When I was a child growing up on Chicago’s Southeast Side, I became fascinated with the bridges on the Chicago River. The boats and barges had the right of way and the bridges had to be opened randomly. They were often raised to let the giant barge, Medusa, slip underneath. The endless wait for the bridges to come back down so that the cars were allowed back through is etched in my memory.
Chicago has more bridges built in different eras and in different styles and engineering methods than any other city in the United States. The Chicago River has north and south branches, a port and a lock to the lake.
In 1987, while working on Changing Chicago: A Photo Documentary, my area of focus was the Chicago waterways. The Dearborn bridge house caught my attention. I wanted to see the bridge tenders’ view through the bridge house windows. The people working there were very proud of what they did and eager to be photographed at work.
The bridges now are operated only on a set schedule, mostly when the tall, masted pleasure boats are allowed through. This is Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, in Spring and Fall, when they are on their way out to Lake Michigan or back to their winter storage.
Ron Gordon
2024
Cal Bennett 95th Street
ED Kadela and Huey Sledge North Dearborn
ED Kadela North Dearborn
Freddie Rogers Cermak Road
George N. Koclanis and Ed Kadela Lake Shore Drive
Huey Sledge North Dearborn
Ike Owens Canal Street
Jim Matlock and Geoarge Farman Rosevelt Bridge
Leon Harvey 106th Street
Ray Ginsberg and Jim Frobes Lake Shore Drive
Raymond Hecker Torrence Av
Roving Crew
Walter Simmons Torrence Avenue
