How Many Workers Died Building the Brooklyn Bridge?
Fourteen tons of fireworks illuminated the New York night on May 24, 1883, to celebrate the completion of one of the greatest engineering feats of the Gilded Age—the Brooklyn Bridge. Billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the longest suspension bridge ever built at the time spanned the East River to link the twin cities of New York and Brooklyn.
But, as that day’s edition of the Brooklyn Eagle pronounced, “to every human undertaking there seems of necessity to be a dark side.” In the case of the Brooklyn Bridge it was the lives lost during its 14-year construction.
At least two dozen workers, mostly immigrants, died in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The project also took the life of the Brooklyn Bridge’s designer and left his son crippled. To learn more, click here to read this new piece I wrote for History.com.
My great grandfather died during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. His name was Robert McNeil, a migrant worker from Scotland. His family stayed in Scotland. His daughter was my great grandmother who later immigrated to New Zealand. He fell to his death after someone above him fell, landed on top of him, bringing both of them down. That’s all the information that I have, but I would be interested in knowing if there is any official record of that incident.
Hi Dale, I didn’t see that name come up in any of the research I did, but not all of the information kept about the accidents in the 1880s was comprehensive, which is why there are such divergent casualty numbers. This site is a pretty comprehensive catalog of genealogical information about those killed: http://www.maggieblanck.com/Occupations/BrooklynBridgeWorkers.html. It might lead you to some primary sources that could be helpful.
hi i feel bad for him thats seems like not a good way to go but hes defently in heven.
I have been recently told (by my 92 year old aunt- her grandfather) my great grandfather died of the bends while working on the Brooklyn Bridge. His last name was Kelso. That’s all I have. I would be extremely interested if there was any official record or information about a gentleman named Kelso who work on the Brooklyn bridge project.
Hi Joan, I didn’t see anyone with a last name of Kelso come up in any of the research I did and don’t believe a central record of casualty numbers was kept at the time. This site is a pretty comprehensive catalog of genealogical information about those killed, although it doesn’t list a Kelso: http://www.maggieblanck.com/Occupations/BrooklynBridgeWorkers.html. But it might lead you to some sources that could be helpful.