Allagash River Bridge construction photographs

Collection

Identifier: MCC-00596-UP-596

Scope and Contents

This collection contains 13 sepia-toned photographs, all of which are either 3.25x2.25” or 4.5x2.5” in size. Nine show the first Allagash River Bridge in the early stages of construction, with wood-crib piers installed but no deck spanning the water, as well as construction vehicles and workers. The final four photographs show early construction on another, smaller bridge built with concrete. Merritt G. Tibbett, creator of the photographs and construction worker on the Allagash River Bridge, likely worked a construction crew at this site, as well. Although many photographs have been labeled as dated 1941 and 1942, given the timeline of construction, they were likely taken in 1943 or 1944.

Dates

Creation: early 1940s

Biographical / Historical

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For decades, Allagash’s access to the rest of Maine was decided by the conditions of the Allagash River itself. When the river was clear of ice, travel was made possible by a cable ferry, which could cross up to sixty times a day. Many of these trips transported lumber, a major aspect of Allagash’s industry. In winter, crossings were made across the ice, but for a month and a half in spring and again in fall, ice formation made travel impossible. After years of lobbying, a bridge near the confluence of the Allagash and Saint John rivers was finally approved for construction in 1943, in part due to wartime demands.

Costs were estimated at $55,000, of which Allagash paid nearly $5,000. Due to wartime shortages, it was constructed primarily of timber sourced from the west coast, with collected scrap metal used to furnish necessary steel and iron. The final structure measured almost five hundred feet long and fourteen feet wide, at times over 45 feet above the river. Its live load capacity was fifteen tons per twenty-five feet. Construction, in which Merritt G. Tibbetts played a role, was completed in 1945; 700 people attended the festivities. The bridge was replaced in 1956 and again in 1992.

See: “Allagash Bridge.” Allagash, Maine. 2025. https://allagash.live/allagash-bridge.; “Bridge to Link ‘Lost’ Community of Allagash With Outside World.” Bangor Daily News, 12 April 1943.; “Site of Allagash Bridge.” Bangor Daily News, 3-4 July 1943.; and “St. John’s Valley Celebrates First Allagash Bridge.” Bangor Daily News, 30 August 1945.