Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co.

Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company

Company type	Corporation (from 1956)
Industry	Steel fabrication, construction
Predecessor	Des Moines Bridge and Iron Company
Founded	1892 (1892)
Founder	William H. Jackson, Berkeley M. Moss, Edward W. Crellin
Defunct	c. 2002
Fate	Assets acquired by various corporations including Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
Headquarters	Originally Des Moines, Iowa; later Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; moved to Elk Grove, California in 2016 , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Steel water tanks, bridges, structural steel frameworks
Owner	Various after acquisitions
Parent	Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (after 2001)

The Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company, initially established as the Des Moines Bridge and Iron Company, was a prominent American steel fabrication enterprise that operated from 1892 until approximately 2002. Commonly known as Pitt-Des Moines Steel or simply PDM, the firm’s assets were eventually acquired by various corporations, including Chicago Bridge & Iron Company. The company specialized in producing steel water tanks and bridges, and notably fabricated the unique "forked" columns utilized in the construction of the World Trade Center during the 1960s. Additionally, it played a key role as both fabricator and erector of the steel framework for the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Numerous projects completed by this company have been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

The company was founded in 1892 by William H. Jackson and Berkeley M. Moss, both alumni of Iowa State College. Initially, they subcontracted steel tank manufacturing to the Keystone Bridge Company based in Pittsburgh. Shortly thereafter, they joined forces with Edward W. Crellin, who owned a small fabrication workshop in Des Moines, leading to the formation of the Des Moines Bridge and Iron Company. Steel materials were shipped from Pittsburgh to facilitate the production of engineered structures such as water towers, bridges, and electric plants. Around 1905, Moss left the business following the inauguration of a new manufacturing facility in Warren, Pennsylvania.

In 1916, the firm adopted the name Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company and relocated its headquarters to Pittsburgh. It operated as a partnership until it was incorporated in 1956. The corporate identity changed to Pittsburgh-Des Moines Corporation in 1980 and was further abbreviated to Pitt-Des Moines, Inc. in 1985; the "PDM" trademark had been registered since at least 1930.

A devastating flood in July 1993 led to the destruction of the original Des Moines Heavy Bridge Division site, resulting in its permanent shutdown and subsequent sale. In 2001, Chicago Bridge & Iron Company purchased PDM; later, the Warren facility ceased operations in early 2009. That same year, PDM’s steel distribution division was sold to Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. In 2016, PDM moved its headquarters to Elk Grove, California, where it continues to operate.

Works

Among the company’s significant projects are:

• Beaver Creek Bridge, spanning Beaver Creek on 180th St., Schleswig, Iowa (credited to Des Moines Steel Co.), listed on the NRHP
• Black River Bridge (Carrizo), crossing Indian Rt. 9 over Black River, Carrizo, Arizona (Pittsburg-Des Moines Steel Co.), NRHP-listed
• Black River Bridge (Pocahontas), US 67 over Black River, Pocahontas, Arkansas (Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co.), NRHP-listed
• Buck Grove Bridge, Buck Creek Ave. over Buck Creek, Buck Grove, Iowa (Des Moines Steel Co.), included on NRHP
• Burden Water Tower, situated west of Maple St. on US Hwy. 160, Burden, Kansas (Des Moines Bridge & Iron Co.), constructed in 1911
• Cotter Water Tower, located northeast of NE US 62B and State St., Cotter, Arkansas (Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Co.), listed on NRHP
• Cotton Plant Water Tower, at junction of N. Main & N. Vine Sts., Cotton Plant, Arkansas (Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Co.), NRHP-listed
• De Valls Bluff Waterworks, at intersection of Hazel and Rumbaugh Sts., De Valls Bluff, Arkansas (Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Co.), recognized on NRHP
• East Soldier River Bridge, crossing East Soldier River on 120th St., near Charter Oak, Iowa (Des Moines Steel Co.), NRHP-listed
• Elevated metal water tanks located in Crosby and Deerwood, Minnesota (constructed by Des Moines Bridge & Iron Co.), both listed on NRHP
• Forsyth Water Pumping Station, positioned at 3rd Ave. by Yellowstone River in Forsyth, Montana (Des Moines Bridge Building Co.), included on NRHP
• Gateway Arch (1963–1965), served as steel fabricator and erector for this iconic structure in St. Louis, Missouri, designated a National Historic Landmark
• Hampton Waterworks, situated on Hunt St., west of Lee St., Hampton, Arkansas (Pittsburg-Des Moines Steel Co.), recognized on NRHP
• Jefferson Street Viaduct, spanning Jefferson St. over Des Moines River in Ottumwa, Iowa; responsible for design plans for this steel viaduct
• Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore), crossing Patapsco River in Baltimore; Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co. fabricated steel components and acted as general contractor; acclaimed for design excellence following its $60.3 million completion in 1977; collapsed due to ship collision in March 2024
• Mineral Springs Waterworks, located south of W. Runnels and S. Hall intersection in Mineral Springs, Arkansas (Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Company), included on NRHP
• Missisquoi River Bridge, carrying VT 105-A over Missisquoi River near Richford, Vermont (Pittsburgh—Des Moines Steel Co.), listed on NRHP
• Water towers situated in Monroe and Neillsville, Wisconsin (constructed by Des Moines Bridge and Iron Co./Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co.), both recognized on NRHP
• Nishnabotna River Bridge, spanning T Ave. over Nishnabotna River near Manilla, Iowa (Des Moines Steel Co.), listed on NRHP
• Sampson Air Force Base water tower erected in Romulus NY in 1962
• Bridges constructed by Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co. at State Highway 29 crossing Colorado River (Buchanan Dam, Texas) and State Highway 9 over Llano River (Mason, Texas), both listed on NRHP
• US 83 Bridge spanning Salt Fork of Red River near Wellington, Texas; developed jointly with Texas Highway Department; NRHP-listed
• Waldo Water Tower, located on E. Main St., Waldo, Arkansas (Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Company), included on NRHP
• Yellow Smoke Park Bridge, a pedestrian bridge over an unnamed stream in Denison, Iowa (Des Moines Steel Co.), listed on NRHP