WebStamp March 20, 2017
The Bridge with a Mission
The Elbow Bridge played a vital roll in connecting the town of Calgary with the ranchers and residents southeast of the Elbow River. When it washed away during the 1883 flood, Calgarians where disconnected and it would take three years before the town would be able to fund a new bridge. An entrepreneur set up a ferry to cross the Elbow, while others forded through the shallows in summer, or ice during the winter.
With the fund raising and support provided by Father Lacombe, and Lieutenant Governor Edgar Dewdney, a new wooden bridge was finally built at a new location at the south end of Broadway in Mission subdivision. Many Calgarians were not pleased with the relocation, instead of replacing the destroyed bridge. The Calgary Herald even accused Father Lacombe that by choosing the new location near the mission was a way of increasing the value of the Oblate land owned by the mission.
The original local architect and engineer, Edward McCoskrie, deviated from the governmental specifications and after doing only cursory preparation work absconded with $2000. A new contractor, I.G. Baker was hired to complete the construction. Due to the poor McCoskrie’s structural design, and large herds of cattle continuously crossing the wood bridge causing extensive damage within first two years, it soon needed replacing.
The bridge was replaced in 1901 with a new steel truss bridge. In 1915 the present-day Mission Bridge was completed just west along-side thus replacing the truss bridge.
Both old bridges were located just west of the present-day Mission Bridge, which was completed in 1915. The new bridge was one of the first examples in Calgary, as being the oldest surviving one in Alberta, and being the first of three bridges constructed in Calgary to use the reinforced concrete arch design. The new construction proved to be very effective since immediately after it’s completion, survived the 1915 flood, along with surviving without damage from numerous floods throughout the year. The present-day bridge remains basically the same as when it was first built. Once exception is the original decorative ornate railings were replaced with more modernized ones. While in the neighbourhood be sure to visit one of Calgary’s historic landmarks that help shape and connected our great city.
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http://www.bigdoer.com/13851/then-and-now/calgary-then-and-now-4th-st-mission-bridge/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission,_Calgary
https://www.facebook.com/events/586816828151578/
https://calgarycommunities.com/communities/rideau-roxboro-community-association/
https://www.glenbow.org/collections/search/findingAids/archhtm/extras/cliff/guide.pdf
http://floodstory.com/floods/1884-flood
Articles in this Issue
Improving the Local Economy
by Connecting Calgarians
With their Communities