Blakeley Stone Arch

Blakeley, Scott County, Minnesota

Default pic
Looking north
Looking north
Looking south
Keystone (with unidentified carving)
Overview
Northeast wing wall
Southeast wing wall
Inside arch
Overview
Northwest wing wall
Southwest wing wall
South abutment
North abutment
Overview

Click the photo to view the full-size version

Default Pic
Looking north
Looking north
Looking south
Keystone (with unidentified carving)
Overview
Northeast wing wall
Southeast wing wall
Inside arch
Overview
Northwest wing wall
Southwest wing wall
South abutment
North abutment
Overview
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Date Taken:
Author:
Caption:
Name Blakeley Stone Arch
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #245
Built By St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Length 12 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Stone Arch
Substructure Design Stone Masonry
Date Built 1879
Date Replaced 2020
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge has been Replaced)
Current Status Replaced by a culvert
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 245
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 50.98
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 6/2/2013; 6262017
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Once located in Blakeley, this small stone arch bridge crossed an unnamed stream. Built in 1879, the bridge consisted of a single 12-foot stone arch span, with traditionally composed wingwalls extending at a 45-degree angle from the structure. This style of bridge was commonly used not only along this line, but by most railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Unfortunately, this historic arch was replaced by pipe culverts in 2020, and was demolished. Overall, the bridge appeared to be in fair condition at the time of documentation, with some deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Build Date Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Valuation Engineering Field Notes at the National Archives
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele