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In 1893, W.E.
Sullivan visited
the Columbian
Exposition,
where he
marveled at the
original Ferris
Wheel. Like
George
Washington Gale
Ferris, Mr.
Sullivan owned a
bridge building
business – Eli
Bridge Company.
As he took his
first ride on
Mr. Ferris’
Wheel, little
did he know that
his life was
about to change
forever.
Despite
skepticism from
his family and
the business
community,
Sullivan
remained
fascinated by
the Wheel and
was determined
to build one of
his own. He
later
collaborated
with machinist
James H.
Clements and
together they
began
construction of
their Wheel on
March 23, 1900.
This first “Big
Eli®”
Wheel debuted in
Jacksonville,
Illinois’ own
Central Park on
May 23, 1900.
The Wheel was a
great success
and, in 1906,
Sullivan
incorporated the
Eli Bridge
Company by
taking on
capital
investors to
mass-produce his
wheels.
Eli Bridge
Company was
originally
housed in a
building in
Roodhouse,
Illinois located
right next to
the railroad
tracks for easy
shipment and
delivery. In
1919, a new
building was
erected at 800
Case Avenue in
Jacksonville,
Illinois, also
next to the
railroad tracks,
and has been
doing business
at that address
ever since. The
plans included a
room tall enough
in which
Sullivan could
erect a #5 or
#12 Wheel. The
building has had
several
additions since
and now is a
76,000-square-foot
facility.
In 1955, Eli
Bridge Co.
produced its
first non-Wheel
amusement ride –
The Scrambler®.
This new
double-rotation
ride was
destined to take
the amusement
industry by
storm and has
since become one
of the most
recognized
amusement rides
in existence.
Today, Eli
Bridge products
can be found in
amusement parks
around the world
and are
traditional
attractions at
parks, family
entertainment
centers, county
fairs, festivals
and carnivals
throughout the
nation. Eli
Bridge continues
to innovate and
change to meet
the demands of
our customers in
the new century.
Our new
SpiderMania®
ride has been a
phenomenal
success and our
Next Generation
Mobile Scrambler®
is one of the
easiest major
attractions to
erect and
transport.
Today, Eli
Bridge remains a
family-owned
company. Lee
Sullivan,
Chairman of the
Board is the
grandson of
company founder
W.E. Sullivan
and
President/CEO
Patty Sullivan
is the great
grand-daughter.
“We
take pride in
striving to keep
the highest
standards to
which
Great-grandfather
(William E.) and
Grandfather (Lee
A. Sullivan,
Sr.) adhered
throughout their
lifetimes. Their
values were
instilled in the
heart of Eli
Bridge Company
with which Dad
(Lee Sullivan)
have shared and
challenged my
generation. Like
them, we too,
have a vision to
build new rides
with the quality
of the old.”
We are proud
members of the
following
organizations:
www.OABA.com
www.IAAPA.com
www.AIMSINTL.com
More
information
about our
company’s
history can be
found in our 100th
Anniversary
History Booklet.
The booklet is
$10, plus
shipping, and
can be obtained
by calling
217-245-7145, or
clicking on the
Contact Us link.
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