Title: La Crosse Bridge Association Records
Date: 1935-1940

Creator:

• La Crosse Bridge Association (La Crosse, Wis.).

Unique Identifier: MSS 087

Quantity: 0.4 cubic feet

Physical Description: 1 archives box

Repository:

La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:

La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Also known as the “Citizens Bridge Committee” and the “La Crosse Bridge Dedication Committee,” the La Crosse Bridge Association (La Crosse, Wis.) sought to promote the construction of a new trans-channel Mississippi River Bridge and arrange for its public dedication. This group came into existence shortly after a sudden traffic accident caused the failure of the municipal wagon bridge (built in 1891).

The collection consists of records of the La Crosse Bridge Association from 1935 and 1940. Materials include correspondence, minutes, committee materials, financial records, article/history drafts, and a photographic scrapbook documenting the new Cass Street bridge (Mississippi High Bridge) parade and dedication held on September 23, 1939.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss087

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

(Accession no. 2005.044) Donated by the La Crosse County Historical Society, May 2005; previously donated to the LCHS by the La Crosse Bridge Association representatives in 1940

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

[Identification of item], La Crosse Bridge Association Records, MSS 087, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Processed by Katie Adams and Anita Taylor Doering, May 2005

Folders are arranged alphabetically therein chronologically.

This collection includes records of the La Crosse Bridge Association from 1935 and 1940.

After the initial folder of information about the collapse of the wagon bridge, subsequent folders include committee materials, such as fireworks, parade, race and traffic. Other files include correspondence, financial records, minutes, miscellaneous, personnel, La Crosse Tribune Bridge Edition drafts, and a scrapbook.

The scrapbook contains many original photographs that appeared in the La Crosse Tribune newspaper the day after the dedication, and include a copy of the original printed invitation, ribbons, and parade and dedication ceremony photographs.

The La Crosse Bridge Association was formed the afternoon following the partial collapse of the municipal Wagon Bridge in the early morning of August 9, 1935. A one-car traffic accident killed two of the four people in the vehicle. The tragedy resulted in a citizen’s committee formed by the Chamber of Commerce to promote the building and erection of a new bridge across the Mississippi River. Ironically, Alderman Sherman Lennon had first proposed construction of a new bridge to the La Crosse Common Council two months prior to the accident on June 14, 1935.

The new bridge was built with Wisconsin highway funds from the appropriation for special bridges and regular federal aid funds. The city of La Crosse furnished the right of way for the bridge. Construction of the Mississippi River High Bridge (Cass Street bridge) began in August of 1937 and a dedication ceremony was held on September 23, 1939. The La Crosse Bridge Association held its final meeting in February of 1940.

• La Crosse Bridge Association (La Crosse, Wis.).
• Bridges--Accidents--Wisconsin--La Crosse
• Bridges--Mississippi River
• La Crosse (Wis.)--Societies, etc.

Box 1   Folder 1	Wagon bridge collapse, 1935
	Committee materials, 1939
Box 1   Folder 2	Fireworks
Box 1   Folder 3	Parade
Box 1   Folder 4	Race
Box 1   Folder 5	Traffic
Box 1   Folder 6-8	Correspondence, 1939-1940
Box 1   Folder 9	Financial records, 1939
Box 1   Folder 10-11	Minutes, 1935-1940
Box 1   Folder 12	Miscellaneous materials, 1939
Box 1   Folder 13	Personnel
Box 1   Folder 14	La Crosse Tribune Bridge Edition drafts (by Alfred W. Rice), 1939
Box 1   Folder 15	Scrapbook, 1939