Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge (1860 - c. 1924) was a businessman and promoter of patent fiberboard, and the first chairman of the interstate agency known then as the Port of New York Authority. The Port Authority bridge Outerbridge Crossing was named for him.
Birth and siblings
Eugenius was born in 1860 in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania to Alexander Ewing Outerbridge and Laura Harvey. His sister,
Mary Ewing Outerbridge was the founder, in
1874, of American lawn
tennis which was the progenitor of modern tennis. His other siblings include: Albert Albany Outerbridge; Joseph Outerbridge; August Emelio Outerbridge (1846-1921) who died on January 14, 1921; Harriett Harvey Outerbridge; Alexander Ewing Outerbridge II; Laura Catharine Outerbridge; and Adolph John Harvey Outerbridge (1858-1928) who died on May 29, 1928.
Agasote Millboard Company
Outerbridge incorporated the Agasote Millboard Company in
1909 to produce a high-density fiberboard. The company used the material to produced roof panels for railroad cars and automobile roofs. In 1916 the company introduced
Homasote®, a versatile fiberboard made from recycled materials, made by the Homasote Company in West
Trenton, New Jersey.
Port Authority
Outerbridge was the first chairman of the
Port of New York Authority, now
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The new Authority was founded on
April 30,
1921, and was the first interstate agency created under a clause of the Constitution permitting compacts between states.
Legacy
The
Outerbridge Crossing, a
toll bridge between
Staten Island, New York and
Perth Amboy, New Jersey, is named for him.
Timeline
- 1860 Birth
- 1880 1880_census_Outerbridge.gif with Eugenius Outerbridge
- 1909 Starts Agasote Millboard Company
- 1916 Homasote®
- 1921 Starts tenure at Port of New York Authority
- 1924 Ends tenure at Port of New York Authority
- 1924 (circa) Death
- 1928 Outerbridge Crossing named for him on June 20th