Anyone know the history of...
John A. Weeks III
swing bridge over the Minnesota River at Chaska? I have been
trying to track down the history, especially the order of
events and the dates.
So far, I have learned that a bridge was built there in the
early 1870s by the Hastings and Dakota Railroad. That railroad
was taken over sometime prior to 1909 by the Milwaukee Road.
The bridge was apparently replaced or upgraded at least once.
The Milwaukee Road abandoned the rail line, possibly after the
flood of 1965 washed the rails off the right of way, or maybe
it was repaired and it was abandoned in the 1970s.
At some point, the abandoned rail line between Shakopee and
Chaska was converted to a regional trail. The rails and
ties were removed, it was regraded, and an 8-foot wide blacktop
pavement was installed. The bridges had wooden decks and
railings installed.
At some point in time, the DNR apparently determined that the
main river crossing (the swing bridge) was unsound. The trail
was apparently closed at the river. Shortly after that, some
kids lit the trestle on fire on the Chaska end. I think that
was in the late 1980s. That trestle is about 1/2 mile from
the main channel crossing. The trestle was too far gone to be
repaired, and the entire Chaska part of the trail was closed.
The US Army Corps of Engineers decided to raise the levees
around Chaska, and as part of that project, the DNR contracted
to have the swing bridge removed and the piers removed with
explosives.
There were proposals to build new bridges, but they were not
funded. Recently, the MN-41 highway bridge was replaced, and
a bicycle path was added to one side of that bridge. The
Chaska-Shakopee Trail was extended on the south side of the
river from the site of the old swing bridge to MN-41, and
now enters Chaska on the highway bridge.
I would find it helpful if anyone remembers any of the dates
of these events, or can help me with the sequence of events.
I was out there this afternoon and explored the area. The
remains of the old trestle are still there and easy to get
to. The main river crossing is about a 3/4 mile hike from
civilization. The north bridge abutment is still there.
The trail on the Chaska side is covered with leaves and
a thin coating of mud. I attempted to walk the abandoned
trail, but ran into an area where it was partly washed
out. A group of large trees on the riverbank collapsed
in the washout area and are laying across the trail, making
it impassible.
What struck me as odd was that a huge amount of money
appears to have been invested in retrofitting the bridges
and paving the trail, plus building the trailhead and
parking lot just to abandon it.
-john-
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John A. Weeks III � � � � � 612-720-2854 � � � � � �jo...@johnweeks.com
Newave Communications � � � � � � � � � � � � http://www.johnweeks.com
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Melba's Jammin'
"John A. Weeks III" <jo...@johnweeks.com> wrote:
> Does anyone happen to know the history of the old railroad
> swing bridge over the Minnesota River at Chaska? I have been
> trying to track down the history, especially the order of
> events and the dates.
>
>
> -john-
Have you contacted the Scott County Historical Society (assuming there
is such an organization)? JAT.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - Yes, I Can! blog - check
it out. And check this, too: <http://www.kare11.com/news/
newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=823232&catid=323>
Bert Hyman
Jammin' <barbsc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> In article <john-3A5B96.0...@news-3.octanews.net>,
> "John A. Weeks III" <jo...@johnweeks.com> wrote:
>
>> Does anyone happen to know the history of the old railroad
>> swing bridge over the Minnesota River at Chaska? I have been
>> trying to track down the history, especially the order of
>> events and the dates.
>
> Have you contacted the Scott County Historical Society (assuming there
> is such an organization)? JAT.
There probably is, but Chaska's in Carver County (it's the county seat).
There's a Chaska Historical Society too.
http://www.carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org/
http://www.chaskahistory.org/
--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN be...@iphouse.com
John A. Weeks III
Melba's Jammin' <barbsc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> In article <john-3A5B96.0...@news-3.octanews.net>,
> "John A. Weeks III" <jo...@johnweeks.com> wrote:
>
> > Does anyone happen to know the history of the old railroad
> > swing bridge over the Minnesota River at Chaska? I have been
> > trying to track down the history, especially the order of
> > events and the dates.
> >
> >
> > -john-
>
> Have you contacted the Scott County Historical Society (assuming there
> is such an organization)? JAT.
I haven't yet, but I will likely do that this winter. During
the summer, I am visiting as many places as I can to do
photography, and then I'll sort the stuff out and do the
research over the winter. I found the ruins of another old
railroad bridge down in St. Peter that I have all the same
questions about. It keeps me busy...
Jules
> I haven't yet, but I will likely do that this winter. During
> the summer, I am visiting as many places as I can to do
> photography, and then I'll sort the stuff out and do the
> research over the winter. I found the ruins of another old
> railroad bridge down in St. Peter that I have all the same
> questions about. It keeps me busy...
I used to do a lot of that kind of stuff, too. The exploration side is
really interesting - as is chasing up the history once you've found
somewhere. Sadly not heard of anything like that up where I am, but maybe
that'll come in time (lots of these places are almost found by word of
mouth).
AnnE
> Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
> ======================================================================
Don't know if you've seen this but I thought it interesting.
AnnE
Melba's Jammin'
Bert Hyman <be...@iphouse.com> wrote:
Whoops! My bad! Thank you for the correction. I was thinking Shakopee
for some reason.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - Yes, I Can! blog
Welcoming the arrival of Emma Kathryn on 10-22-09;
she is great-grand-niece/-nephew #8.