Standard Bridge Company

Standard Bridge Company was an American bridge company that was "one of the most important bridge building firms in Nebraskahistory."^[1][2]

It was founded by Robert Z. Drake in 1900, and incorporated a former bridge company of John Means in 1902.^[1][2][3]

The firm obtained annual contracts with Cuming, Wayne, Thurston, Stanton, Dodge and Burt counties and built hundreds of half-hip truss bridges during 1900–1920; the oldest documented example is the Rattlesnake Creek Bridge built in 1903.^[4]

A number of its works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.^[5][6]

Works include:

• Rattlesnake Creek Bridge (1903), county road over Rattlesnake Cr., 2.8 mi. NW of Bancroft, NE (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed
• Kittyhawk Avenue Bridge (1913), Kittyhawk Ave. over an unnamed stream, 3.1 mi. SW of Carroll, IA (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed^[7]
• Nine Bridges Bridge (1913), private road over Middle Channel of the Platte River, 3.9 mi. N of Doniphan, NE Standard Bridge Co., NRHP-listed
• Olympic Avenue Bridge (1913), Olympic Ave. over an unnamed stream, 4.2 mi. NE of Carroll, IA (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed^[8]
• North Omaha Creek Bridge, township road over N. Omaha Cr., 3 mi. SW of Winnebago, NE (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed
• Old Redwater Bridge, local road over the Redwater River, Spearfish, SD (Standard Bridge Company), NRHP-listed
• Quail Avenue Bridge, built 1913, Quail Ave. over an unnamed stream, 4.5 mi. SE of Carroll, IA (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed^[9]
• Robin Avenue Bridge, built 1913, Robin Ave. over an unnamed stream, 5.5 mi. SE of Carroll, IA (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed^[10]
• Sargent Bridge, Dawson St. over the Middle Loup River, 1 mi. S of Sargent, NE (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed
• South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 51-051-000, local rd. over Big Sioux River, Lake Campbell Resort, SD (Standard Bridge Company), NRHP-listed
• South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 44-212-090, local rd. over the E. fork of the Vermillion River, Montrose, SD (Standard Bridge Company), NRHP-listed
• South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 62-220-512, local rd. over the Keya Paha River, Wewela, SD (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed
• Storm Creek Bridge, built 1913, Phoenix Ave. over Storm Creek, 4.0 mi. NE of Carroll, IA (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed^[11]
• Storm Creek Bridge 2, built 1913, 190th St. over Storm Creek, 4.3 mi. E of Carroll, IA (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed^[12]
• Sweetwater Mill Bridge, county road over Mud Creek, Sweetwater, NE (Standard Bridge Co.), NRHP-listed