Bollman Truss Bridge and Savage Mill

 

 

In 1822 a Philadelphia merchant, John Savage, chartered the Savage Manufacturing Company and opened a cotton mill on the falls of the Patuxent River. The mill flourished, so much so that a spur of the B&O railroad was extended to Savage in 1887. To carry the line over the Little Patuxent River an iron truss bridge was moved to the mill. Built in 1869 the bridge was the work of Wendell Bollman, a self taught Baltimorian engineer. His structurally redundant design and use of iron were both new ideas the 19th century America. Both ideas proved to work and the B&O patented his design and used it extensively. The bridge in Savage is now not only the only surviving example of the Bollman style, but the oldest iron railroad bridge in the United States. The mill continued to operate until 1947. It is now a marketplace with a 19th century atmosphere. The bridge was restored in 1968 and is now open for pedestrian use. Both are on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

 

Facts and Figures

Directions
Address:
8600 Foundry St.
Savage, Maryland

Length: 80 ft.
  • Take I-95 to Rt. 32 east. Exit on Route 1
  • Turn at the first light and drive through the camll town of Savage
  • Turn left when the road ends at a large home on a hill
  • Turn right at the end of the block in to the Savage Mill parking lot.

Map

References:

ASCE "Guide to History and Heritage Program";
www.howardcountymdtour.com;
"Old Bridge to be Restored" Baltimore, Evening Sun 2/24/68