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Cedar River Bridge Co.

Started by brandm24, March 20, 2022, 08:09:41 PM

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brandm24

The Cedar River runs through Cedar Falls, Iowa and had various options for crossing it over the years.

Originally, passengers and probably freight were rowed across in large ferries in the 1840s and 1850s but this mode of transportation was slow and cumbersome.

The first bridge, a wooden span, was built in the winter of 1857 at the cost of $15,000. It had a tollhouse at one end manned by a tollkeeper, but the tolls charged are unknown. No tokens are known to exist from this era. Shortly after it opened the tollhouse "disappeared" (likely washed away in a flood) and from then on passage was free.

Apparently, the structure was poorly maintained as it was declared a "disgrace to the town" in 1861 by the local newspaper. In the summer of 1866 the bridge was swept away in a devastating flood.

Shortly after, the Cedar River Bridge Co. erected a new stonework and iron span which was opened in January, 1867. The company issued tokens that allowed passage for one footman, one horse and buggy, or one team and wagon. Though I came across a number of footman tokens none were discovered for buggies or wagons. No further history was found in regard to the bridge or the Cedar River Bridge Co. itself.

Some consider this a Civil War token though it's dated 1867, two years after the close of the conflict. While there is a category of Civil War issues known as contemporaries this isn't one of them. It's tempting to categorize it that way, I suppose, because of the portrait which very much resembles those commonly seen on legitimate war issues.

(Images courtesy of Steve Hayden)

BruceCedar River 1.jpgCedar River 2.jpg 

Always Faithful

Figleaf

Was there any chance of the token being mistaken for a cent and circulating as such? In other words, is the diameter the same as a cent and was the toll not more than a cent? How about confusion with a $3 piece?

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

brandm24

Quote from: Figleaf on March 21, 2022, 08:18:44 AMWas there any chance of the token being mistaken for a cent and circulating as such? In other words, is the diameter the same as a cent and was the toll not more than a cent? How about confusion with a $3 piece?

Peter
There's a slight possibility the token could be mistaken for a cent because the portrait is very similar to that of the circulating coins of the time. Other than that, the design was completely different.

It wouldn't be mistaken for either the 3-cent or 3-dollar coins as shown by the images. There was also a 3-cent silver coin but it's much smaller than the token and has no design elements that match.

I couldn't discover the actual monetary value of the tokens but, yes, it was surely more than a cent.

Bruce
Always Faithful

brandm24

Couldn't attach my images so will do it here... I hope :)

BruceGold 3-Dollar.jpgNickel 3-Cent Piece.jpg 
Always Faithful

Figleaf

Fun. So when the tokens were withdrawn, those who couldn't exchange them in time could have tried to spend them. >:D

I asked because the small nicks point to having clancked around in bags with other pieces, while my feverish imagination sees them nicely piled up in a toll booth and kept separate from coins looking the same but worth much less in client's clothes.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

brandm24

It could be that tokens offered for exchange were rejected. Many private, not to mention public entities, would not refund the value of their old tokens. There were several known cases brought to court where claims for compensation were made of businesses who had issued Civil War tokens. The courts ruled in favor of the issuers even when a promise, or at least an implied promise, was made to redeem them.

Some probably attempted to circulate them as legitimate. Certainly a shady tollkeeper in possession of a great number of them might do so. ;D

Bruce
Always Faithful