Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sepia saturday 67 : 26 March 2011

Once again it’s Sepia Saturday and this week’s photo theme was taken in the mid 1930’s and shows the reconstruction of the bridge over the River Loughor at Pontardulais, Wales. There is so much going on in this photo….the billboards intrigued me the most, but having little time to research them I selected to post about “bridges.” We wouldn’t get very far without bridges in our lives, and believe me there are so many bridges for so many reasons all over the world just waiting….for us to come meet them!
If you want to jump right in with your own…or something else go here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/03/sepia-saturday-67-26-march-2011.html

Hastings Spiral Bridge in Hastings, Minnesota shown in this undated postcard.

This bridge was built in 1895 the shipping industry required a bridge with at least 55 feet clearance over the Mississippi River and for city traffic the town leaders wanted a bridge that delivered traffic into the downtown rather than over and beyond it.
As horses were replaced by automobiles and heavy trucks began to use the highways, the old Spiral Bridge was unable to support the heavier loads.  It was demolished in 1951 and replaced with a more conventional span.

Note: For Sepia Saturday Bloggers notice how the old mill in this photo is much like the one in the theme photo.


Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge - Built in 1905 and reconstructed in 1929.

A section of the bridge rises 138 feet to allow boats to pass underneath through the Duluth Ship Canal. The canal separates the mainland and most of the city from Minnesota Point, which is a long sand spit that protects the harbor.  Cars can cross the lift bridge on their way to Minnesota Point aka Park Point and is a casual beachside neighborhood.


Enter ......... The Stillwater Lift Bridge (showing the wooden approach used during construction in May 27, 1931) Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society.  This bridge is still in use in Stillwater, Minnesota and crosses the St. Croix River into Wisconsin.

Stillwater, Minnesota Lift Bridge built in 1931 to replace a Swing Bridge from 1910.

It was the last bridge of this design to be built in the area.  This area is known for great spring flooding and is closed for weeks at a time during the flooding season!  Stillwater is one of my favorite river towns to frequently visit.



Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis foot bridge a refreshing and  fashionable spot for visitors to admire the Minnehaha Falls.  American writer Elizabeth Ellet made a trip in 1852 that became very widely known and she was a frequent contributor to national magazines such as Godey's Lady's Book and she described Minnehaha Falls as a "vision of beauty" and it still is today! 
The name Minnehaha often translated as "Laughing water" but the correct translation is "curling water" or "Waterfall."

A Swedish novelist Fredrika Bremer visited St. Paul in October of 1850 and our Governor Ramsey and his wife Anna hosted her with a gala welcome and later Bremer published her "Home of the New World," in 1853 praising Minnesota's agricultural potential and prophetically observed,

"This Minnesota is a glorious country, and just the country for Northern emigrants....It is four times as large as England; its soil is of the richest description, with extensive wooded tracts; great numbers of rivers and lakes abounding in fish, and a healthy, invigorating climate....What a glorious new Scandinavia might not Minnesota become!"
Suspension bridge linking Minneapolis to Nicollet Island, this is about 1865, as it opened in 1855, it was the first permanent span on the Mississippi River.

The property was a private corporation, the facility was operated as a private toll bridge until purchased by Hennepin County in 1869. The toll was five cents for pedestrians, twenty-five cents for horse-drawn wagons, and two cents for “swine or sheep.”   Its condition quickly deteriorated to the point where replacement was needed. The new bridge was built directly adjacent to the old, so, for a brief period during construction, both bridges coexisted. The old bridge was demolished in 1876 when the new bridge was complete.

Enter the next generation of bridges from across the mighty pond........to England
Clifton Suspension Bridge -Avon Gorge- City of Bristol, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset, England.

And one more view of this most lovely bridge....


One more look at a distance of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.



15 comments:

Postcardy said...

I am going to look for a postcard of the Hastings spiral bridge. That is a really interesting one. My view cards are mainly of Minneapolis, but I am starting to look for interesting cards from other parts of Minnesota.

Bob Scotney said...

We must be telepathic Karen. there's a bridge over the River Tees at Stockton that starts with a spiral at one end; further downstream there is a lift bridge at Newport, Middlesbrough - it doesn't lift anymore. I have a series of pictures of the Clifton Suspension Bridge that I'm saving for another occasion. A lot of water has flowed under your bridges and mine.

Bruno Laliberté said...

what a great journey!! while i wouldn't have set foot on the first structure as it looks so flimsy, the others are handsome structures. and the falls look like a great spot for a picnic!!
:)~
HUGZ

Unknown said...

I love the photos! The spiral one is amazing,I've never seen anything like that before. The little wooden one by the falls is what the bridges in my area all still look like.. they kinda make you wonder if you should dare cross :)

A Paperback Writer said...

Bridge? I thought that was a rollercoaster at first glance!

21 Wits said...

Bob, yes! Great minds do think alike!
Writer, you aren't the first to have thought that, it was an amazing bridge...I wish I could have seen it when it was still standing!
Ticklebear, it was actually quite a strong and durable bridge surprisingly and lasted a great amount of use too!
Postcardy, the Hastings Bridge (quite different today) is a fascinating one and believe me there are tons of photos taken and so much interesting info on that one famous bridge.
Tracie, it's one of my old time favorites!
All bridges ...simply bridging us together to go somewhere in this short wonderful time on earth for sure!!!!

Christine H. said...

Karen,
You have managed to highlight some amazing and beautiful bridges. I wonder how many people ended up driving off the side of the Hastings Spiral Bridge. Thanks so much for this very entertaining post.

Alan Burnett said...

Wonderfully informative and illustrated post. Whilst I am familiar with the Clifton Bridge, the spiral bridge is new to me - and the Lift Bridge is almost identical to the famous one in Middlesborough.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

The first bridge looks seriously scary - more like a little boy's slot car track then a bridge. This is a wonderful collection of bridges and information.

Mike Brubaker said...

Very interesting solutions to engineering problems that wouldn't be possible today with modern vehicle loads. Super collection on theme.

Brett Payne said...

The bridge in your first postcard looks like something out of Dr Seuss.

Nancy said...

What an amazing collection of bridges! I suspect the Hastings Spiral Bridge must have been a terror to drive in the winter! Thanks for sharing these.

The Silver Fox said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that the first bridge -- my favorite photo, though all were great -- looked more like a carnival or amusement park ride!

sage said...

I like your old post card posts! Thanks!

dakotaboo said...

Had exactly the same thought as A Paperbackwriter - thought first picture was a rollercoaster. Great post.