Indiana Bridge Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Steel manufacturing, Bridge construction |
| Founded | May 17, 1886 in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
| Founder | Theodore F. Rose and partners |
| Defunct | 1962 (first closure) |
| Fate | Multiple ownership changes and closures; continues operations as of latest available information |
| Headquarters | Muncie , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | C.M. Kimbrough (president from 1888), J. Lloyd Kimbrough, Frank H. Kimbrough, Hal C. Kimbrough |
| Products | Structural steel, truss bridges |
| Parent | Various owners after 1947 (Taylor and Gaskin, Inc., Alabama-based company, Debron, Bristol Steel) |
The Indiana Bridge Company, founded in May 1886 in Indianapolis, Indiana, holds the distinction of being the longest-standing manufacturer based in Muncie, Indiana. Initially focused on the construction of truss bridges, the firm relocated to Muncie by November 1886 to take advantage of the region's booming natural gas industry.
History
The company was established on May 17, 1886, by Theodore F. Rose and partners with an initial investment of $30,000. While its operations began in Indianapolis, the business moved to Muncie within the same year. By March 1887, the company had completed its first brick and stone manufacturing plant.
In 1888, C.M. Kimbrough assumed the presidency and oversaw considerable growth, including a significant plant expansion in 1904. The company played a vital role in steel production during both World War I and World War II, aiding the United States and allied forces. Upon C.M. Kimbrough’s passing in 1932, leadership transitioned to his sons: J. Lloyd Kimbrough led until 1937, followed by Frank H. Kimbrough. After Frank’s death in 1946, Hal C. Kimbrough sold the enterprise in 1947 to Taylor and Gaskin, Inc., concluding decades of family management.
Following the sale, the company encountered financial difficulties but remained operational until its closure in 1962. It was revived by local investors in 1963 and subsequently experienced several ownership changes: acquisition by an Alabama-based company in 1971, Debron in 1973, and Bristol Steel in 1978. Although economic struggles forced another closure in 1982, the facility reopened two years later and continues to produce structural steel in Muncie today.
A digital archive of company records spanning from 1886 to 1981 is maintained at Ball State University.
Works
- Breed Power Plant, Muncie, Indiana, circa 1960s
- Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Chrysler Corporation Transfer Bridge, Detroit, Michigan, 1950