Bridge Tender, Keeper of the Bridge

“The tramp, the wharf rat, and the river pirate are [the bridge tender’s] neighbors.”
-Chicago Tribune, 1896

Chicago hired its first bridge tenders in the 1840s. The river was busy, and ships could arrive and depart on a moment’s notice. Many tenders lived on the bridges in small houses so they could keep an eye on the river at all times.

The life of a bridge tender was far from dull. Almost daily, they might have to put out a fire, break up fights with tramps, divert suicide attempts, or save the lives of those who fell off bridges.

Although less dramatic, a bridge tender’s job today requires expert knowledge of the bridges. They perform regular maintenance to assure safe, timely openings and closings.