NEWELL, WV. (WKBN) — A bridge that has stood in the area for 116 years was sold on Wednesday.
In a press release, Six Enterprises announced that it had officially purchased the Newell Bridge and Railway from the parent company of Fiesta Tableware Company, formerly known as Homer Laughlin China Company.
The press release says the bridge was built in 1905 by a group of pottery chefs known as the North American Manufacturing Company. The bridge connects the town of Newell, West Virginia to the pottery town of East Liverpool.
The press release says Edwin Kirtland Morse of Pittsburgh designed the modern wire-frame suspension bridge with a 1,590-foot-long wooden deck 160 feet above the water. The first crossing of the bridge took place on July 4, 1905.
The report states that the bridge carried trams until 1954 when the wooden deck was replaced with the steel grating used today.
Fiesta Tableware Co. feels comfortable with the sale as the Six family has been working on the deck for many years. The Six family has maintained the bridge since 1967 and still works there today.
“The Six family has been our partner in the maintenance and safety of the bridge for many years. We know the iconic Newell Bridge is passed down to an organization that has as much passion and pride in it as we have had all these years,” said Elizabeth Mcllvain, President of Fiesta Tableware Co..
Six Enterprises owner Frank Six said he believes further improvements to the bridge will help boost revenue at Newell.
“It’s a self-sustaining economy that directly pumps more money into itself. I think it’s important for people to keep in mind that each crossing over the bridge means more improvements for the city,” Mr Six said.
Six Enterprise aims to add payment by credit card and Apple Pay, as well as a membership program to make the experience “more convenient”.
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