene. The rumor started throughout the whole bridge that the bridge wasn’t safe. As more and more people panicked and mobbed the narrow staircase, creating a massive pileup. Thousands were on the promenade, quickly turning the situation deadly. (untapped cities)After the terrible incident, many were really scared to cross the bridge, many started to really doubt the strength of the bridge. So Phineas Taylor Barnum, 19th century New York’s biggest showman made a proposal. To test out the bridge, Phineas Taylor Barnum offered, he’d walk his troupe of elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge, but authorities turned him down. But a year later, on May 17, 1884, he finally got approved to do this and his elephant and other creatures as well crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge.
These people had their own vision of the usefulness of the bridge. They were similar but I at the same time they had their differences. John A Roebling and his son Washington saw the bridge as a easier and faster way for people to travel across. They wanted to connect these two cites and furthermore it became a cultural meaning, a representation of New York and its possibilities that could happen in this city. Many immigrant would see this bridge and observe its Beauty and it would send them a message, a message that in this place anything was possible, that their dreams were possible. Now, New York’s biggest showman Phineas Taylor Barnum used the Bridge for another reason, as stated before the bridge was getting doubted by many, so he used his heavy animals to prove that the bridge was indeed safe and that there was no reason to doubt the strength the bridge carried. At the same time, Barnum used this opportunity as part of a big promotion to his show. He used the bridge to get more audition to attend his shows. These were some differences these men had, but there were similarities as well. Some similarities were, they both wanted to make the Bridge a successful and useful tool, they wanted people to be secure in what was built. They both had the vision in trying to make people’s lives better. The Roebling’s wanted people to cross the bridge easier, and the Showman wanted to display that people didn’t need to be frighten by this new bridge. These were some similarities they displayed.
“It would be unreasonable to say that the two greatest works of the architecture in New York are things that are not buildings at all – Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. “(Goldberger 34) what the author is explaining here is that for him and many others this is one of the worlds recognized and beloved icons. It’s a inspiration symbol to many. The bridge gave many different kinds of visions the Bridge was useful, or great towards their own use. Some saw the bridge of a way to get across the two cities faster, and other saw it as a way to get themselves notice. There’s were ways people saw the bridge useful to them, whether it was for a good cause or a bad one, like suicide and other things. The bridge was, is and will continue being useful to many and future generations.

Work Cited

“Building the Brooklyn Bridge.” About.com 19th . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

Haw, Richard. The Brooklyn Bridge: A Cultural History. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers UP, 2005. Print.

“Ephemeral New York.” Ephemeral New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

“Brooklyn Bridge.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

“Become a Contributor.” Untapped Cities. N.p., 23 Oct.2013. Web 30 Nov. 2013

Caisson sickness/ Decompression Sickness/ The Bends

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Noun

Definition:a sometimes fatal disorder that is marked by neuralgic pains and paralysis, distress in breathing, and often collapse and that is caused by the release of gas bubbles (as of nitrogen) in tissue upon too rapid decrease in air pressure after a stay in a compressed atmosphere .

I first encountered this term when listening to Radiohead’s second album entitled “The Bends”. Recently, this term came up in Philip Lopate’s Waterfront: A Walk Around Manhattan, in which he describes the condition workers had to deal with as they worked on the Brooklyn Bridge.

I know understand that this is a sickness that affects divers or anyone who is under a compressed atmosphere for too long. Many died because of this disease while they were working on the Brooklyn Bridge and no one knew why people were dying in a crippled a form.

Source:http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decompression+sickness