John Buck Leonard (1864–1945) was a pioneering bridge engineer and architect, early advocate for
reinforced concrete, working mainly in northern California.
Life
Leonard was born in
Union City, Michigan, and educated at
Michigan State and the
University of Michigan before going west in 1888. After brief periods in San Diego and Los Angeles, he settled in San Francisco. From 1889 he was employed there doing iron and steel engineering for various firms, including the
Southern Pacific Railroad. Leonard opened his own consulting civil engineering office in 1904.[1]
Even in the aftermath of the
1906 San Francisco earthquake, resistance to fireproof
reinforced concrete was strong. Leonard's analyses of concrete's superior performance in the earthquake and fire, especially
Ernest L. Ransome's two buildings at
Stanford University, and a constant stream of his articles and editorials in Architect and Engineer of California, changed the city's ordinances and gained national attention.[1]
As of 1913 Leonard was in partnership with William Peyton Day. Together they produced the pamphlet The Concrete Bridge, showing examples and analyses of Leonard's work.[2] In 1916 Day left to form the noted San Francisco firm of
Weeks and Day.[1]
Leonard would engineer about 20 buildings in post-1906 San Francisco, become increasing involved in building inspection, and ultimately design about 45 bridges in California.
Gianella Bridge on State Highway 32, a steel
swing bridge (one of Leonard's few steel designs) spanning the
Sacramento River between Glenn and Butte Counties, 1911 (demolished 1987)
Van Duzen Bridge, spanning Van Duzen River at State Highway 36, Carlotta vicinity, Humboldt, California, 1922 (demolished)[7]
Chili Bar Bridge, spanning South Fork of American River at State Highway 193, Placerville vicinity, El Dorado, California, 1922 (demolished)[8]
Honcut Bridge, spanning South Honcut Creek at Honcut Road, Loma Rica, Yuba County, CA, 1914 (demolished)[9]