The old ‘Wood Bridge’ called the Red Bridge was condemned in 1890, the ‘Iron Bridge’ was built parallel to the old wood bridge.
The Red Bridge (wooden bridge) was condemned in 1890.
Once the new bridge was completed, the old wood bridge (‘Red Bridge’) became firewood.
The “Iron Bridge’ remained in use until 1919.
Once the Siphon Bridge was built in 1919, the steel girders of the above bridge was used for various building projects throughout the county.
Siphon Bridge construction began in 1919. Notice the steel girders of the Iron Bridge in the foreground.
The iconic Siphon Bridge was built across the Manistique River in 1919 by the Manistique Pulp and Paper Company, which was owned by the Minneapolis Tribune Publishing Company.
The Siphon Bridge Construction-1919
This bridge crosses the Manistique River, as well as the Manistique River flume which is like a concrete river channel that is positioned higher than the actual river to allow water to flow at a higher elevation from a dam upstream. This flume was a solution to a paper mill’s need for more water for its mill. A dam there would have been unacceptable since it would have flooded the town. The portion of the bridge that crossed over the flume was specially designed with thick tall railings.
The Siphon Bridge specially designed with thick, tall railings.
The specially designed railings actually protected the roadway from water, which originally flowed at a level higher than the roadway itself.
Siphon Bridge constructed with railings that protected the roadway from water.
The roadway itself was four feet below the river, which assisted in supporting the bridge, and as a result of that, it was listed in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.
View of the newly completed bridge 1920.
Note: On the Northwest section of the Siphon Bridge today, you will find a bench mark with the following information:
Trunk Line Bridge
No. 202 1918
Built By The State Highway Department
Manistique Pulp & Paper Co.
Schoolcraft County
Under The Supervision of
Frank F. Rogers, State Highway Com’r
Manistique Pulp & Paper Co.
Contractor
Manistique, Mich.
Photo’s Courtesy: Dan Malloy & Schoolcraft Historical Society