The first bridge to cross the Flat River was the Upper Dam bridge near Franklin Street, built in 1844 or 1845. Within a dozen years, other bridges were constructed near present-day Washington, Fairplains, and Lafayette Streets. These early bridges were made of wood with a limited lifespan and were sometimes damaged by log runs and fast-moving water. By the early 1880s, the wooden bridge at Fairplains Street was in poor condition. The City Council considered another wooden replacement but, after much discussion, decided to invest in a more costly but durable iron substitute. The Smith Bridge Company of Toledo was awarded the contract, and the bridge remained in use from 1883 until 1972.