Looking Back: Memorial Bridge dedication

Second in a series of four honoring the 75th anniversary of the construction of Charlevoix’s current Memorial Bridge across the lower channel.

CHARLEVOIX — Last week, Looking Back looked back at the 1930s need for a new channel bridge, how one almost came into the picture in 1941 but was stymied by the onset of World War II. Six more years had to pass before the attempt succeeded. A slowpoke temporary swing bridge, our fifth at this site, was put in place right next to Round Lake.

It lasted but a short 22 months while Charlevoix witnessed the largest super-industrial-strength project in its history up to that time.

Once the old bridge was gone, its turntable was lifted off the circular concrete mini-mountain base on which it had sat for almost half a century. The base put up tremendous resistance while being battered out, having been constructed with the strength of a Crusader castle. Next came the removal of the old Lewis Grand Opera House beside the bridge, built in 1883 where the Vue wine bar is today, and transformed into the Hotel Alhambra in the early 1920s. By 1947 the building had seen its best days long ago.

With the turntable concrete gone, now the channel at this spot could be enlarged to its full width of 90 feet, to be spanned by a bascule bridge, from the French word of the same spelling meaning teeter-totter, or the principal of counterbalancing weights, the same type as in London’s Tower Bridge.

About a year went into pounding cofferdams into position on either side and gouging out tons of earth. Behind them, timber mold frameworks were inserted, then 95,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete anchors and foundations were poured, about 48,000 on each side. What now shows are only the tips of two mountains of concrete. Once the foundations were cured, in July of 1948 the first steel sections were put in place, soon to total 396.4 tons. Part of that tonnage were the two mammoth counterweights visible from the channel walkways that run under the bridge approaches.

A further 50 tons of mechanical fixtures were installed, including 30-horsepower motors, automatic and emergency brakes, and hand cranks in case of power failure. Best of all, the roadway was widened to over twice its previous dimensions, from 19 to 44 feet and four lanes for much more effective traffic flow.

The project’s minimum wage for ordinary laborers back then was 70 cents to $1.40 per hour; operating engineers, cement finishers, carpenters, welders and other specialists received from $1.10 to $l.75. Total cost for the new bridge? $986,404. What would the bridge lack were it not for that final $4?

The two leaves, as they are called, were built girder by girder, then grill and meshwork roadbed sections were laid atop them. Once these were in place, both leaves were alternately or together pointed to the sky, back down to horizontal, paused and held in place at all angles, balanced, tested, raised again, one side up, the other partway down, until it seemed they’d never get the right combination figured out. Finally, it all came together and the first traffic crossed on June 27, 1949. Almost immediately, out came the temporary bridge to a city-wide sigh of relief, and traffic resumed its normal course.

On an unusually cold, breezy July 30, a parade and dedication took place before a large crowd assembled on the Bridge Street section at the bridge, which was blocked for the duration of the ceremonies. James Whitley of Charlevoix had suggested that the span be dedicated to the area men who had given their lives in World War II, and the idea was accepted to name it the Memorial Bridge. Michigan State Highway Commissioner Charles Ziegler read a moving tribute, and Jewish, Catholic and Protestant prayers were read. Wreathes were tossed into the channel. Rifles cracked in salute, Taps was played, a flag was raised, and a jubilant Ziegler cut the ribbon with a huge pair of scissors made for the occasion. The high school band closed the occasion with the national anthem.

That night, the officials and ceremony participants did what many people in Charlevoix have long done to celebrate. They went out to dinner at the Argonne restaurant.

Next week: The bridge and the community.

To honor this important anniversary year, on Tuesday, July 16 this writer and the Charlevoix Historical Society will be presenting a completely illustrated program on the eventful history of all six of Charlevoix’s lower channel bridges at the Charlevoix Public Library Community Room, 6:00, admission free. Call 231-547-0373 for more information.