An eastbound train begins to cross the Black River bridge at Hatfield. The Green Bay Route had a pair of bridges in Hatfield to span the Black River. The "west bridge" crosses the original channel of the river; a second "east bridge" was added in 1904 when the river was dammed to form Lake Arbutus and generate electricity for the La Crosse Water Power Company.
This photo shows the west bridge around the turn of the last century. An eastbound train led by what looks to be one of the Green Bay Route's 4-4-0 engines has just entered the bridge. In the background is the west dam of the La Crosse W. P. Co. On October 6, 1911 Hatfield was struck by a major flood, collapsing the east dam and washing out the east bridge. Stan Mailer's book "Green Bay and Western" has a short chapter devoted to the flood and the disruption to railroad service caused by the severing of the rail line. The lower right corner of the 3 3/8" x 5 7/16" postcard says "Photograph No.5, Mfgd.By J.M.Colby,Wausau,Wis." It was postmarked June 7, 1909 from Nielsville, Wis. Thanks goes out to Scott Janz for sharing this postcard. Related material
|
Postcard, postmarked June 7,1909.
|
[ Top of This Page ] The Green
Bay Route is maintained by Mark
Mathu. |
|
