Walnut Creek Bridge - 1927 - Washington, OK - Bridge Date Stones and Plaques on Waymarking.com

Walnut Creek is a slow-moving muddy waterway on the north side of Washington. Bronze plaques on each side of the bridge document its construction. They read: "Built by J.B. Klein Iron & Foundry Co., Oklahoma City, Okla. 1927".

Walnut Creek Avenue, a two-lane road, becomes one-lane as it crosses the creek. This is an asphalt-covered roadway. The bridge has a 10 ton limit, and the clearance is 15 ft. 4 inches. This bridge appeared to have occasional traffic across it - as much traffic as you might expect from a town of 500 people. Highway 24 one-quarter mile to the east handles most of the traffic in the area.

[History of construction company taken from the Oklahoma Historical Society web page.]
"In 1909 John Bernard Klein founded the J. B. Klein Iron and Foundry Company in Oklahoma City. The company advertised foundry work of all types, including ornamental iron, brass work, wire, stairs, railings, fire escapes, and construction products. By the time Klein died in 1925, the company had begun to specialize in steel works for bridges, buildings, and roads. A significant number of Oklahoma’s early bridges were constructed by Klein’s company. After 1925 this work was continued by the firm’s general manager, Richard W. Robberson, who eventually bought the company. During World War II, J. B. Klein Iron and Foundry Company received a $1.2 million federal contract to furnish steel for the industrial buildings to be constructed at the Midwest City Douglas Aircraft Company plant. In 1942 the firm’s name was changed to Robberson Steel and Bridge Company. Originally located at 1535 Northwest Fifth Street, the establishment was later moved to 1401 Northwest Third Street and eventually to 1000 1024 Northwest Second Street. The company continued to operate as a steel fabrication firm until it was dissolved on December 15, 1988, after a lengthy bankruptcy process. In 1988 Robberson Steel employed approximately one hundred fifty individuals."

Date built or dedicated as indicated on the date stone or plaque.: 1927 Road, body of water, land feature, etc. that the bridge spans.: Walnut Creek Date stone, plaque location.: Not listed Website (if available): Not listed Parking (safe parking location): Not Listed

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Date Logged Log   10/12/2020 The Snowdog visited it