St. Ignace in Mackinac County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Mackinac Bridge Monument

Mackinac Bridge Construction Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

1. Mackinac Bridge Construction Memorial Marker

Inscription.

In memory of those who lost their lives building the bridge:
1. Albert B. Abbott- Laborer
2. Jack C. Baker- Ironworker
3. Robert Koppen- Ironworker
4. James R. LeSarge- Ironworker
5. Frank Pepper-Diver

Local Unions that built the bridge:
1. Iron Workers Local 8
2. Iron Workers Local 25
3. Iron Workers Local 340
4. American Bridge Company

Erected 2004 by Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA).

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Labor Unions.

Location. 45° 50.818′ N, 84° 43.612′ W. Marker is in St. Ignace, Michigan, in Mackinac County. It can be reached from Boulevard Drive near Densmore Avenue. The marker is located in Bridge View Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: W69 Boulevard Drive, Saint Ignace MI 49781, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and monument is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

and on the Straits of Mackinac.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally,

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it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: South Tower Fog Bell (here, next to this marker); Prentiss M. Brown, Michigan Lawyer, Mackinac Visionary (a few steps from this marker); Mackinac Bridge, Michigan (a few steps from this marker); David B. Steinman (within shouting distance of this marker); Honoring James P. Pitz (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mackinac Straits (approx. 0.3 miles away); A Trail to Adventure (approx. 0.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Ignace.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Forever Remembered. Excerpt:

During the construction of the Mackinac Bridge in the 1950’s, five men unfortunately lost their lives.

One man died in a diving accident;
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

2. Mackinac Bridge Construction Memorial
one man fell in a caisson while welding; one man fell into the water and drowned; and two men fell from a temporary catwalk near the top of north tower.

The names of those five men (and the date of their deaths) are listed below.

Frank Pepper, Sept. 16, 1954
James R. LeSarge, Oct. 10, 1954
Albert Abbott, Oct. 25, 1954
Jack C. Baker, June 6, 1956
Robert Koppen, June 6, 1956

(Submitted on January 16, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Mackinac Bridge Construction Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

3. Mackinac Bridge Construction Monument

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

4. Mackinac Bridge Construction Monument

Mackinac Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, January 2, 2023

5. Mackinac Bridge

The five men listed on this monument lost their lives in the construction of the Mackinac Bridge.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,181 times since then and 125 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 16, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.