#1 - PATTERSON BRIDGE
Located at the north end of Gold Beach where Highway 101 crosses the Rogue River.
August 5, 1929: "Most beautiful in Oregon," was the description given by State Bridge Engineer McCullough of the proposed structure across the Rogue river on the Oregon coast highway at Gold Beach. "The bridge," he continued, "will have seven spans and each span will be 235 feet in length. It will be the longest bridge that the highway department had constructed and it is also intended to be the most graceful. Perhaps there will be some ornamentation, typical of Oregon, at each end of the bridge.
"The Klamath river bridge, for instance, on the Redwood highway, has a couple of bears on each end. We have been preparing for the Rogue river bridge for several years and have accumulated a large amount of data, such as high and low water soundings and things like that. The center spans may be built on piling, the latter surrounded by rock. This is a detail not yet decided. Anyway, the bridge is to be a splendid affair, which will delight every tourist.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 5, 1929)(STATE PLANS BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE AT GOLD BEACH)
August 24, 1929: Plans for the bridge over the Rogue at Gold Beach are being rushed that the contract may be awarded soon and actual construction started with the first spring weather, word was received here Saturday. Bridge engineers deem it inadvisable to start work earlier because of high water. The bridge will complete the Roosevelt highway, eliminating a ferry now inadequate for handling traffic.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 24, 1929)(BRIDGE PLANS RUSHED)
September 7, 1929: The Gold Beach bridge will also be of concrete arch construction, 1800 feet long, and having seven arches. The driveway will also be conveniently wide, and
narrow sidewalks will be on either side.
Plans for this structure will not be completed before January or February, Skelton said, when bids will be let for its construction. The party of engineers drove from Gold Beach Friday, the state officers continuing north to Salem.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - September 7, 1929)(NEW ROGUE SPAN CONSTRUCTION NEXT SUMMER)
November 22, 1929: The United States war department Thursday approved the plans of the Oregon highway commission for a bridge across the Rogue River at Gold Beach, dispatches received today from Washington announce. The bridge on the Roosevelt coast highway will be the most expensive bridge on the state highway system. Its estimated cost will be $500,000, of which the government will pay 60 per cent and the state 40 per cent. Rogue River at Gold Beach now is crossed by a free ferry.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - November 22, 1929)(BRIDGE IS APPROVED BY WAR DEPARTMENT)
March 12, 1930: Construction of the state's half million dollar bridge across the Rogue River on the Oregon Coast highway was started here this week, and crews are on hand to participate in an activity at Gold Beach which will cover a period of almost two years. The bridge was authorized by the state highway commission last fall and the contract let to Mercer and Fraser of Eureka, Calif., for nearly six hundred thousand dollars.
Headquarters of the construction workers was already established at Wedderburn and also at Gold Beach, where the housing shortage for workers has become acute the past week. Equipment for the bridge is beginning to arrive here. Marshal Dresser, resident engineer appointed by the state highway commission, arrived here last week and is on the job. Larry Smitton, his assistant arrived this week.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - March 12, 1930)(GOLD BEACH BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION STARTS)
March 31, 1930: Work on the Rogue river bridge is started. The Fraser-Mercer company, contractors have assembled their machinery andmaterials are now arriving.
Next week work will start on the temporay bridge across the Rogue which the contractors will construct on which they will place their pile drivers and other equipment for construction of the piers.
It is the plan to construct the piers this coming summer and to build the superstructure next year.
(Ashland Daily Tidings - March 31, 1930)(START ROGUE BRIDGE SOON)
April 8, 1930: The resounding crack of a big pile driver in operation on the Rogue river bridge was sweet music to the residents of Gold Beach this past week. The driving of piling for the temporary bridge which the contractors will construct across the stream is under way and it will be hastened to completion, according to the Curry County reported.
The contractors are adding many more men to the force on the bridge and others will be employed as they bare needed.
Large quantities of material for the bridge are arriving, particularly the piling which is being trucked from Colegroves by William Hess, the sub-contractor.
The preliminary work on the bridge is progressing rapidly and within the next three or four weeks the construction of the bridge will be in full swing.
Construction of the bridge is bringing many newcomers to this section. Some are seeking employment, others want business locations and still others are seeking farm lands. All housing facilities in Gold Beach are filled.
(Grants Pass Dailt Courier - April 8, 1930)(GOLD BEACH BRIDGE WORK PROGRESSING)
May 26, 1930: Rapid progress is being made on the construction of the Rogue River bridge by the Mercer-Fraser company, contractors, according to the Curry County Reporter.
The false bridge has been completed entirely across the stream, excavations have been made on five of the pier sites and the cofferdam for the first pier on the north side of the stream is rapidly nearing completion.
If nothing interferes with the progress of work, it will not be many more days before piling will be driven for the first pier.
The contractors plan to have all the piers built this season before the high water starts next winter. If they are able to proceed with the work as planned, next spring a large force of men will be employed in building the superstructure.
Chief Bridge Engineer C.B. McCullough of the state highway department and G.S. Paxton, chief assistant, were here last Thursday and Friday making an inspection of the work. McCullough was greatly pleased with the progress of the work, and he declared that when the bridge is finished it will be the most artistic and most substantial bridge on the state highway system in Oregon.
He declared that he could foresee no reason why the bridge should not be finished within the time specified in the contract.
The engineers were somewhat concerned over the ability of the local ferry to handle traffic over the Rogue during the peak of tourist travel this coming summer. They expressed belief, however, that unless traffic becomes unusually heavy, it can be handled with little interruption.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - May 26, 1930)(BRIDGE WORK BEING RUSHED)
July 12, 1930: Pouring of concrete for the first of the piers for the Rogue River Bridge started on Tuesday.
Such concrete information that the bridge is well under construction led the Gold Beach Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night to launch plans for a big celebration to mark the dedication of the bridge following its completion.
With the concrete work once started, it will now proceed rapidly. Piling is rapidly being driven for each of the piers and as soon as possible concrete for each of them will be poured.
(Grants Pass daily Courier - July 12, 1930)(BRIDGE PIERS NEAR FINISH)
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#2 - Lobster Creek
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#3 - AGNESS BRIDGE
A chronological collection of historical items concerning the various bridge structures over the Rogue River at Agness, Curry County, Oregon.
May 25,2008:
A chronological collection of historical items concerning the various bridge structures over the Rogue River at Agness, Curry County, Oregon.
May 25,2008:
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#4 - Mule Creek Suspension Footbridge
August 9, 1929: A cable suspension foot-bridge, to cross the Rogue at Mule creek, 26 miles below Almeda, will be built immediately by the Siskiyou forest service, M.M. Lewis of the local office announced Friday. Actual construction will begin Monday and erection is expected to require two months'
The bridge will facilitate forest crews of the Galice and Agness districts, especially in case of fire, Mr. Lewis said. The only other forest service bridge on the lower river is at Whiskey creek, 20 miles up the river from Mule creek.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 9, 1929)(FOOTBRIDGE TO SPAN ROGUE AT MULE CREEK)
August 24, 1929: Lumber for the forest service suspension foot-bridge to be erected 56 miles down the river had been rafted 44 miles to Russian riffle Friday morning, M.M. Lewis of the Siskiyou forest office, said Saturday morning on his return from an inspection of the bridge.
A heavy fog, almost a rain, was falling on the lower river early Friday, Mr. Lewis reported.
A motor boat occupied by C.E. Miller, his son Charles and Cal Allen which sank at Russian riffle several weeks ago has been salvaged, Mr. Lewis said the group is busy building a summer home nearby.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 24, 1929)(ROGUE BRIDGE TIMBER RAFTED)
August 31, 1929: Cables for the Mule Creek suspension footbridge being constructed by the forest service will leave West Fork early next week to be packed 25 miles on horseback to the bridge site, James Billingslea, supervisor of the Siskiyou national forest, said Saturday.
The last of the lumber for the bridge reached Mule creek Friday. It was floated down the river by Clark Dix, who found it necessary to salvage some of it from eddies along the river.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 31, 1929)(MULE CREEK SUSPENSION SPAN CABLES ARRIVE)
September 30, 1930: Construction of the new foot suspension bridge across the Rogue river east of Mule creek will probably be completed by October 15, supervisor J.H. Billindlea of the Siskiyou national forest said Tuesday. A crew of five men under ray gallant are completing the work on the bridge which was halted last fall by the late forest fires. When completed, the bridge will represent an expenditure of $2,500, Supervisor Billingslea reported.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - Seprtember 30, 1930)(NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE)
August 9, 1929: A cable suspension foot-bridge, to cross the Rogue at Mule creek, 26 miles below Almeda, will be built immediately by the Siskiyou forest service, M.M. Lewis of the local office announced Friday. Actual construction will begin Monday and erection is expected to require two months'
The bridge will facilitate forest crews of the Galice and Agness districts, especially in case of fire, Mr. Lewis said. The only other forest service bridge on the lower river is at Whiskey creek, 20 miles up the river from Mule creek.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 9, 1929)(FOOTBRIDGE TO SPAN ROGUE AT MULE CREEK)
August 24, 1929: Lumber for the forest service suspension foot-bridge to be erected 56 miles down the river had been rafted 44 miles to Russian riffle Friday morning, M.M. Lewis of the Siskiyou forest office, said Saturday morning on his return from an inspection of the bridge.
A heavy fog, almost a rain, was falling on the lower river early Friday, Mr. Lewis reported.
A motor boat occupied by C.E. Miller, his son Charles and Cal Allen which sank at Russian riffle several weeks ago has been salvaged, Mr. Lewis said the group is busy building a summer home nearby.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 24, 1929)(ROGUE BRIDGE TIMBER RAFTED)
August 31, 1929: Cables for the Mule Creek suspension footbridge being constructed by the forest service will leave West Fork early next week to be packed 25 miles on horseback to the bridge site, James Billingslea, supervisor of the Siskiyou national forest, said Saturday.
The last of the lumber for the bridge reached Mule creek Friday. It was floated down the river by Clark Dix, who found it necessary to salvage some of it from eddies along the river.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - August 31, 1929)(MULE CREEK SUSPENSION SPAN CABLES ARRIVE)
September 30, 1930: Construction of the new foot suspension bridge across the Rogue river east of Mule creek will probably be completed by October 15, supervisor J.H. Billindlea of the Siskiyou national forest said Tuesday. A crew of five men under ray gallant are completing the work on the bridge which was halted last fall by the late forest fires. When completed, the bridge will represent an expenditure of $2,500, Supervisor Billingslea reported.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - Seprtember 30, 1930)(NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE)
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#5 - WHISKEY CREEK SUSPENSION FOOTBRIDGE
March 14, 1927: Reconstruction of the Whiskey Creek falls bridge on the lower Rogue river trail will be started soon by the forest service, according to Supervisor Billingslea. This is a suspension type bridge, capable of supporting pack horses. The former bridge was taken out in the high waterr. When rebuilt the site will be changed to a point a quarter of a mile lower down the river and the bridge will be 30 feet higher than before. It will cost about $4500.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - March 14, 1927)(WILL BUILD NEW BRIDGE)
September 16, 1927: Work on the suspension bridge over Rogue river at Whiskey creek, on the Rogue River Trail, is progressing. The concrete work has been completed, the anchors all being in place. The cable is on the way down the river and it is expected that the bridge will be ready for use within a month. It is 300 feet long and 6 feet wide. It is of practically solid construction and is designed to carry pack animals without swaying. The bridge is being constructed by the forest service. The bridge there formerly was taken out by the high water of last spring but the new bridge will be high enough above the water to escape any possible floods.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - September 16, 1927)(BRIDGE WORK PROGRESSES)
March 14, 1927: Reconstruction of the Whiskey Creek falls bridge on the lower Rogue river trail will be started soon by the forest service, according to Supervisor Billingslea. This is a suspension type bridge, capable of supporting pack horses. The former bridge was taken out in the high waterr. When rebuilt the site will be changed to a point a quarter of a mile lower down the river and the bridge will be 30 feet higher than before. It will cost about $4500.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - March 14, 1927)(WILL BUILD NEW BRIDGE)
September 16, 1927: Work on the suspension bridge over Rogue river at Whiskey creek, on the Rogue River Trail, is progressing. The concrete work has been completed, the anchors all being in place. The cable is on the way down the river and it is expected that the bridge will be ready for use within a month. It is 300 feet long and 6 feet wide. It is of practically solid construction and is designed to carry pack animals without swaying. The bridge is being constructed by the forest service. The bridge there formerly was taken out by the high water of last spring but the new bridge will be high enough above the water to escape any possible floods.
(Grants Pass Daily Courier - September 16, 1927)(BRIDGE WORK PROGRESSES)
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