Bridge Over Troubled Water

The Granite Falls Chamber, Super Hero volunteer members of Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization and Super Heroes Michelle Vavricka and Scott Tedrick have been busy planning the Meander Friday Night event as part of the Art Meander 2015. Kid's Super Hero Event starts at 4 with music, Happy Hour on the Footbridge, ribbon cutting and theater at 7 PM.  Come out and support our town, the arts and celebrate the re-opening of the footbridge.  The celebration ends at the American Legion with music by Jerry Ostensoe. The weather forecast is looking promising to continue this beautiful fall weekend along the Upper Minnesota River Valley visiting the 40 artists at locations along the river valley. 
It's been fun watching everyone enjoy the footbridge since it's been open again, here's some history of the bridge:   A wooden bridge was built in the early 1880s at the foot of Hill St.   The bridge was removed each winter.  In the later 100s the city installed the first permanent bridge out of wood.  One year, the old bridge collapsed as a large crowd was on it to watch at "tub race." 

Most springs, a section or two the bridge would be knocked down by ice chunks.  It was expensive to replace the bridge each spring and one of the first WPA projects in the community was the construction of the suspension walking bridge, the first bridge of this type in the state.

On July 26, 1934 $8,500 in bonding funds were set aside for the construction of a more permanent pedestrian bridge crossing the Minnesota River.   At the Oct 5, 1934 city council meeting "A representative of John A Roeblings Sons explained the merits of suspension bridges."  On. January 10, 1935 bids of construction were advertised.

The bridge is a fun part of living in Granite Falls and I've heard many stories about it including boys at one end, girls at the other;  driving a car across it;  arriving on the train from the east side depot to the bakery,  and more.   Have a footbridge story to share?  e-mail the chamber - gfchamber@mvtvwireless.com