Toston in Broadwater County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Toston Bridge

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 17, 2021

1. Toston Bridge Marker

Inscription. Norwegian immigrant Tom Toston established a ranch and ferry near here in 1871. Strategically located at the junction of the Helena-Gallatin Valley Road and the road to Radersburg, a settlement quickly grew up around Toston’s ranch. Soon the town boasted a post office, mercantile, hotel, and a smelter to process ore from the Radersburg mines. A bridge replaced Toston’s ferry in the 1890s, but by the 1910s it had become unsafe. Local residents petitioned the Broadwater County commissioners to replace it. State Highway Department engineer Charles A. Kyle developed a riveted steel Warren through truss design for this Missouri River crossing in 1918. Inexpensive to build and known for its durability, the “W” configuration of the trusses is its trademark. In July 1919, the county commissioners awarded a contract to the Billings-based Security Bridge Company, a firm known for its high quality work. The company employed eleven men on the project, many of them local. Among these was long-time Toston resident William Lorentz. A native of Pennsylvania, Lorentz came to Toston in 1884 working for the Northern Pacific Railway. A carpenter

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

by trade, he also served as the last superintendent of the Toston smelter and helped build bridges for the Montana Railroad Company. Completed in July 1920, the Toston Bridge became an integral part of the community because of its location on the highway between Helena and Bozeman. During the 1920s, teenage girls would parade across the bridge on summer evenings for lack of something better to do. The highway bypassed Toston and the bridge in 1955.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 46° 10.339′ N, 111° 26.539′ W. Marker is in Toston, Montana, in Broadwater County. It is on Bypass U.S. 287 near Slifka Lane, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Toston MT 59643, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Gold West Country and in Greater Helena.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis &

Toston Bridge and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 17, 2021

2. Toston Bridge and Marker

Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Toston Smelter (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lorentz Homestead (about 700 feet away); Lewis and Clark Trail (approx. 3.8 miles away); Yorks Islands (approx. 6.9 miles away); Valley Masonic Lodge No. 21 (approx. 10.8 miles away); State Bank of Townsend (approx. 10.9 miles away); Crimson Bluffs (approx. 10.9 miles away); Thar's Gold in Them Thar Hills (approx. 13.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toston.

More about this marker. The Toston Bridge spans the Missouri River on an abandoned segment of old US Highway 287 at Toston, Montana.

Toston Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 17, 2021

3. Toston Bridge

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 393 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.