Oldest Concrete Street in America in Bellefontaine, Ohio
It is hard for most to imagine a time when there were not concrete and asphalt roads to travel on. In Early America, horses and wagons traveled on roads made of dirt, gravel, crushed stone, and eventually brick. These materials created problems for travelers, and required innovation.
George W. Bartholomew, founder of Buckeye Portland Cement Company, knew there was a better way for road surfaces. Concrete was called "artificial stone" in the 19th century and was considered a modern mixture not yet used to pave streets. After many years of debate and advocacy, Bartholomew constructed an 8-foot test strip along Main Street next to the Logan County Courthouse in 1891. To secure the work, Bartholomew posted a $5,000 bond for a five-year guarantee.
An interesting fact about this site is that a section of the concrete pavement used in Bellefontaine, Ohio won first prize for achievement in engineering technology at the Chicago's World Fair in 1893.
The concrete used for this landmark project came from native marl supplied by Buckeye Cement Company, located only eight miles away from Bellefontaine. At that time, the project cost $2.25 per square yard. The concrete road was a hit with the community and the city officials approved the paving of Court Avenue two years later. Within three years of the first project, Court Avenue, Opera Street, Columbus Avenue, and the rest of Main Street were paved. A total of 7,700 square yards of paving was done on all four streets circling the courthouse.
The original bare concrete roads served the community until 1950. In 1960, Main Street was resurfaced due to a broken water main line. The Court Avenue section is still considered to be the oldest concrete pavement still in service in the United States. To maintain functionality, the road has undergone some pavement improvements in 1962, the 1990s, and 2008.
In 1991, the City of Bellefontaine erected a statue of George Bartholomew in the center of the Concrete Street. Today, Court Avenue stands as a testament to Bartholomew's innovation and the city's place in history. The street is also commemorated with an Ohio Historical Marker in 1968 to honor its 75th anniversary at the northeast corner of East Court Avenue and South Main Street.
George Bartholomew is remembered as the man who brought concrete to the Midwest which set a model for modern road construction across the country.
