CURBING

CURBING. A "curb," when used as a noun, is a restraining ribbon of various materials, between the road for traffic and a pedestrian walkway; an enclosing frame, border, or edging; a raised edge meant to strengthen or confine; and an edging of concrete built along a street to form part of a gutter.

The first use of curbs can be traced back to the Romans who used them to control street traffic keeping it separate from pedestrian walkways and to define the road. Curbs also helped send the water runoff from the road, which were sloped towards it, down the gutter to the sewer. Curbs raise the walkway up from the street level which helped move traffic along the road faster than the sidewalks. Widespread construction and use began in the 18th century- specifically in the streets of London.

he United States, during the Industrial Revolution, 1780-1850, many people seeking a better life, and hearing of factory jobs for all who wanted one poured into the larger cities such as New York, and Philadelphia. The streets ended up being the conveyor or temporary storage of all types of wastes: human, industrial, and plain garbage. The only time the road carried the debris away is when it rained. When it rained heavily, the road carried all garbage laden water back into homes. One quick fix to keep the filth from reentering the homes was the building of curbs- sometimes a foot high- which would then channel the waste water away. (1)

Such high curbs could still be seen in 2021 along Kaufmann Avenue and Roosevelt. Concern of those living along such curbs in 1920 was safety. Small children could easily be washed away in a torrential rain. Children returning from school had been knocked down by the water as they attempted to cross the road. Consideration of building a storm sewer to handle the runoff was considered by the city council in late 1959. (2)

Storm sewers often proved unable to handle torrential rainstorms. In July, 2010 a storm that blew through Dubuque dropped nearly six inches of rain. Manhole covers on the storm sewers were blown into the air and cars were carried down hills. (3)

Ordinances against using the streets for the disposal of debris, ordinances in areas of new construction requiring careful planning for runoff rain, construction of storm sewers and box grates in streets to accommodate more runoff, laying permeable brick in alleyways to allow water to be absorbed into the ground, and construction of the BEE BRANCH all played valuable roles in lessening the need for high curbs.

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Source:

1. "History of Curbs," WordPress, Online: http://concrete-curbing-machines.com/history-of-curbs/

2. Welch, Wayne, "Kaufmann Ave. Residents Alarmed by Heavy Rainfall," Telegraph Herald, January 13, 1960, p. 1

3. Blanchard, Courtney, "Storm Swamps Tri-States," Telegraph Herald, July 24, 2010, p. 1