Sunday, January 17, 1999

Should Roebling share billing on Suspension Bridge?

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BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bill Shinkle, a relative of the Suspension Bridge's general contractor, wants the name Amos Shinkle added to the span. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        In the history of great builders, there are the pharaohs and their pyramids, the Babylonians and their hanging gardens, and of course, Amos Shinkle.

        Who?

        How about John A. Roebling? His name is well known to more than the 23,000 people who daily cross the historic John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge that links Cincinnati and Covington.

        But Amos Shinkle's name is nowhere to be found, even though he built the bridge 133 years ago.

        Bill Shinkle thinks it's only fair his distant cousin Amos get some of the credit. That's why Mr. Shinkle, 67, of Corwin in northern Warren County, plans to petition the state of Kentucky to change the span's name to the Shinkle-Roebling Suspension Bridge.

        Mr. Roebling “was a good engineer,” Mr. Shinkle said. “But the actual construction was done by the Covington & Cincinnati Bridge Co., owned by Amos Shinkle. ... I don't want to take Roebling's name off of it, but I think It should have Shinkle on there too. I think it's only right.”

        It's likely a long road to a new name. Kentucky legislators could approve a change, said transportation spokeswoman Philipia Boleyn. Or Mr. Shinkle could petition Transportation Secretary James Codell for an official order.

        “I think (a name change) is appropriate,” said Bernie Moorman, a former Kenton County commissioner and Covington mayor. Mr. Moorman has owned and operated a bed and breakfast, the Amos Shinkle Townhouse in Covington, for 13 years.

        “When the idea came forward, Cincinnati and the state of Ohio opposed the construction of the bridge. It was Mr. Shinkle's negotiating skills that allowed the bridge to be built,” Mr. Moorman said. Mr. Shinkle worked for a decade, he said, to secure financing for the project and quelled threats of a strike.

        Amos Shinkle's company owned the bridge until 1953, when the state of Kentucky bought it. It was renamed in 1983 to honor Mr. Roebling, who patterned the Brooklyn Bridge after the local landmark.

       

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