MARILYN CORNWELL: construction

Can you imagine? The original bridge crossing the Niagara River in Niagara Falls, named the Honeymoon Bridge collapsed in 1938 due to an ice jam on the river. Massive chunks of ice began to accumulate below the bridge on January 23rd, 1938. This was precipitated by a powerful wind storm that blew ice from Lake Erie down the Niagara River and over the Horseshoe and the American Falls. It was the bridge's close proximity to the water level that was the problem..

"During the fateful week in 1938, the Niagara river bed rose to 9 feet high, thus engulfing the Maid of the Mist docks and everything else around it. Suddenly the abutments of the Honeymoon Bridge were encased with ice. Knowing that the bridge would collapse on any given day, all vehicle traffic was ceased to a halt the day prior to the Niagara Falls Bridge Collapse on January 26th." There was film footage of this at the time. It is HERE. Thousands of spectators watched from both sides as the collapse occurred.

I went looking for images of the construction of the new arch, started in 1940 and completed in 1941. "The bridge is a hingeless steel arch, and when it was first built was reportedly the longest hingeless steel arch ever constructed. The bridge's steel is composed of built-up beams that are riveted together. The bridge appears to retain good historic integrity with no major alterations to the superstructure noted. The bridge's solid rib arch and minimal bracing give this bridge an appearance that is quite modern in comparison to other bridges built during this time."

Here in the definitive article on its construction - August 28, 1941 Engineering News-Record describes of the method of erection.

And when the bridge opened November 1st 1941, which dignitaries were on hand? I found only one reference, but an excellent one. It is an original Toronto Star caption: "The rainbow bridge at Niagara Falls was formally opened during the week-end. A rainbow made its appearance shortly afterward. Hoisting the Canadian flag is Hon. T. B. McQuesten; and on his LEFT are Dr. Norman V. Leslie of Hamilton and C. Elliston Kauymeyer; bridge manager."

I wondered if it would have been the Prime Minister or Premier of Ontario as it was considered one of the most significant bridges of its time. But that was a thought only. The Toronto Public Library archives has numerous historical pictures of construction HERE. This picture makes everything look so tidy and neat, but it was a huge site, full of construction equipment as the second image shows better.