Wernwag, Lewis
civil engineer, was born Dec. 4, 1769, in Germany. In 1810 he erected a bridge across Neshaminy creek, on the road between Philadelphia and New York. One of his bridges of wood was built across the Schuylkill river in 1812 at Philadelphia. This structure was known as the Colossus of Fairmount.
In consideration of its length of span (it being the longest ever erected), solidity, and strength, the bridge was regarded as one of the wonders of the world. died Aug. 12, 1843, in Harper's Ferry, Va.
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