Bridges - Portage Lake

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Title: Bridges - Portage Lake
Photographer: J. Harry Reeder
Subject Headings: Transportation - Bridges, Human Settlements - Cities and Towns, Seasons - Winter
Condition: Good - Taken from a scrapbook where photo corners were used
Description: New Portage Lake bridge (lift type) built 1958 & 1959. Opened for traffic December 20, 1959. Old Portage Lake bridge survey began in 1896 by James P. Edward. Steel bridge ready for traffic early spring of 1897. Wrecking of old bridge started Dec. 21, 1959. Picture taken Dec. 9, 1959 by J. Harry Reeder. Looking south. [View of the two bridges as well as Houghton.]
Source of Description: Front of photo [cataloger]
Institution: Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections
Donor: Joan Schroeder
Date of Photo: Dec 9 1959
Medium: still image
Color: black and white
Size: 12.6 cm x 17.6
Polarity: Positive
Image No: MS044-004-002-005
Collection Name: Earl Gagnon Photograph Collection
Terms of Use: Rights to reproduce and distribute this image may be restricted. Contact the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections for further information.
User Comments:
• Name:Merle Potter
MTU Class of:1958, 1961
Maybe some of you younger engineers don't recall the christening of the liftbridge between Houghton and Hancock.We lived in an upstairs just west of the bridge in Hancock and watched it during its construction. The night before the governor was to christen the bridge, most everyone in Houghton and Hancock was awakened by the long sounds of a ship's horn, or whatever that thing is called on a ship.The only person sleeping was the lift bridge operator who was supposed to sound the bridge's horn to alert the ship that all was well. With no response, the ship's captain put all engines in reverse.After some time, he threw out the anchors dragging up some communication cables between the two cities. Finally, the ship was grounded at the base of the bridge. The next morning the governor broke the champagne bottle on the bridge with a huge ore boot in attendance. No problems, except for a few communication cables and an embarrassed bridge authority. (It's been 50 years, so some of these details may be suspect.)
10/24/2009 10:57:04 PM by Anonymous
• At the time the new bridge was under construction I was living in Hancockso crossed over the old bridge at least two times a day. I used to eat dinner - frequently a pasty - at Andy's restaurant a half block from the old bridge in Houghton. Some of the bridge construction people also ate there so we had some friendly discussions about bridge construction. Since I was crossing the bridge frequently, I got to know some of the bridge operators and would stop to talk with them. One day, while talking with an operator a ship came along. He said stick around" and left to open the bridge. I was standing on the walkway when a ship came through the bridge. With the turn bridge, the opening on each side was much less than it is with the new bridge. I stood there and the ship was close enough that I could have shook hands with someone on the ship as it went through. -- Bruce Kelly, Class of 1960, 1968, 1969"
12/28/2009 9:42:32 PM by Anonymous