Vintage Richmond: Belle Isle’s industrial past

This photo of an old automobile bridge from the north bank of the James River to Belle Isle from 1972 shows a glimpse of the island’s industrial past. The piers of this bridge can still be seen today, especially from the pedestrian bridge under the Robert E. Lee Bridge (the new one, circa 1989). From […]

August 13, 2011; 6:55 AM • by Phil Riggan

This photo of an old automobile bridge from the north bank of the James River to Belle Isle from 1972 shows a glimpse of the island’s industrial past.

The piers of this bridge can still be seen today, especially from the pedestrian bridge under the Robert E. Lee Bridge (the new one, circa 1989). From the Vintage Richmond blog:

Belle Isle bridge – 1972
For years I wondered about the remains of the old bridge to Belle Isle on it’s north side…was it a train bridge? The section that remains today led me to believe it was. But my discovery of this picture last year proved otherwise. It was, at least in 1972, a bridge for cars and trucks. And a pretty damn rickety looking one at that.

In the distance, as in this picture from a few months ago, you can see the heavy industry that was still active on Belle Isle at the time, including (according to the sign), Old Dominion Iron and Steel as well as Adamson Co. Inc.

Note the old Lee Bridge in the distance on the right (it wasn’t torn down until the late 1980s), and the fairly massive structure behind the bridge that’s nearly hidden. The skeletal remains of part of this building still remain today on Belle Isle. Parts of the stone foundation of this bridge still exist in the James River today, although a few have been washed away.

This amazing photo from 1965 is also from Vintage Richmond, posted in June.