Oldest Concrete Street in America photograph   Save
Ohio Department of Industrial and Economic Development
Description: This image shows the Oldest Concrete Street in America in Bellefontaine, Ohio. In 1891, Bellefontaine city engineer J.C. Wonders decided to pave the street surrounding the courthouse square with Portland cement concrete. As a result of this innovation, Wonders became known as the father of concrete paving. Concrete was a smooth surface that was very durable. An automobile ride on concrete was much less bumpy than previous rides on dirt roads or even on brick. Wonders' idea led the state of Ohio to appoint him as State Highway Commissioner in 1907. He was only the second commissioner in Ohio's history. In the years that followed, the state began to pave a number of its roads. It would still be a long time before the majority of roads were paved, as the process took time and was expensive. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06512
Subjects: Roads--United States--History; Ohio State Highway Patrol; Transportation--Canal--Railroad--Roads
Places: Bellefontaine (Ohio); Logan County (Ohio)