The Ties That Bind

Alpena’s Second Avenue Bridge

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

1. The Ties That Bind Marker

Inscription. From the time of Alpena's inception it was divided by the Thunder Bay River, although most of the community was centered on the south side. A wooden scow served as a ferry, connecting Second Avenue on the south side with Dock Street on the north; it was pulled back and forth across the river with a rope. In the spring of 1864 the community provided $1,000 for construction of a bridge. The simple, fixed wooden span was built by Obed Smith. It served its purpose, but the bridge did not last; it fell into ruin in five or six years, and the inefficient old scow ferry was reactivated.

A second bridge was constructed by Samuel Boggs of Alpena in 1872-73. This was a wooden swing bridge that could be opened to allow ships upstream of Second Avenue. It meant that sawmills and commercial docks could be constructed at upriver locations, and several large mills were constructed during the mid 1870s as a result. The wooden swing bridge was replaced by a sturdier steel structure in 1886, built by the Smith Bridge Company of Ohio.

The current Second Avenue drawbridge was authorized in August, 1938 and construction began the following

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spring. The bridge opened to pedestrian traffic on December 1, 1939 and to vehicular traffic five days later. With a horizontal clearance of 72 feet, it permitted easy access for all but the largest Great Lakes freighters of the period.

Erected by Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 45° 3.794′ N, 83° 25.841′ W. Marker was in Alpena, Michigan, in Alpena County. It could be reached from North 2nd Avenue north of Water Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located along the Alpena Bi-Path, at the northwest end of South Riverfront Park, beside the Thunder Bay River, just east of the Second Avenue Bridge. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 145 Water Street, Alpena MI 49707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula

and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties.

Marker detail: scow ferry image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan

2. Marker detail: scow ferry

While the first bridge was still under construction in 1864, a scow ferry took passengers and “teams” of horses across the Thunder Bay River. Only a few businesses and homes were located on Alpena’s north side at the time.

It was also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Alpena’s Second Avenue Bridge (here, next to this marker); Treaty of Saginaw (within shouting distance of this marker); Grecian (within shouting distance of this marker); Montana (within shouting distance of this marker); Winter Layup (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Abby’s Story (about 400 feet away); Thomas Stafford Dog Park (about 400 feet away); Nordmeer (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alpena.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Winter Layups (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted waist-high on a metal supporting rack.

Also see . . .
1. History of Alpena’s Second Avenue Bridge. In 1862, before Alpena’s first bridge was

Marker detail: swing bridge, 1873 image. Click for full size.

Fred Trelfa photo, Thunder Bay Sanctuary Research Collection

3. Marker detail: swing bridge, 1873

Alpena’s new swing bridge permitted vessel access to docks and businesses far up the Thunder Bay River when it was completed in 1873. It marked a turning point for the local economy. This view is looking south, toward downtown Alpena.

built across the Thunder Bay River, a ferry boat was the only means of travel between the north and south sections of this rapidly growing Northeast Michigan town. The ferry was a 30 ft. long flat bottom scow that had a long iron pole extending up from the bottom with a ring attached to the top. A rope was attached to the ring and connected to sturdy poles on each side of the river. Passengers desiring to get across the river would have to get on the docked ferry and then pull their way across by hanging onto and pulling along the rope. (Submitted on August 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. 2nd Avenue Bridge. The bridge is a double-leaf bascule bridge with steel stringer approach spans. It was a prize bridge winning an award from the American Institute of Steel Construction for its beauty in 1939, its year of construction. (Submitted on August 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: steel swing bridge, 1886 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan

4. Marker detail: steel swing bridge, 1886

The wooden swing bridge was replaced by a steel structure in 1886. With a 20-foot roadway and a six-foot walking path on each side, it was fabricated in 90 days while its predecessor was dismantled nearby.

Marker detail: drawbridge, 1939 image. Click for full size.

Thunder Bay Sanctuary Research Collection

5. Marker detail: drawbridge, 1939

Alpena’s modern Second Avenue drawbridge was built in 1939 and completed before the year was out. It has a 72-foot “draw” to accommodate the typical lake freighters of the 1940s and ‘50s.

The Ties That Bind Marker (<i>wide view looking west; Second Avenue Bridge in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

6. The Ties That Bind Marker (wide view looking west; Second Avenue Bridge in background)

East side of Second Avenue Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

7. East side of Second Avenue Bridge

West side of Second Avenue Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

8. West side of Second Avenue Bridge

Second Avenue Bridge 1939 AISC Award (<i>mounted on bridge near control house</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

9. Second Avenue Bridge 1939 AISC Award (mounted on bridge near control house)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7, 8, 9. submitted on September 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.