Russ Emmons ran across a few great photos of the Lift Bridge in a 50's newspaper: the barge work back in the summer of '58, then the view in the fall, with the spans side by side. We featured a winter photo from CopperRange.org previously on the Pasty Cam, and today's Shoebox Memory widens our perspective of this historical project.

Wow, am I actually first? Unbelieveable!

Good Morning from NJ!

Good Morning from flatland!

Looking forward to seeing the colors in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the color report Charlie.
Please keep us posted.

Good morning all and I never realized that the bridge was that new, it is the only bridge that I remember.

Good Morning everyone!
We are seeing a touch of color down here in Cadillac too... particularly the maples.

Good Morning from Brighton

Nice picture !!! It's raining here at least the
pollin count is down this morning. My question was answered about the colors starting thanks.
Only one more week to go than im out of troll land headed to upperville via copper harbor, can't wait them pasty's are calling me :-).

Joe

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. Thank you for the great pictures. I have fallen in love with this bridge and look at your bridge cam every day to see it. I have been up to Copper Harbor once in my life. My family and another family camped at the camp ground on Lake Fanny Hoe. I do not remember coming across either of the bridges when we came up but then I was young and could have been asleep. I love the picture of the big bridge and little bridge side by side. Thanks again.

downstate don,

Are you still around? Haven't heard from you in a few days.

Love the bridge. I did not realize it was so new either. Does anyone live up there, or do they do shift rotation?

If you would like to know more about the bridge's across the portage, I foud an interisting article on the web by kevin musser.
www.copperrange.org/spans.htm

Try this link to get there. Bridge info.
http://www.copperrange.org/spans.htm

Darrell,

How is your rehab going? Several people
have written in to find out how you were doing,
but you may have missed seeing their
e-mails. Isn't it nice to have people thinking
about you in far away places?

I just found an interesting tidbit...

pasty.com website is ranked #47,179 of the top viewed websites on the internet !! Kinda neat.

cool picture today Mary !

JK

JK,

Your Sunday host is Charlie Hopper, while Mary Drew does weekday's (and Saturday's when Toivo is in the bush.)

With around 250 million websites to choose from, those rankings give Pasty Central over a 99.9 percentile score. In part, this is the result of there being relatively few DAILY websites on the 'net, of which pasty.com is one of the oldest.

Next month the World Wide Web celebrates 10 years in it's current form. Pasty Central has been here for 8 of those years, and presently averages around 8 million hits a month.

Another interesting statistic: For every person who posts a message on Cam Notes, there are usually over a thousand who don't. We appreciate you taking the time to comment this morning.

By D. on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 09:21 am:

Nice to see the High School. The shots of Houghton since the demolition just don't look the same.

Viewed from the reverse angle as the second photo above.
From the Pasty Cam archives.

I vividly remember the new bridge being built. I was attending MTU at the time. If I remember correctly, wasn't this bridge the heaviest verticle lift bridge in the world, at that time? It the fall of 1960, I also remember that it got stuck in the peocess of opening for a freighter coming up the channel. In those days, coal was delivered, by freighter, to the C&H docks for use in the smelter plant.

My memory was correct. I read the article in the copperrange.org web site and it also says that the bridge was the "Heaviest verticle lift bridge in the world". I wonder if anyone knows if it still is the heaviest??

Like Karen I would also like to know who controls the bridge and where are the controls? Is there someone there all the time? Is there people working different shifts? Is there someone there 7 days a week? Is there any web page I can go to for this information?

Good to see your pictures on here today my good friend Russ.Wonder how many of us out there can remember the Hotel Scott that is seen in the first photo,if one can read backwards?I for one can say I have walked across the old & the new Bridge.(Who else cares to show your age?)Also I have been up on the top tower on the Hancock side,and walked down the stairs.Then not long after had to hurry to play ball in Boston Location.Felt like i was on cloud nine.
Sorry to see it's been chilly up there.73 here in E.TN.Cool here for a change too.These photo's of Russ Emmons must of come from The Detroit News or Free Press.Who can name the Theater in Hancock that was there back in 58..?

Yep..there are folks that work on the bridge. Couldn't tell you tho, if they are State or Federal Employees. It's staffed 24/7 as far as I know. There's been retired employees married on the bridge too!

To everyone, my rehab is going fine but slower than I want, I am able to get around and drive one again, I am back to work because I could not stand the boredom for one more miniute as three week is all I can take when it comes to doing nothing. If it was up to my doctor I would still be home doing nothing, but that is not the way the world works, got to do what you have to. There is very little pain and its the type that if you ever over worked a mussle that is what it is like and that is expected to go away soon, on crutches now and will be moving up to a cane soon. To anyone who has been puting hip replacement surgery off, all I can say is get it done it is routine surgery now and the pain will be gone and you will be back on your feet in no time, and thanks everyone for asking about me and carring.

Darrell, Glad to hear your doing ok and thanks for the link on the bridge info.

Great photos - brings back such fond memories growing up in Houghton in the 50's. I remember when the bridge was built and what a big deal it was. Whenever I see pictures of the bridge with the span raised and a boat going through, I think of hearing the calls between the bridge and the boat, and knowing it meant a boat was going to be going through and it was time to look out the window. If I remember correctly their horns sounded long and short calls, and a certain number depending on what was happening. Is it still done this way, or in our more technical age has it changed? If I recall, the bridge operator was located at the top and you could see windows up there. Just wondering...do they still have a contest each year to see who guesses the closest date and time of the first boat going through in the spring?

On another note, it is great to see a photo of Houghton High School from back then. Having attended school in that building K-12, it was sure a big part of my life. Also, seeing the bridge brings back a memory of being in homecoming parades in the fall--the HHS marching band had to walk across the bridge because it would have been unsafe to actually "march" across.

Dave Hiltunen...Was the theatre the Kerridge? Remember the Scott Hotel well. Ate there often with my parents on a Saturday trip to town. Also remember travelling across the old bridge...

Dave, That would be the Kerredge Theatre. I remember going to movies there as a kid many times. I also remember when it burned down. Anyone else remember all of the fires in Hancock during the 50's and 60's? They were some landmark fires.

Nice photos. I will be featuring a nice view of the old swing bridge for my September photo of the month. Check back in a few days.

I remember when I was a kid and we use to come up to the Keewenaw. Sometimes, traffic was backed up all the way through town while we waited because the bridge was up to let a boat pass. Can't believe that the lift went in way back in 1958. Gettin' old here.

Great Photos.

Why were there so many fires back in the 50's and 60's?

I demonstrate software to businesses for a living, sometimes when I'm at a businesses office, their CPA and Info Technology consultant are present. Last week I did a demo and something came up where I said "oh yes, I saw something about that on the Pasty.net" and the IT consusltant said, "I know that site, it was used in an example in a class I took as a great site and I check it often". The other's present asked what the Pasty.net was and we briefly explained. I thought Charlie and Mary might like to hear that.

Thanks Sarah! :->

5 Days till we are in da UP! I can hardly wait, I am counting down the hours. A pasty is calling me!

Maybe it seemed like a lot of fires as a kid, but I remember some big ones like the Exley Building, Joffee's Men's Store, City Drug Store, as well as the Kerredge Theatre. Anyone remember if Northwoods burn down once?

One of the reasons for so many fires back in the 50's and 60's was because of heating with coal. The old coal fired furnaces were not very safe. I remember many bad house fires when I was growing up in the 50's and 60's, particularly during the bitter cold winter months. Also many of the houses and buildings in the area in those days were not insulated; people tried to keep warm and often overheated their furnaces. If you loaded up your coal furnace and then it got windy outside, that would also cause the furnace to overheat because of too much draft.

I wonder - if the bridge were to be replaced today that the decision would be to build from the sands over to Dollar Bay. That was the sentiment in the middle of the 50's of some of the decision makers in the Calumet/Laurium/Keweenaw area. Of course the South end would not have gone along with that decision, now a traffic mess each day!

Does anyone remember a bridge tender named the Coffee Maker? He worked up in the brigde in the late 70's..I think.I remember him talking to cars on the bridge by C.B. radio.

Yes, it was the Kerridge, Kerredge, Kerrage.I got stuck on the letter C and K.When I can't think of a name like yesterday of the Carinval,and today of the Theater I run thru the alphabet to bring it to mind.Anyone else do that? I should have said Scott Hotel is in the 2nd.picture.
The men who work at the controls of the Bridge are not up on top.It is a glass office on the Houghton side just above the road.So if you are comming from Houghton crossing bridge,your passengers in vehicle can look up to it just before you go under the tower where the weight comes down.

I was standing somewhere in the first picture. Don't remember a plane taking pictures-was too busy watching the span go in. It was a big deal to us back then. My uncle John worked on the new bridge. I remember getting up early and walking from West Hancock to see the show.
About the fires-there was a group or gang of kids that got arrested for some of them. Thrill seekers if I remember right. Anyone else remember?

well due to the apex of triangularity. the deconfiguration of the transmogrification is equal to the synapses of pi.

Quite a engineering feat for that time!
I just love bridges, I'll go out of my way
to see a good bridge.

Although I had left the area by the time of the fires, I remember both the major fires in downtown Houghton and those in Hancock as being blamed on Arson.. Specifically some young people. The whole area heated with coal for most of its first 100 years. The worst thing that happened often were Chimney fires. Why was Houghton HS demolished?? I also went there K-12. Always miss it when I check Bridge Cam. Thanks for the great pictures of the bridge, etc.

What happened to downstate don and H from Oklahoma? Haven't heard from those folks in quite some time. Oklahoma was seeing a UP gal last I heard.

Mornin', wonderful stories!

Charley, thanks for the compliment on my gallery. I've already had two mistakes in the captions for the locations of some of my pictures. If you or anyone else notices more, just let me know. This is also my favorite website. Thanks for the great job all of you do here every day. So many of us depend on a U.P. fix to start our days.

Hello all... after dreaming about this trip for 6 months now, we are FINALLY in the UP!!! I'm sitting in the Cyberia Cafe in Houghton, for a brief coffee and a quick read on the pasty chat. So funny to be HERE and posting! Feels great, just wish it was a little warmer! It's still August and I'm wearing sweats. Doesn't matter, I'm in the UP and that's what matters!

Some local historian (is Clarence Monette still at it?) should put together a picture book of all the extraordinary buildings lost to fire in the Copper Country since the C&H Heyday and then list which ones were known to have been caused by arson. It has always been my sense that the Keweenaw has a long history of pyromania which is statistically higher than other equivalently populated areas though I have no evidence to back it up. Perhaps in part it's because so many of the past's abandoned architectural grandiosities from a wealthier time, appeared as if they were thumbing their nose at some fallower present moment and youthful hotheads, resentful of Tradition and enamored by The New, found themselves, like Lieutenant Manion in The Anatomy Of A Murder, "seized by an irresistable impulse".
Of course, sad but true, some of those infernos were also likely started for the same reason that firebugs commit arson everywhere else. They just like to watch a big fire.

Audrey: hang in there. Weather forcast says it is due to get warmer and partly sunny! Whether or not, you will see it is great to be in the Keweenaw, and there's much to do in any weather.

What a great information page of comments today.

Thanks again to all those Pasty Cam'ers behind the scenes for all their efforts, and to all the viewing contributors' everywhere.

The bridge employees are I beleive MDOT employees. Both of the two guys one passed away a few years ago and the one now are/were from the Hubbell area .. Both neighbors of my parents at one time... I remember going over the bridge and waving to the guy in there.. Thinking wow I know him...I was just a little girl.....

There were some pretty big fires in both Houghton and Hancock when I was a kid, like when what seemed like a whole block of downtown Houghton burned. Also, a fire on the waterfront in Houghton during the night, and burning embers were landing in our yards in West Houghton. I remember the chimney fires too--was pretty scary to us as kids. Wasn't there a fire in Hancock and it ended up that it had been set by the son of the fire chief or something like that? To this day, fire is something I still have a fear of.

I have wondered if the fires were really that big or was it because I was such a young kid. I've only been able to get back home once in over 20+ years, but some houses that I thought were absolutely huge growing up, didn't seem as big as I remembered..... It is so enriching to read the words and view the photos of everyone who shares their knowledge and memories of the Copper Country and of the U.P. Thanks to one and all for sharing with the rest of us who wish we could go home more often. It means more than you will ever know.

Hi Audrey, enjoy the weather no matter what. We were there a couple weeks ago and the weather was beautiful. I loved wearing a sweatshirt and jeans. Now back in Florida and it is HOT! Check out all the wild flowers and berries....they were great. OH, don't forget that pasty at Toni's in Larium.

Hey Audrey, when does your plane leave Houghton? We'll all watch the cam to see if you wave good bye to us.

From what I heard, the Fire Dept. Chief's son was caught setting fires.
Whoever was on duty in the 70's at the Bridge was called Coffee Maker on the C.B. radio.That's why I went to the top to check the match on the antena.You betcha that station had a set of ears.

Sorry to misplace my thanks CHARLIE !!
Just so used to seeing Mary's name up there ...

Pasty.com may be #47,179 on the 'net, but its sure #1 to many of us. I am sure that several thousand make it their first internet website checked daily!!

And, when I first saw the picture today I was aghast, thinking the bridge had broken apart after being hit by a boat !! AHH !!

JK

I can't speak for Charlie, but as for me, Jeff, I didn't mind! ;-)...Mary

I think there was a guy convicted of setting fires in the early 90's ..like the one at the end of Calumet's main drag and a couple old C&H buiildings.I know some Locals seemed to think it was a guy who did not want the then new Keweenaw National Historical Park to be around. His remedy was to burn down older buildings.There was a guy in Lake Linden charged but not convicted {I think} of burning a relatives empty home.That must of been 7 or 8 years ago.Oh that guy was ..a fireman at the time.

To bcigb

I don't recall his real name, but I do remember speaking with him, daily, on my way to work at the Superior Sausage Company in Dollar Bay.

Sorry I have been away, got real busy after my return from Cairo, and will be returning to Cairo next Friday. :-(

Oh well, that's life.

Love the picture of both bridges as we were engaged on the old bridge in 1959 and married in 1960. We moved to California for a time but came back to the area and have lived here since. Husband just retired this spring from the Houghton County Medical Care and we are having a ball. Been checking out all the old "stamping grounds" and picking our share of blueberries, wild raspberries and thimbleberries. We also have a boat and enjoying the lake. Kids still live in the area and we see the grandkids often. Would never want to live anywhere else--winter or summer.

To Theresa from Colorado
This is Therese Dulong from Hubbell what is your last name i must have went to school with you and I sure remember Houghton old bridge as we use to be in the middle some time when the boats would go through and also the Kerrege theather I can't Remember the one Next to Rentmaster clothing store right now.
Also we had a wonderful time at Francis & Dorothy Laviedere 50th Anniversary yesterday there
children done a real good job .I will be married 54 years tomarrow
sent you e_mail if its who I think it its colorado

Chuck Pozomal no i'm not I was fromally from Hubbell, Michigan

Are there any photos taken inside the bridge towers
that someone could post here?

Good afternoon from sunny, hot (107 deg.) Nevada.

Here is a great site for information on the Portage Lift Bridge:

http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0%2C1607%2C7-151-9620_11154_11188-28585--%2C00.html

Living in the Yoop, I always had a love/hate relationship with that old bridge; definitly nothing like that out here in Vegas though. We just came back from visiting Hoover Dam and what a mess that has turned into!! Security check points, crossing gates and police everywhere. Now it looks as though they are building a HUGE bridge across the entire canyon so no traffic will be going over the Dam by 2008. That will take away all the fun of driving that twisty curvy road in and out of the canyon, not to mention dodging the bighorn sheep that roam free in the area. And all in the name of national security...........

Take care

To Jim B. of Downtown Milwaukee: So did you go to Randy's Bar and Luigi's to drown your sorrows? We have a Luigi's here in San Jose, but I don't drown my sorrows, I look forward to the next event. Love that contact sport.

AWESOME photos of the bridge! I love them, but anyone who knows me, knows I love that bridge!

The original Houghton Hancock bridge was struck by a ship and damaged severely. I dont know the date of the accident but remember reading about it. The old original bridge was a swing type and the center section would rotate 90 degrees and the boats could pass on either side. It probably could not handle the larger boats that you have today. A couple of the coffee makers that worked the bridge were Wayne Poisson, Earl Sterbenz, and B. Ziemnick of Lake Linden.

The swing bridge was hit by the steamer Northern Wave on April 15, 1905.

Yeah the bridge looks great.Earl is called the duke. He worked the bridge till he retired. The area looks bad up there with out the school it looks so lost. My aunt lived on the corner I could always find her house with it. Went to St. Ignatious then finished houghton high. Just came back from home. Brought the pasties and of course vollwarth hotdogs and ring balona.Went through hurricane charlie and now frances is coming.Give me a blizzard any day. ha ha
You all have a great day. Don't forget to go to the Ambassadors for the subs and pizza.
good night.

Have we heard from Dave, Cairo (aka Philadelphia) since his sign in on the 14th. Just wondering where he's wanderin'

Margaret, read about 10 messages up from yours, Dave is there!!! And going again!!

Margaret, Dave wrote today to say he's going back to Cairo. Not sure why we are doing business over there? Guess his company is saving money, huh? I say bring the work back home where it belongs, support our people, and make life good again.

The Portage Lift Bridge is staffed by Bridge Operators, employed by MDOT usually from the middle of April till the middle of December. During these months I believe it takes 5 employees to staff the structure during the "shipping season" months to cover all shifts 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Only one (or maybe two) employees remain during the winter months to perform snow removal, maintenance etc.
Don't forget Marty McGrath, the Cheif Bridge Operator that was employed there for several years along with Duke, Wayne and Bruce. There was also another gentleman that worked as an operator during those years, and I can see his face...But I can't remember his name.... All of which retired during the early 90's.

I thought there was a gentleman with the last name of Jacobson who also worked manning the bridge.

A view few have seen



And this one...


All of these were taken in the late 60's/early 70's

Support USA, Dave is an Electrical Engineer Power Systems that is constructing three electrical substations for The Egyptian Electric Transmissions Company on a USAID grant. He goes over for meetings and progress vists etc.
Just thought you'd like to know....:)

I remember a ship that came close to hitting this bridge. The ship was run aground on the Houghton side east of the bridge. I believe it also dropped anchors and pulled out some underwater cables. I remember the tugboats trying to pull it free. I think the bridge operator was fired for sleeping on the job but it was found out later that there was poor ventilation in the operators room and that he was overcome by exhaust fumes. He later got his job back. I think this was about 1961-62.

GOT A QUESTION...I am coming up there,Lac La Belle, this week and was looking into getting a new cell phone...which service works up there? I would appreciate ya'lls help. thanks

Theresa Dulong; I used to go to Al Dulong for my C.B.radio's,parts,ect.in Liviona,MI. back in the early 70's.I normaly don't post this much.

Just be careful where you call from if you pay for roaming.I have connected to a cell tower in CANADA when calling from the waterworks park/Buckys.I guess the signal was blocked by the hill ..I think it cast me $6.55 for a 3 minute call to Laurium!

Dave from PA,
Safe journey to you on your next trip to Cairo.
How long will you be there this time. I just got back yesterday from my "quick trip" to Marquette. Moved the boy back into his dorm. He had to get a whole new cell phone. Sprint does not work at all up in Marquette. We went with a Altell contract. My 13 year old daughter is thrilled to get his sprint phone. I'm not thrilled with the bill!
Marquette was great. Perfect weather until I left on Saturday morning. Going back up the weekend of Sept. 17. Colors are already starting. Have a great week to all.

To Lansing,Michigan...congratulations on tomorrow 54th anniversary. May it be a sunny and happy day for you both

Dave H.Correyton, Tenn.
The guy you went to in Livonia was Walt Dulong not Al. He had Dulong CB Radio Co. He passed away 27 years ago. They called him Red. He was a really great guy and a cousin to Theresa and my older brother. His whole family was up this summer and he graduated from Lake Linden Hubbell School in 1948. Have a good day!

Hey Dave

I lived in ypsilanti and was into CB in the 70 at that time i remember the name dulong . was his shop on ford road .


Joe

Thanks mjg in Lake Linden;Walt now i remember him.Yep he sure was a good fellow.

Sat up in bed when I remembered, had to log in to tell it
Leo was his name...Leo Beauchamp.
(The other bridge operator along with Marty, Wayne, Duke & Bruce)
And, their retirements all happened from the late eighties to the early nineties...

Back to bed now.
Nite all

I don't recall going to a sales shop on Ford Rd.I went to his home with the radio's ect. in the basement.My handle was Ratfink, the Mrs. was Mousey, we had a 10/8 station in Southfield,8 Mile Rd.& Lasher on Murwood where Sam's Club is today.We had a beam,& a standby antena,talking off a Layfette with a few 100 watts from the Sonar BR 2111 Amp.Modulation was a D-104 Tug-8 stand lollypop.I used to stir up things out there in Yipes-A-Lanti.

MJG this is cousin Therese yes I remember them saying Red had a Radio shop but never been there
how you doing MJG?? do you have any pictures of us kids when we were younger ???Also our Great Gramdma & Grandpa Dulong
Therese
P.S. yes he was a nice cousin
we all move down state

Neat pictures that bring back a lot of memories. Played in the Calumet High Band at the dedication of the 'new' bridge in '59. Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield from Flint, MI was the principal speaker.

I really don't think it can be disputed that the CHS bands of that era under director Anton 'Boss' Peshek were the pride of the Copper Country, if not the UP. Mr. Peshek continued a tradition with music in the North End that extends to this day.

Thanks Charlie for posting these old bridge pics.! I figured many would like them. In my photo album are a few more from the same issue. Also scattered in my album are a few B&Ws I took myself way back when! In one of my stacked albums
"Antique old postcards" is an image of a postcard
dated 1922 of the old swingbridge in the background. Quincy hill was really bare of trees and foilage then!
Dave-Corryton: Thanks again for the kind words my friend! There was another Detroit newspaper at the time---another possibility -- "The Detroit Times". Anyone remember? Charlie must have done some research tho since I note the cursor on the photos states "Detroit News" I vaguely remember cutting these photos out as a young lad. Had long forgotten them. Syl was going to throw them out until we both saw what we had! We spent an evening flattening, smoothing, cleaning, and trimming them. No date or Newspaper logo are there.
Yes I walked across the old bridge several times with my brother, mom, and cousins. Don't think I ever walked the new one tho.
I remember going up to the 2nd or 3rd floor of the Scott Hotel with my Uncle Jim where he was a part time radio announcer then for was it WHDF AM station? or were those studios in an adjoining building? I remember going to the Kerridge Theater several times nearby the Scott--right? I had forgotten the name tho! Wasn't there a theater over in Houghton too?
Right at the end of the "T" of the old bridge, Hancock side can plainly be seen the light colored building that was a big Shell gas station. To the right of it was the Jewish Synagogue To left of the station was the long stone stairway that went all the way up to Cooper street where in the very far upper left corner was our house where we lived for a time (316)
My cousin Dennis worked on the new bridge. He had many a story to tell and spent many a day(& night) down in the caissons under the water under air pressure. He's out in Arizona now.
BTW --Living in the Copper Country then the oldtimers used to tell us kids that when times are bad and businesses are slow and not doing well you'll always find "unexplained" fires!
10/4?
Russ Emmons, St. Clair county --new pasty.net internet user! and proud of it!

To JO - Lower Michigander:
We've traveled to the U.P. with 3 different cell phone companies. The only one that works most of the time north of the Mac Bridge is my Verizon. I have a no roaming in the 6-state midwest plan. I've found that my Verizon works almost everywhere except Copper Harbor. I never tried it in Lac La Belle. However, it worked on Brockway Mtn., in Eagle Harbor, Mohawk, and Calumet! The other 2 cell companies we tried were worthless just beyond St. Ignace.

I went to the old HHS for the 5th grade. Think it was 1948. Mrs Richardson was the teacher. Walked across the old bridge many times. Also went to movies and talent shows at the Kerredge (sp?) Theater. The one in Hancock was the Pic. The apartment building we lived in has since been torn down. It's address was on Montezuma Ave. I think it was owned by a family called Siller.

Hi all,I too miss seeing the old Houghton High School. It was a nice school,too bad it was demolished.

Dave,Corryton,Tn- Yes I am an 'Oldie" like you.I too remember the old bridge well. It was always "intersting" to go straight off the bridge and up Bridge Hill. Speaking of Bridge Hill, Lorraine Olson Joyal and I used to walk clear up to Hurontown to stay at her Aunts'. Then In the a.m. at about 6 or so we had to walk(slide) down it to catch our ride to work. We would also get off of our ride in Hancock sometimes,shop and then cross the bridge to shop in Houghton. Before we were married my husband I walked from Ripley clear across the bridge and back and then climbed up those stone stairs. He wasn't used to walking like I was and said he thought I was trying to kill him. This was the day of the bridge dedication. They issued copper tokens in commemoration(?) of the dedication Incidentaly the Houghton Theater was the Lode. Hancock's was the Orpheum and the beautiful old Kerredge. My Dad would give me a dime and then drive a bunch of us girls to the Kerredge. Those were the good old days.

I remember the bridge tender named Jacobson, but that was back in the old days. We lived on West Edwards street in the 30's and the Jacobsons lived on the south side of the Edwards near 2nd St. He worked for many years on the old swing bridge. I don't know if he was still working when the new bridge was installed. The steps on the Hancock side of the bridge were built by the WPA just prior to WWII. As were the Stone ships on the highway to Copper Harbor. And speaking of bands, there was the WPA band under the direction of Tony Rolando that was superb. They used to march in the local parades and give concerts in the band pavilion in the little park on the Houghton side of the Bridge.

I had nightmares for years, dreaming about walking across the old bridge. The rickity old boards would break, and I'd be falling! I always woke up before I hit the water though! My sister had similar nightmares. We lived on Bridge Hill, and when we'd hear a boat whistle, we'd race down the hill to "ride the bridge" as it swung open to let a boat pass. It's hard to believe that HHS is gone. I went there for 13 years, and now I only have and old brick from the school as a memory. Russell, do you remember all the hours we played on the "Stone Steps"?

To Jo, Lower Michigander: As a new Yooper (March 2004), I'm still using my Verizon cell phone (area code prefix 248) which works well almost everywhere in the UP. Might occasionally have to redial but it does work--except here in Sedar Bay which is downhill from any cell towers.

Thank you to all who responded to my cell phone dilemma. We bought a Verizon last nite and it doesn't work at MY house. Oh well, thought I would give it a try.
Thanks again and see ya in a couple days.
JO

Ken, you should be able to remember the Pic as being called the ORPHEUM (sp?).Used to be able to go there with a quarter, and buy a ticket, popcorn and a pop.

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. Have a good day everyone.

Dave H. Tennessee , thanks for the kind remarks about my father, Walter DuLong. Our CB radio store started out in our basement in Livonia then moved to Plymouth rd in Redford. We closed it a few years later after my dad passed away.

I have to tell you folks the the spelling today is terrific. I've enjoyed it immensly.Snicker snicker

You used to be able to buy a theater pass for $1 that was good for 11 Saturday afternoon matinees at the Kerridge or the Orpheum in Hancock. They would show a feature film and a Flash Gordon episode. The Kerridge was unique in that it had 2 or 3 balconies. Some of the less well behaved attendees would throw flattened popcorn boxes like a frisbee at the screen.

Roudy MI-
I appreciate the spelling comment...it reminds me of an email I received from my supervisor once. The title was "Miss Spellings in client correspndance" and that is a quote...I laughed and laughed. I am still giggling about it! I can understand misspellings in the email world, we are thinking as we type and fingers tend to wander. But to lecture me when one can't spell themselves is another.

Dave P., The Calumet bands are STILL the Pride of the Keweenaw, under the great direction of Scott Veenstra for the past 17 years!

Mind you I'm not lecturing,just enjoying. I make myself laugh on occasion with the typos. Some are very creative. "Over worked mussles". I can just picture all the little shellfish doing what ever it is they do,getting home and complaining to the spouse about how hard they had to work! What the had to say is another subject for the imagination. Let's keep up the good work!(and work harder at it!!!)

Hey Marching Copper King, I totally agree with you, and that pride extends to southern Ohio. It's really special (though not at all frequent) when I get to hear the CHS Band in a prade, football game, basketball game, etc.

To you and Mr. Veenstra and all the other fine blue and gray musicians present and future...KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

About the spelling errors--nayone can make a misteak!

You KNOW you're getting old when you refer to the lift bridge as "The New Bridge"! Rode over the old Portage Lake Bridge many times as a little kid but I never actually saw the bridge swung open. Living in the Range Towns is probably why.

Eddie Raffaelli of South Range well remembers driving truck over the old narrow span. I asked him once what happened if you met another semi on the old bridge: He said both vehicles tires rubbed up against the curb and even then there were more than a few side-mirrors knocked off.

But all in all the old swing bridge served the public faithfully for a full sixty-five years.

Hey Roudy 'think they got schools up there?

You know it will take all the fun out of posting messages if we have to get out the dictionary and proof read every line. Then how about we all go to a formal writing format, everything prim and proper. I for one would not post very many messages as it would take to long.

COMPLIMENTS OF SKYPIXS
AERIALS PHOTOGRAPHY.

skypixs.com

DAVE POISSON AT THE CONTROLS!

bridge info five bridge operators work for MDOT
24/7 CHIEF Robert "butch"Paavola Dave"Dibbi"Manninen Bill Hanner Dave Poisson
Dennis Juntunen. Bridge operator house is just
above highway This bridge was put to use in 1959
of December It has 25000 cars crossing in 24hrs
TO 12500 crossing the Big Mac

Beautiful, beautiful modern day pics of the bridge! However the 4th one down freaked me out for a second or two! I get the perspective now tho! Whew!
(My old boyhood home in the 40s is to the left of the Quincy Mine Shaft as shown just off the picture!)

Beautiful bridge pictures!

Darrell,I agree with you.

besides the band i do believe that the Calumet ROTC unit was there for the dedication, if my memory has not faded. also, would have to agree that the bridge should have been built a little further to the east,,, think how much agrivation tourists would not have to contend with.

I love the bridge. This is one of my favorite pasty.cam days. I'm thankful for those who built it, ran it, run it today and those who photographed it so I could sit here in Colorado and enjoy it. And thanks for putting all of your bridge stories here, they are all great! Every memory from my childhood has the bridge in it somewhere. My teen years were filled with comments heard on '19' from the coffee makers, who were good friends of so many people. Everytime I get on line, I gotta see the bridge before I do anything else. My heart will be broken if I'm still alive and this bridge has to be replaced. I miss seeing the High School too, since I grew up nearly 50 feet away from it on Quincy Street. Good to see the Quincy Mine and the courthouse still standing, for however long that may be. Better get a good look now... time keeps going by. Take care, folks! Saari iff eye spelt enny ting rong hear.

Do you know, the traffic STILL backs up through Houghton and Hancock when a boat goes through that requires the bridge to go up? And I use a Tracfone cell phone up here which works fine as long as you are in a tower zone; no, doesn't work in Sedar Bay or in Lac la Belle (wink). But then, we are the exclusive, scenic, unspoiled KEWEENAW!

Just 2 days ago my family and I were discussing the bridges, but we were talking about 3 of them; the one before the one before today's bridge. So thank you for these pictures.

My Mom's friends used to walk the rail of the old Bridge for excitement. She told me that one time one of the bridge keepers fell asleep and failed to raise the lift and a boat ran right into the bridge. Concerning the fires, I think the fire hall burnt down in Hurontown. Corret me if I'm wrong.
My grandfather owned the grocery store in Hurontown. His name was John Huhtelin. To Dave Hiltunen in Corryton TN, my mothers last name was Hiltunen before she was adopted by John & Fanny Huhtelin. I've been trying to find her family. She had a brother in Republic. Her mom and dad's name were Matthew & Erikka Hiltunen.

Several folks have asked where the bridge operators are located.
As Dave Poisson Bridge Operator said, the "... bridge operator house is just above [the] highway"
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I knew we had one in the Pasty Cam Guest Gallery, but it took a bit of digging to find this shot from Ryan & Danielle Mahoney's Album: Summer Vacation Part 2- August 2003 - Marquette to Houghton, the original photo: Crossing the Lift Bridge
The bridge operations center is located just above the highway signs on the Houghton end of the bridge, as shown in this annotated snippet from that photo:

nice pict