Oldest Concrete Street in America
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
In 1891, George Bartholemew paved the way for the better roads movement in the United States. He convinced the city council in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to try a new mixture called "artificial stone" at the time. On the streets around the Logan County Courthouse, concrete streets were laid. Bartholemew posted a bond guaranteeing the pavement would last at least five years. You can still an original block's length of concrete on Court Avenue today. Court Avenue in Bellefontaine is now known as the "Oldest Concrete Street in America" -- signs near the courthouse and along the street cement the claim. Visitors will also see a statue of Bartholomew, which was installed in 1991, when the Court Avenue was made into a one-way thoroughfare.
Images
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
In 1891, George Bartholemew paved the way for the better roads movement in the United States. He convinced the city council in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to try a new mixture called "artificial stone" at the time. On the streets around the Logan County Courthouse, concrete streets were laid. Bartholemew posted a bond guaranteeing the pavement would last at least five years. You can still an original block's length of concrete on Court Avenue today.
Court Avenue in Bellefontaine is now known as the "Oldest Concrete Street in America" -- signs near the courthouse and along the street cement the claim. Visitors will also see a statue of Bartholomew, which was installed in 1991, when the Court Avenue was made into a one-way thoroughfare.