By JENNIFER LANG The Old Skeena Bridge, one of Terrace's longest-serving and most recognizable land- marks, will be the star attraction this Sunday, Aug. 6 when its 75th anniversary will be marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a vint- age car cavalcade, and other surprises. _ In much the same manner as the bridge opened for business back on July 21, 1925, dignitaries and the public will gather at the south side of the bridge for @ re-dedication cer- emony Aug, 6 recognizing the last single-lane curved bridge in North America. In honour of the historic anniversary, the bridge will be closed to traffic, allowing pedes- trians to take a closer look at a structure that has provided Terrace with a reliable and safe route across the Skeena River for 75 years. A special anniversary plaque and a large, three-paneled, wooden sign detailing the bridge's history will be unveiled at the cerem- ony, which will also feature a parade of vintage cars — the only motor traffic allowed to cross the bridge during the event. Live music and festivities begin at 10 a.m. at the Tom Thornhill Memorial and run until noon. The event is sponsored by the Terrace Riverboat Days Society and the Terrace Tour- ism Council, Opening day in 1925 was a simple but sig- nificant affair. Provincial minister of lands Thomas “Duff” Paitullo performed the original tibbon-cutting ceremony, joined by political colleagues and residents of the Terrace area. Pattullo eventually became a Liberal premier of B.C. and represented the Prince Rupert area in the provincial legislature. The distinctive, curving bridge replaced the ferry system that had been deemed inadequate to serve the valume of iraffic. Walter McConnell, now in his 80s, moved to Terrace in 192, just a few years before the Skeena Bridge was built. In those days travel- lers bound for the cabins at Lakelse Lake crossed the Skeena using two separate ferries, a trip he recalls took about 45 minutes. The first ferry, and later (after a ferryman lost his life) a wooden bridge, ran between what's now the ti- verbank at Haugland Street and the west side of Ferry Island. Pedestrians, horse-drawn carts, and even vehicles, disembarked, crassed the is- jand, and then took another ferry from Ferry Island to Thornhill Landing: sg we 9 “Tt would take a whole:day to go there and back,” he says, referring to the trip from town to Lakelse Lake. “It was an old gravel road and INSTORE STOCK. . “MEMBERS | Old bridge turn aie pa OPENED IN 1925, the Old Skeena Bridge remains a vital connection across the Skeena River. This photo of a man described as Mr. Hun- ter and Sam Kirkaldy dates back to those earlier days. The bridge's years of service will be highlighted this Sunday through a ceremony at the Tom Thornhill Monument not far from the bridge. It begins at 10 a.m. courtesy of Les and Diane Watmough and by a walk across the bridge itself at 11 a. TESY TERRACE REGIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY m. There'll be vintage’ cars. PHOTO COUR- you'd have to push your car up some of the hills.” While McConnell was too young to take much notice of the hubbub surrounding the Skeena Bridge's grand opening, he does re- member the significant change the bridge made. “It was a lot better to go across the river. You didn't have to fool around with those ferries.” McConnell's late wife Blackie (nee Kenney) lost her father in a terrible accident on the Skee- na when a cable used for the ferry got caught in a tree. He went to chop the cable free, and his axe got stuck, pulling him down into the river. In the early 1950s; McConnell was:one of the workers who-helped:pound and blasterock« to widen and straighten the’réad approach to the north side of the bridge. “It was just a little trail ta start with.” Pol aster: Se. | Mon.-Thurs. 9:30-5:30 [i A Friday 9:30-9:00 Saturday 9:30-5:30 TWILIGHT SPAS & PUMP SUPPLY Phone 638-0947 » 4704 Keith Ave., Terrace @ Fax 636-0948 TOLL FREE 1 “888-720 8828 Rca rprpennibopepiag iat pr aries Although the Skeena Bridge introduced safe passage across the Skeena, making possible logging ventures up the Copper River and in the Kitimat Valley because it could handle truck traffic, change for the growing town came slowly. According to a 1932 Department of Public Works report, the district of Terrace's popula- tion was just 1,200. The number of vehicles crossing the bridge when tallied one day came to 106, with 30 percent of that volume in the form of horse traffic. McConnell says it wasn't until the highway (completed by soldiers stationed in the north- west during the Second World War), and much later, the completion in the early 1970s of ihe “New” bridge — the Dudley Little bridges — that Terrace began its climb to its present-day position as a regional supply and STANDARD All Display And C 4:00 Advertising Copy and word classifieds for the August 9™ Terrace Standard is THURSDAY, AUGUST 3 at OFFICE CLOSED AUGUST 7, 2000 service centre. Other significant dates for what we affectio- nately call the “Old” bridge include the Terrace flood of 1936, when the swiftly rising waters of the Skeena washed away some of the pilings at its southern end — taking 300 feet of decking along with it. Between May 29 and Aug. 15 of that year passengers parked their cars at the northern end, walked across, and stepped down to the opposing bank using a ladder while re- pairs were made. The bridge's curves were altered in 1954, when the whole southern end of the structure was moved upstream to accommodate the new railway bridge linking Terrace and the brand- - new industrial town. of Kitimat. It wasn't until 1961 that the bridge's traffic lights were in- stalled. Due to the B.C. Day Holiday on August 7, 2000 The will have early deadlines to meet their press deadlines lassitied Display p.m. OFFICE HOURS: TUESDAY - FRIDAY 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M PHONE 638-7283 FAX 638-8432 Ss 3210 CLINTON STREET, TERRACE TANDARD TERRACE, B.C, V8G 5R2