On this date in Minnesota History: June 16

June 16, 1907 – Four hundred people were stranded on the southern landing of the Duluth aerial bridge because the bridge was put out of commission by a bolt of lightning about 10 p.m. during a short electrical and wind storm that came up suddenly from the west. Mayor Cullum put in a request for tug boats to collect those marooned on Park Point and bring them back to the Duluth side of the canal, but none responded. The Union Tug company said it was because the company did not have passenger licenses, and didn’t want to break the law.

When the lightning struck the bridge, there were close to a half a dozen people on it. No one was injured, although two or three women were so badly frightened that they fainted, but were quickly revived. No damage was done to the bridge.

The bridge was put back in operation at 1:30 a.m. and took the crowd across to the city.

Duluth News-Tribune; “Lightning Hits Bridge, Hundreds Are Marooned, Rain Drenches Crowds of Holiday Makers on South Pier”; Duluth, Minn.; June 17, 1907

 Duluth Aerial Bridge

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trialsanderrors/3022881214/

The Duluth Aerial bridge “began life as an extremely rare transporter bridge—the first of just two such bridges ever constructed in the United States. Originally built in 1905, the bridge was upgraded in 1929–30 to the current lifting design and continues to operate today. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places” on June 6, 1973.

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