Shober Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Shober Bridge
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ellis Street, Salisbury, North Carolina |
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| Architectural style | Humpback bridge |
| Part of | Ellis Street Graded School Historic District (ID99000273) |
| Designated CP | March 5, 1999 |
The Shober Bridge is a historic bridge in Salisbury, North Carolina. It carries Ellis Street over the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks. This bridge is special because it's one of only two wooden bridges left in the city. It has asphalt on top of a wooden deck.
The Shober Bridge is quite old and needs to be replaced or fixed. Because of its age, it has a six-ton weight limit. This means large trucks and emergency vehicles cannot use it. The Historic Salisbury Foundation calls it an important part of the Ellis Street Graded School Historic District. They also say it's like a "gateway entrance" to Salisbury. The bridge was named after Col. Francis Shober. He represented Salisbury in the United States Congress in the late 1860s. In 1999, the Shober Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
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Discovering Shober Bridge's Past
The Shober Bridge has a long and interesting history. The Western North Carolina Railroad opened in 1858. It ran between Salisbury and Morganton. Later, in 1896, the Southern Railway Company took over the railroad. This company is now known as Norfolk Southern.
Early Years of the Bridge
During the American Civil War, Gen. George Stoneman crossed the railroad where the bridge is now. Norfolk Southern believes a bridge was built there by 1880. Some people think a bridge opened even earlier, in 1858. They also say that Stoneman crossed that earlier bridge. Plans for a new bridge were made by 1926. The bridge we see today was likely built between 1932 and 1944.
A Moment in History: Integration
On February 9, 1962, something very important happened at the Shober Bridge. Four African-American children crossed it. They were on their way to integrate the all-white Frank B. John Elementary School. This was a big step in the fight for equal rights.
Who Owns and Cares for the Bridge?
In 1971, the state of North Carolina gave the bridge to the city of Salisbury. By 1975, the city decided the bridge needed to be replaced. By 1985, the bridge was eligible for federal money. This money would pay for 80 percent of the cost to replace it.
Plans for a New Bridge
In 1996, the city wanted to build a new bridge. It would cost $1.4 million and be located west of the old one. This new bridge would connect Kerr Street and Mocksville Avenue. However, people living nearby protested. They said the plan would harm the historic district. The city listened and agreed to plan for a new bridge at the same spot. In 2001, Norfolk Southern asked for the new bridge to be designed for three sets of tracks. At that time, the railroad only had two tracks.
Efforts to Save the Historic Bridge
In January 2004, a new bridge was expected to be finished by 2005 or 2006. By 2006, an engineer had a plan to upgrade the existing bridge. On March 18, 2010, the Historic Salisbury Foundation wrote a letter to the Salisbury Post. They said they "strongly endorses and supports the proper rehabilitation of the historic Shober Bridge."
That same day, the foundation's director, Jack Thomson, spoke to the City Council. He explained that the bridge is nationally recognized. He said it could be made safe for traffic by fixing it up. This would also help it continue to be a historic resource for the Ellis Street Historic District. Many homes in Salisbury even displayed signs. These signs said, "Rehab Historic Shober Bridge. This landmark is worth saving!"
Work has been done on the bridge recently. However, a permanent solution is still needed. In 2010, the city supported upgrading the bridge. But only if fire trucks could use it. Norfolk Southern did not approve the plans to upgrade the bridge. So, the city decided not to do anything at that time.
