The Five Mile Dream

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:03 am

I love these old newsreels...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBuHboTtwpw

anmius · Post by **anmius** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 11:22 am

It must be me, but I don't think 1958 is very old. And I used to take the ferry across the Straits before they built the bridge.

tomsalwasser · Post by **tomsalwasser** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:36 pm

How common was the 19 hour wait for the ferry mentioned in the film?

Urban legend has it that a Yugo was blown right off that bridge in a heavy gust of wind.

Fun fact: the bridge closes to vehicle traffic 1 day a year to allow people to walk across it. I believe it is on Labor Day. I've been meaning to do that.

danr · Post by **danr** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:54 pm

Wow, I do recall that bridge as it was being built. Had cousins in Detroit. Visited Flint after the tornado hit the city, nothing left standing in the path.
How soon we forget. What?
Dan

nothungry3 · Post by **nothungry3** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:44 pm

Great post. Thanks.

skou · Post by **skou** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:28 pm

One of my favorite books is, "The Great Bridge, by David McCullough. It goes into GREAT detail the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as the politics involved.

This Newsreel has whetted my appetite.

Again!

Thanks, Tom!

steve

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:56 pm

I haven't been over the bridge in some years now but they use to have a radio station you could tune to as you crossed with some history of the bridge.

Somewhere I think I still have a coin from when it first opened, boy I wonder where it is, haven't seen it in years either....

Might have to adjust some travel plans on go to the UP up through the mitten.

I remember the gulls in the parking lot taking food out of peoples hands while gliding on the wind. I'm not sure if that still happens???

Ed

S Brian · Post by **S Brian** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:32 pm

One of the most surprising stories I have heard about the bridge, is the number of people who cannot drive across. There are phone booths at either end, where one can call the Driver Assistance Program and a volunteer will drive them across. Even daily commuters use this service. The service is used 1,200 to 1,400 times each year.