Category Archives: Bridges

The Mini Mac

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In the central Michigan town of St. Louis is a bridge affectionately known as the Mini Mac Bridge. It is off M-46 at the Mini Mac Mini Storage facility. I have driven through St Louis many times and I never knew this little bridge was there. You can’t see it from M-46 and I did not know about it until recently. It was built in 1992 by the storage facility’s original owner. During the summer months it is open for people to walk across it. The replica bridge is amazing in its construction with grates in the center and lights on the towers. It is located between US-127 and St. Louis and a neat little bridge to see if you are in the area.

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The Keystone Bridge

Posted on by Posted in Bridges, upper peninsula .

The small town of Ramsay sits a few miles east of Bessemer. One of Michigan’s largest and oldest stone bridges can be found there. The keystones at the peak of the arch stand 57 feet above the Black River. The bridge was constructed in 1891 by Chicago and Northwest Railroad at a cost of $48,322.  The tracks above it are gone and it has been a long time since any trains traveled over the bridge but it still looks as good as the day it was first constructed.

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The Memorial at the Bridge

Posted on by Posted in Bridges, people .

When I am traveling along US-2 heading west from St. Ignace I like to stop at the Cut River Bridge for a break and stretch my legs. Between the bridge and the parking lot is a plaque in honor of  Heath Michael  Robinson.

The plaque reads:

Senior Chief Special Operator Heath Michael Robinson was born June 5, 1977 in Alma, Michigan. He later graduated from Petoskey High School in June 1995. In June 1993, after the downing of a Black Hawk helicopter in Mogadishu Somalia Heath was inspired to become a Navy SEAL. Immediately following high school in January 1996 he enlisted in the United States Navy.

Senior Chief Robinson reported to Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois on January 24,1996. On March 29, 1996 he completed Basic Training and reported to A School at Dam Neck for four months. On July 19, 1996 he entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S training in Coronado, CA. He was unable to complete due to unfortunate circumstances. After a two-year tour in Okinawa, Japan he return to Coronado and entered BUD/S Class 226. After six months of the most grueling and demanding training in the military, he graduated then reported to Basic Airborne School in Ft. Benning, GA.

He was assigned to SEAL Team Three from March 6, 2000 to April 12, 2002. After completing one tour, he transferred to SEAL Team Seven from April 12, 2002 to April 2, 2004. Senior Chief Robinson began a rigorous selection and training course with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG). Nine months after beginning the training process, Senior Chief Robinson was selected to be a NSWDG operator and reported to Tactical Developments and Evaluation Squadron (TACDEVRON) Three where he completed numerous deployments.

Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Heath Robinson was a highly decorated combat veteran with numerous awards including four Bronze Star Medals, three with ‘V’ for valor; Joint Service Commendation Medal; three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two with ‘V’ for valor; Joint Service Achievement Medal; three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals; Combat Action Ribbon; two Presidential Unit Citations; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation; five Navy Good Conduct Medals; Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; two Afghanistan Campaign Medals; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; NATO Medal; Navy Expert Rifleman Medal and Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.

Heath was a member of Extortion 17. On August 06, 2011, thirty-one Operators were lost, the single largest loss of life to Naval Special Forces.

Senior Chief Heath Robinson is survived by his wife, a beautiful daughter (his princess), his loving parents and brothers, teammates, family and friends. He is laid to rest in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. – Submitted by his family

“Long Live the Brotherhood”

 

After reading the plaque I will think of Senior Chief Robinson and the sacrifice he and his family has made every time I cross over the Cut River Bridge.

 

 

 

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Seven Bridges

Posted on by Posted in Bridges, Nature .

Seven Bridges Nature Area is located between Kalkaska and Rapid City. Its hiking paths and bridges meander across streams and creeks in a lush green forest. The times I have visited there are few people in this little piece of wilderness. It seems like a hidden gem that I think few people know about. If you are looking for someplace to connect with nature be sure to check out the Seven Bridges Nature Area on Valley Road.

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Pigeon River Foot Bridge

Posted on by Posted in Bridges, Nature .

This foot bridge crosses over the Pigeon River in the Agnes S. Andreae Nature Preserve near Indian River. The preserve has five miles of hiking trails that wind their way along the river. It is also home to the Nature Megaphone that you can read about in my post HERE

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The Old Stone Bridge

Posted on by Posted in Bridges .

I saw this old stone bridge crossing the Bean Creek in the southern Michigan town of Hudson. I knew it was historically significant with the historical marker next to it. The marker reads:

The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway organized on May 27, 1869. The railroad’s main line linked Buffalo, New York, with Chicago. The railroad played a vital role in transporting not only passengers, but also the materials that fed the nation’s burgeoning industries. Between 1873 and 1898, the L.S. & M.S. handled over 6 million tons of coal and 15 million tons of ore. The railway merged with the New York Central in 1914.

The bridge, built in 1871-72 of sandstone from Berea, Ohio, crosses Bean Creek on the main line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. The span of the arch measures 60 feet. By 1892, of 223 bridges over 1413 miles of track along the line, only 22 were built of stone. Stone arch bridges are rare in Michigan. This bridge and one near Adrian are the state’s oldest examples. The bridge was removed from rail service in 1962.

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Michigan’s Underwater Bridge

Posted on by Posted in Bridges, upper peninsula .

Most bridges that cross over a river are above the river. This bridge just north of Manistique that crosses over the Manistique River at one time was lower than the level of the river. It gained recognition on Ripley’s Believe it or Not. The reason for this unique distinction is the paper mill downriver was in need of more water for increased production in the early 1900s.

In my photo, you see a dude fishing. The bridge with its solid concrete walls runs along the left side of the photo. In front of the fisherman is a concrete flume that water flowed through to the papermill. The top of the flume is higher than the surface of the road and the concrete sides held back the water of the flume. I am not sure exactly when, but the paper mill no longer needed the water it once did and the water level in the flume has been lowered. It is not the most visually appealing bridge or flume but I thought it was interesting that the bridge at one time went through the river instead of over it.

P.S. If you are wondering about the tower in the background you can see my post about it HERE. 

 

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The Ada Covered Bridge

Posted on by Posted in Bridges .

Near Grand Rapids is the town of Ada. Rix Robinson built a trading post near present-day Ada in 1821 and made the first land purchase in 1833. A post office was established in 1837. Both the township and village settlement were named for Ada Smith, the daughter of the first postmaster. A Michigan historical marker proudly describes the history of the one of a kind bridge wooden bridge in Ada and it reads: An act of the legislature in 1867 authorized Ada Township to borrow up to $3000 for the purpose of building or repairing bridges in the township. This bridge was built about that time, apparently by William Holmes. The design for the trusses was patented by Josiah Brown in 1857. A timber bearing his name was uncovered during repair work. The bridge has been threatened by floods a number of times. It is said that farmers used to drive wagons loaded with stone onto the bridge during high water to hold it to the foundation. The bridge was closed to automobile traffic in 1930 and restored by the Kent County Road Commission in 1941.

If you are ever in the area be sure to stop by and walk across the bridge. It is like walking back in time.

 

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McCourtie Park Bridges

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McCourtie Park is in the town of Somerset Center in southern Michigan along US-12. The park was originally the estate of businessman  W. H. L. McCourtie. He hired Mexican artisans George Cardoso and Ralph Corona to construct seventeen bridges on his property. They sculpted them out of concrete to look like natural wood. The house is gone but the bridges remain and are now part of a public park. It is a nice place to stop and take a break and check out these beautiful little bridges.

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Michigan’s Singing Bridge

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On US-23 between Au Gres and Tawas is a bridge that crosses the east branch of the Au Gres River and has been given the nickname “The Singing Bridge.” When I was younger most people knew it as the place to party while smelt dipping. If you ask someone who grew up in the Saginaw Valley region in the ’70s and went smelt dipping, they will probably tell you all sorts of stories of massive parties at the Singing Bridge. I am not sure how true they are, but the smelt used to run heavily in the area years ago and would draw crowds to dip for smelt when they were running.

Legend has it the bridge got its moniker from the wood or metal decking that it had decades ago. As cars drove across it the tires would hum from the texture of the road. I think MDOT should add grooves to the bridge and make it sing once again like in this video HERE. The big question would be what song would it play. I say the U of M fight song, but I think Spartan fans would disagree. Maybe U of M one way and MSU the other.

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