 Ferris' Wheel towered 266 feet over the 1893 fair known as the "White City" |
A little piece of history is rusting away quietly where it has spanned the waters of the Kankakee River for a century. Legend has it that Dunn's Bridge, just north of Tefft, Indiana, is constructed from steel salvaged from one of the late 19th century's most audacious engineering project--the gigantic mechanical wheel designed and constructed by George W. G. Ferris for the 1893 World's Fair. The Galesburg Illinois native (who grew up in Nevada) and civil engineer was 33 years old when he scribbled the design for the world's first large amusement ride on a napkin at a Chicago restaurant. Ferris designed his great wheel in answer to a challenge by Daniel Burnham to create a monument that would rival the Eiffel Tower, a chief exhibit at the Paris exhibition of 1889.
Chicago's 1893 World's Colombian Exposition was far more than a celebration of the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to the New World. Many observers consider the exposition the beginning of our modern age. Today, little remains of the classically inspired White City constructed for the event on the Lake Michigan shoreline--except the Museum of Science of Industry which was built around the Palace of Fine Arts from the fair.
The first Ferris wheel could carry 2000 in its fully enclosed, wood panelled gondola cars. The June 17th, 1893 edition of the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette described its maiden voyage:
"Chicago, June 16.--Standing on a chair in a car swaying 266 feet above the earth a little woman raised a glass of champagne to her lips and drank to the health of her husband. The little woman looked wonderfully pretty. Her eyes shone with the light of love and wifely pride. She smiled sweetly at those in the cars beneath her and they cheered wildly for her and her husband. She was dressed in a dainty gown of black, trimmed with gold.
She said softly as she made the toast: "To the health of my husband and the success of the Ferris wheel." She wasn't a bit afraid as she stood there, and that alone shows the immense amount of faith she must have in George W. S.[sic] Ferris, both as husband and mechanical engineer.
Her black eyes sparkled deliciously as she made the toast and the bright color shown in her cheeks and the mist-laden wind played tenderly with her dark curls. It was 6:15 o'clock last night when the great 1,000-horse power engine underneath the Ferris wheel began to throb slowly..."
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| A view of Dunn's Bridge as it appeared prior to restoration, from the south approach in Jasper County (Porter County is across the river) - for photos of the restored bridge visit the Dunn's Bridge page on Peter Dutcher's web site. |
George Ferris' great wheel drew big crowds at the 1893 Chicago fair, and again at the 1904 Louisiana Exposition in St. Louis. But even the hefty fifty cent fare was not enough pay the cost of running this behemoth. It was dynamited on May 11, 1906 and sold for scrap. Shortly thereafter, Ferris' wife left him, saying he was obsessed by his wheel. He died alone and penniless in a hotel room a few days later.
Update - 10.9.2003
Quite a lot has happened since this article was written in the mid 1990s. The historical significance of Dunn's Bridge -- and its link to North Judson -- has been recognized, and most importantly, the bridge has been the subject of an award winning restoration. Here are some links to bring you up-to-date.
Dunn's Bridge - a Chicago Public Radio piece originally broadcast 6.14.02, with photos and yet another version of the history of this enigmatic structure, this one stating that it is, in fact, part of the original Ferris Wheel, and that it was purchased by North Judson farmer Isaac Dunn to link his farm across the Kankakee River.
Dunn's Bridge restoration wins state engineering award. [4.4.2003 - Urbanik - Chesterton Tribune]
Photos of Restored Dunn's Bridge. [4.6.2003 - Peter Dutcher]
Dunn's Bridge / Among the Indians. Another (and, of course, different) account of the origin of Dunn's Bridge [1.28.1997 - Lowell Tribune - Lowell Public Library]
Book of the Fair - Get a closer look at the original Ferris Wheel on a page scanned from a book about the 1893 Columbian Exposition, hosted by the Paul V. Galvin library.
The Eli Bridge Company of Jacksonville, Illinois marketed a smaller, portable version of the Ferris Wheel a few years later. After over 90 years they remain the premiere manufacturer of Ferris Wheels.
So--are pieces of the first really big amusement ride rusting over the Kankakee River today? After considerable research we haven't been able to answer that question, though it really appears to be more legend than truth. The bridge is presently the property of the Porter County Parks Department, who say it was "built from parts of a building from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair."
And what about its dilapidated condition, and the "No Trespassing" signs posted on this once-proud relic of the days of the Titanic, bustles and horseless carriages? A recent edition of the Porter County Parks Department newsletter hints that there are efforts afoot to preserve this great old bridge--interesting even if it doesn't turn out to be part of Ferris' great wheel.
