David W. Flickwir
David Williamson Flickwir (1852-1935) was a civil engineer and railroad engineering contractor. His company built one of the world's largest concrete bridges, the Tunkhannock Viaduct.[1]
Early life and career
David W. Flickwir was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 26, 1852, to Joseph Williamson Flickwir (1809-1899) and Rebecca Barton (1824-1907). He entered railroad work in 1871 as a rodman in an engineering corps for a railroad.[2] In 1875, Flickwir was an engineer for the construction of the buildings for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.[2] An 1876 Philadelphia business directory lists Flickwir as a consulting civil engineer.[3]
In 1893, Flickwir married Charlotte Nalle (1856-1923) of Orange County, Virginia. Nalle died in October 1923. Flickwir remarried in May 1925 to Mildred A. Elder (1892-1991) who was the nursing superintendent at Roanoke Hospital (today Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital).[1]
Railroad engineer and contractor
In 1879, he was a construction engineer on the
In 1908, Flickwir's company received a contract from the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/2019_09_ASCE_NHCEL_Pennsylvania-_Tunkhannock_Bridge_plaque_2.png/220px-2019_09_ASCE_NHCEL_Pennsylvania-_Tunkhannock_Bridge_plaque_2.png)
From 1912 to 1915, Flickwir & Bush built the DL&W's
In 1916, Flickwir was elected a director of the Norfolk and Western Railroad company succeeding Walter H. Taylor (1838-1916). [8]
Banker
In 1926, Flickwir joined the First National Exchange Bank of Roanoke.
Death and legacy
By 1906, Flickwir was wealthy enough to commission a grand house in the
Flickwir died in 1935 after a short illness at age 83.[1]
Gallery
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Tunkhannock Viaduct under construction in 1914
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Tunkhannock viaduct, 1928
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Tunkhannock Viaduct from a commercial airline flight from Ottawa to Philadelphia
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Tunkhannock Viaduct, as seen from Route 11
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Viaduct over Nicholson, PA
References
- ^ a b c d e Hailey, Diane (2005). "Fralin House Rededicated to Honor Memory of Horace Fralin" (PDF). Jefferson Chronicle (2): 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- ^ a b c d Anon. (November 1, 1935). "DAVID W. FLICKWIR, RAIL DIRECTOR, DIES: Executive Committee Chairman of the Norfolk & Western was Bank Vice President."".
- ^ "Philadelphia business directory (1876)" (PDF). Library of Congress. Gopsill Business directory for 1876. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ISBN 9781878592606.
- ISBN 978-0-9607444-2-8.
- ^ "Twelve Million Dollars for Twenty Minutes Train Time". Popular Science Monthly. New York : D. Appleton. 1916. p. 7. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
- ^ Jackson, Donald C.; Yearby, Jean P. (1968). "Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, Tunkhannock Viaduct, Nicholson, Wyoming County, PA". Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
- ^ "N&w-PRR Deal Denied" New York Times (1857-1922), Mar 24, 1916, pp. 15. Accessed on September 14, 2020 using ProQuest.