Squire Whipple
Encyclopedia
Squire Whipple C.E.
(September 16, 1804 – March 15, 1888) was a civil engineer
born in Hardwick, Massachusetts
, USA. His family moved to New York
when he was thirteen. He studied at Fairfield Academy
. He graduated from Union College
after only one year. He has become known as the father of iron bridge building in America.
He died March 15, 1888 in Albany, New York
, USA and was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York
.
His designs were implemented in numerous bridges, both large through truss bridges, as well as prefabricated bowstring arch bridges, which became the standard design for Erie Canal crossings; using an economical mix of wrought iron for tension members and cast iron in compression. Another such arch is the Shaw Bridge
, the only known Whipple bowstring at its original location and the only know "double" believed extant, the only "a structure of outstanding importance to the history of American engineering and transportation technology." There are at least four other Whipple bowstrings standing in Central New York state, and one in Ohio.
Engineer's degree
An engineer's degree is an advanced academic degree in engineering that is conferred in Europe, some countries of Latin America, and a few institutions in the United States....
(September 16, 1804 – March 15, 1888) was a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
born in Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, about west of the city of Worcester. It had a population of 2,990 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Hardwick, Gilbertville, Wheelwright and Old Furnace.- History :...
, USA. His family moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
when he was thirteen. He studied at Fairfield Academy
Fairfield Academy
Fairfield Academy was an academy that existed for nearly one hundred years in the Town of Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York.-Founding:It was organized as an academy for men in 1802, when the community was an active local manufacturing center...
. He graduated from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
after only one year. He has become known as the father of iron bridge building in America.
He died March 15, 1888 in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, USA and was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York
Menands, New York
Menands is a village in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 3,990 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Louis Menand...
.
Bridges
Constructed by S. DeGraff of Syracuse, NY, 1867-'69, the bridge over Norman's Kill in Albany, NY is a very well preserved example of a Whipple Bowstring (tied) Arch, still in daily use, with no posted weight limits. Due to the sleek appearance, many users think it is a modern bridge. Norman's Kill bridge.His designs were implemented in numerous bridges, both large through truss bridges, as well as prefabricated bowstring arch bridges, which became the standard design for Erie Canal crossings; using an economical mix of wrought iron for tension members and cast iron in compression. Another such arch is the Shaw Bridge
Shaw Bridge
Shaw Bridge, also known as Double-Span Whipple Bowstring Truss Bridge, is a historic bridge in Claverack, New York, United States. It carried Van Wyck Lane over Claverack Creek, but is now closed to all traffic, even pedestrians. It is "a structure of outstanding importance to the history of...
, the only known Whipple bowstring at its original location and the only know "double" believed extant, the only "a structure of outstanding importance to the history of American engineering and transportation technology." There are at least four other Whipple bowstrings standing in Central New York state, and one in Ohio.
Patents
– Bowstring iron-bridge truss (1841) – Lift draw bridgeBooks
- A Work on Bridge-Building: Consisting of Two Essays, the One Elementary and General, the Other Giving Original Plans, and Practical Details, for Iron and Wooden Bridges (1847)
- An elementary and practical treatise on bridge building (1899)
External links
- Genealogy Squire Whipple, Whipple.org
- Squire Whipple essay, Whipple.org
- ASCE – History and Heritage of Civil Engineering
- Survey number HAER NY-4 – Whipple Cast & Wrought Iron Bowstring Truss Bridge, Normans Kill Vicinity, Albany, Albany County, NY (Biography on page 3)