Name/Title
Bridge news 1868-1939Entry/Object ID
2024.01.12Scope and Content
Scans of Commercial Record newspaper clippings about the building and maintenance of the various bridges that span the Kalamazoo between Saugatuck and Douglas.Context
Tracks dates and technical improvements.Collection
Newspapers, Transportation: highway and road infrastructure, Transportation: bridgesCataloged By
Winthers, SallyAcquisition
Accession
2024.01Source or Donor
Yoder, ChrisAcquisition Method
Donation, unconditionalNotes
These Commercial Record newspaper clippings — scanned by Chris Yoder in the 2000s — had been available on the pre-2023 SDHC website. The content has been moved to this online catalog for safekeeping.
Publication dates are indicated in the year/month/day/page file name. For example "cr1938102801Description.jpg" = Commercial Record, 1938, October, 28th, page 01Lexicon
Search Terms
US-31 Bridge, Blue Star Highway Bridge, Kalamazoo River Bridge, us31 bridge, U.S. 31 bridgeLocation
* Untyped Location
Digital data in CatalogItRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Bridge, Swing and Causeway 1902/Drawbridge 1870 or 1868General Notes
Note
Text written by Kit Lane for the 2009 Summertime exhibit
Crossing the Bridge
There was a bridge across the Kalamazoo River near the foot of Mary Street built in the 1840s. It was a partially a floating bridge with a center section elevated to permit the passage of small boats, but which could also be opened to permit larger vessels. However, it was rapidly and poorly built and boats kept knocking it until one day in 1857 when it collapsed. According to a contemporary account “a wagon and oxen and two ladies floated gracefully along until the driver (who chanced to be on the body of the bridge) could hastily summon aid to the rescue.”
It was not rebuilt and a chain ferry was put into service at that point. A more permanent bridge was constructed in 1868 just west of the present bridge with a draw, and later a swing span to allow boats to go upriver to the Douglas Basket Factory . The present bridge was built in 1938 to convey the Blue Star Memorial Highway over the river and has been improved and widened several times. The structure is the site of the annual Labor Day bridge walk. The walk was inspired by a similar event which takes place on the five mile long Mackinac Bridge which links Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula. The Kalamazoo River bridge walk occurs early Labor Day morning with as much pomp as can be mustered. The .09? mile length of the bridge, includes a stop for refreshment in mid-walk and a certificate of completion issued to those who go the entire distance.Create Date
March 4, 2024Update Date
May 13, 2025
