The Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company was founded in Wauwatosa in 1870 by George
Weinhagen and was located at 62nd and State streets. In 1890, the company moved to
North Milwaukee near the intersection of North 35th Street and West Villard Avenue.
The company was a fabricator and erector of steel and iron bridges and other large
structures. WB&I was responsible for the many large structures and bridges all
over the United States, especially in the Midwest. In 1980 WB&I was sold to
Burning Hills Steel Co., located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1982 WB&I filed for
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and closed its North Milwaukee facility, eliminating 274
positions. The company was finally involuntarily dissolved in 1990.
