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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 14 Volume VI, Issue IV June 1, 2002 Bridges of Long Ago Note: This information was taken from “Remember My Valley,” compiled by LaVerna Newey. Notable early landmark in Ogden Canyon was Shanghai Bridge, which was located across from Pine View present caretaker’s house, and above the old dam site. It is now under hundreds of feet of water. Quoting from D. O. McKay’s booklet is the following: “In the Beginning, the road down Ogden Canyon was made to follow the north side of the canyon to this point, because the going was easy and smooth. But at the west end of the fault, the river swirled from the south side of the canyon diagonally across to the north wall and gouged into the base of the hill as far a s the ledge on that side would allow it to do. “A bridge to connect the tow strips of smooth flat ground on opposite sides of the river was the sensible thing to build. Such a one had been built, but high water in the spring before had washed it out. It was decided to build a new bridge, high enough this time to avoid being washed out. “Instead of laying the stringers straight across from bank to bank, the new bridge began back some distance from the edge of the stream and the cross beams rested on timbers of varying lengths, set perpendicularly. The floor of the bridge, as a consequence, sloped rather abruptly up on both sides to give the necessary elevation in the middle, so the long section on top was considered to be well out of reach of any floodwaters. “In general appearance and proportions its shape was such as to give a 2580 N. HIGHWAY 162, EDEN UT 940-4040 FOR ALL YOUR OGDEN VALLEY REAL ESTATE NEEDS dickdixon@att.net Visit www.dickdixon.org Dick Dixon Associate Broker 940-4040 VALLEY RESIDENT & SPECIALIST gangling appearance. When it was completed, one of the men remarked that it looked exactly like a Shanghai rooster. Anyone old enough to remember that lanky, bony breed of fowl, need not be told, therefore, what the general appearance of the bridge was. “In 1881 or 1882, this structure was generally considered to be unsafe. The county decided to build a road on the north side of the canyon from Shanghai Flats down to Black Point, and thus they would eliminate two bridge crossings, so Shanghai Bridge passed into legend.” The other story was told by the late Mr. Albert Garner who moved to Huntsville in 1862. It was written in the Historical Information of the Ogden River Ranger District: “A man by the name of Sam Bittle was coming down the canyon with his oxen. It was snowing and the ox on the right side was blind in his right eye. The ox became exited upon passing over Shanghai Bridge, and both went over the side, pulling the wagon with them into the Ogden River. “The river was so high that these oxen swam a distance of three-quarters of a mile to a point where they emerged from the water at Wheeler’s Mill, and from the mill they headed up the road looking form Mr. Bittle. “They found him clinging onto one log of this high bridge, not daring to let go and fall into the river, and not being able to grasp back onto the bridge because it was too slippery to get a hand hold above.” (This happened in the early 1870’s) Another bridge that was a landmark was the Hermitage Bridge, which now provides access to the Graycliff Lodge. It is a narrow bridge with two sharp curves and was long considered one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the area. On April 23, 1922, in the spring, James Gunn McKay of Huntsville was hurrying to Ogden to attend a meeting. With him were his young wife Anna Olson McKay, and their only child, a son. As his fairly new car rounded the hazardous curve at Hermitage Bridge, it skidded off into the churning Ogden River. Jimmy G., as he was affectionately known, was able to swim to safety, but his wife and child were drowned. Convenient Quick Quality Guaranteed AAA DRYWALL REPAIR Jim Zeleznick 552 S. 8600 E. Huntsville, UT 84317N “NO JOB TOO SMALL” Licensed, Insured & Preferred Office/Fax: 801-745-3035 Thursday, July 4th Mini-Mini-Marathon Registration Form Name:________________________ Phone:___________________ Sex: M F Age Category: 6 and under______ 7 - 11______ 12 - 16______ 17-21_____ 22-30______ 31-40_____ 41-55_____ 56 & over_____ Race Category: 1 Mile Fun Run____ 5K Race____ 10K Race_____ Cost is $12 if registered by June 26th; after the 26th, it will be $17. Pre-register to guarantee a T-shirt and FREE breakfast. Shirt size_____ Mail registrations to Vern Iverson, 7229 E. 1000 N. Huntsville, UT 84317 Make checks payable to Huntsville Town. For all your Excavatingg Needs LANDSCAPE TOP FILL ROCK SOIL DIRT GRAVEL ROAD ESTABLISHED 1981 Visa and Mastercard Accepted BASE SEPTIC TANKS BASEMENTS WATERLINES SNOW REMOVAL Propane Available for Sale Financing Available 4786 OFFICE LOCATED AT EAST 2600 NORTH EDEN, 745-2309 Office UT 84310 745-6910 Fax |