SCENE ON OLD RIVER

SCENE ON OLD RIVER

LOOKING SOUTH ON THE STREET OF THE BRIDGE

This is undoubtedly one of the first pictures to be taken of Bridge Street, probably about 1884. Shown is the first steel bridge. Hardly wide enough for a horse and buggy to pass, it was ample for the time. A walk-around hand crank was used for opening and closing, being understandably slow. The approach from the north was quite steep, the incline starting at the embankment at what would be the alley just north of the lumber company at the present time. The bridge tender stayed in the small building just northwest of the bridge.

Southwest of the bridge can be seen the newly constructed Lewis Grand Opera House, a landmark in Charlevoix until the present Memorial Bridge was built. Contrary to popular belief, it was not torn down to make way for the bridge, but because the engineers were fearful the old structure would slide into the channel during the heavy pounding in sinking the ;iling. It had been propped up for years, but had continued to lean a little more each year, like the Tower of Pisa, but with none of the publicity.

The white building to the southeast of the bridge was the first commercial establishment on Bridge Street, built in 1869 by Messrs. Fox & Rose. They sold groceries, drugs, shoes, dry goods, hardware, & posts, ties, and tanbark.

ENTERPRISE MFG. CO.

Above is the Enterprise Mfg. Co., which made fishnet floats, scroll work for the decorating of the houses of that day, and which did custom work of all kinds. The plant was located on the corner of Antrim Street and State Street, at one time the Hooker Garage, now Oleson's Shopping Center.