Bridge collapses, Halloween pranks and local Olympians

100 years ago

November 4, 1915

Bridge Collapses

The fifty-foot span of steel across Spring creek, a mile south of Saratoga, collapsed Monday, when the work of finishing the flooring was in progress. The I beams and stress iron on the west side gave away first and the bridge gradually went down until it rested in the creek, twisting nearly every iron in the structure. It was loaded with about 25 to 30 tons of green concrete, which is given as the cause for the buckling. It is stated by the bridge people that after the floor had set that this would be impossible, but the green concrete weighing much more than the set concrete, and lacking the tension strength, caused the bridge to buckle with its own weight.

They cut the rivets and are straightening out the steel preparatory to putting it back. The abutments were badly damaged as the ends of the I beams run into the abutments instead of resting on them, and as the bridge went down they tore the concrete out.

75 years ago

November 7, 1915

Injured mail carrier hurt last week in wreck, taken to Denver

Harold Steele, Encampment-Big Creek mail carrier who was very critically hurt in an automobile wreck on the Encampment-Walden highway last week, was removed from the Rawlins hospital to Denver Monday, for treatment by a specialist. His condition at last reports was given only as fair.

Steel, 23 years old, received a skull fracture in the accident, which occurred about six miles east of Riverside. Steele, who was driving, was accompanied by Joe Morris, and the men were enroute to the Bingham ranch on Beaver creek. Morris was not seriously injured.

According to reports from Encampment the men had been racing with another car driven by Joe Craig, also enroute to the Bingham ranch, and the Steele car left the highway when the wheels encountered soft dirt at the side of the highway. It plunged off the highway, overturning four or five times.

The men were picked up by a Walden party, and brought to Saratoga for medical attention. Steel was rushed to the hospital at once, while Morris, who was not seriously hurt was treated here.

50 years ago

November 4, 1965

Hallowe’en pranksters burn building on bridge

Members of the volunteer fire department were called out about midnight Hallowe’en to extinguish a blaze on the Bridge street bridge. When firemen arrived they found an out-door toilet from Veterans Island had been placed on the concrete structure and set afire.

Damage was estimated at $200 to the out building. Although burning of the building was undoubtedly a Hallowe’en prank, all acts of arson must be reported to the state fire marshal, Don Herold, fire chief, said.

The building was one erected by the Town about three years ago for the convenience of picknickers and campers making use of the island.

Six firemen and several volunteers responded to the alarm.

25 years ago

November 7, 1990

Local state Olympic winners to attend

Ed Faust and Pat Payne of Saratoga (Ten Mile) have received letters of “Congratulations” and verification of their qualifications to compete in the 1991 United States National Sports Classic in Syracuse, New York.

The event will be held June 28 through July 3, 1991. The local couple does plan to attend and compete.

Ed Faust qualified for the national bicycling, discus and shotput events.

Pat Payne qualified for the national bowling events.