engineering Archives - Chip Jacobs https://chipjacobs.com/tag/engineering/ Author & Journalist Fri, 27 Sep 2024 22:33:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 The Colorado Street Bridge speaks, or rather initial critical reaction to my novel about her https://chipjacobs.com/the-colorado-street-bridge-speaks-or-rather-initial-reaction-to-my-novel-about-her/ https://chipjacobs.com/the-colorado-street-bridge-speaks-or-rather-initial-reaction-to-my-novel-about-her/#respond Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:17:42 +0000 http://34.168.138.187/?p=81108 "A riveting and enjoyable look at how local myths are constructed, and a vivid depiction of a time and a place that felt full of possibilities"—Booklist

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]]> * SCIBA Bestseller
* A CrimeReads Most Anticipated Book
* A Listopia/Goodreads Most Anticipated Literary Fiction release
* A BookBub “buzzy” historical novel: “Entwined within the story of the bridge, the duo of Nick Chance, a fledgling inventor, and his dog . . . interact with some of the era’s most famous historical figures, including Teddy Roosevelt and Upton Sinclair. A beautiful ode to the fascinating city of Pasadena”
* Library Journal: “A love letter to small-town America, celebrated here with conviction and warmth . . . Jacobs handles the historical material superbly, skillfully relating the complicated and tragic story of the bridge’s construction while convincingly depicting a variety of historical figures . . . A promising and ambitious” effort 
* Booklist: “Jacobs’ thoroughly researched debut novel excavates the buried history of Pasadena . . . a riveting and enjoyable look at how local myths are constructed, and a vivid depiction of a time and a place that felt full of possibilities”

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]]> https://chipjacobs.com/the-colorado-street-bridge-speaks-or-rather-initial-reaction-to-my-novel-about-her/feed/ 0 Where have you gone, J.A.L. Waddell, the genius behind the Colorado Street Bridge? https://chipjacobs.com/where-have-you-gone-j-a-l-waddell-the-genius-behind-the-colorado-street-bridge/ https://chipjacobs.com/where-have-you-gone-j-a-l-waddell-the-genius-behind-the-colorado-street-bridge/#respond Thu, 12 Sep 2019 21:08:26 +0000 http://34.168.138.187/?p=80978 Before Pasadena City Hall contracted him to design the Colorado Street Bridge, John Alexander Low Waddell had already earned his stripes as one of the foremost engineering minds on the planet.

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]]> Before Pasadena City Hall contracted him to design the Colorado Street Bridge, John Alexander Low Waddell had already earned his stripes as one of the foremost engineering minds on the planet. A native Canadian who graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy New York, he’d travel to Japan to advise its government and teach. After returning from overseas, he started blowing minds. In Chicago, he created an articulating, “lift bridge” enabling ships to pass beneath them, and then others over the Mississippi River and elsewhere in partnership with mechanical engineer John Lyle Harrington. Medals would be draped Waddell’s neck by emperors; his books were must-reads at technical schools. Few could match his design production.

It wasn’t until he came to my hometown around 1911-1912 that the walrus-mustached bridge go-getter ran headlong into intrigue and resistance so stiff he must’ve never wanted to visit California again! It was truly a bridge too far, Progressive Age or not. Read my fiction debut, Arroyo: A Novel, to discover why.

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