By FAYE WHITBECK
Until then, the only way to get to the other side was by ferry or rowboat, or dog sled, or by foot across a freezing, floating walkway in the dead of winter. But an unbelievable feat of man in 1912 would change all that.
The building of the 1,000-foot International Bridge across the Rainy River would also forever change the cities of International Falls and Fort Frances. Upon its opening, an official ceremony befitting such a titanic happening took place Aug. 1, 1912.
Imagine the spectacle that day — the unbelievable experience of bearing witness to a bond of man and nature which within seconds would allow reaching separate shores of two countries. To mark the occasion, a mile-long parade comprised of 90 sister-city floats crisscrossed the festooned new bridge and promenaded both sides of the border.
Falls Mayor Colburn and Fort Frances Mayor McKenzie spoke that day from the center of the bridge, but it was E.W. Backus, president of the company which made the bridge a reality, who stole the moment. The industrialist thereby joined the two towns by tossing aside a wide timber — symbolically placed as the final barrier between two countries.
The International Falls Echo, later to become The Daily Journal, referred to Backus as “ …the Napoleon of finance of this modern day” for his Herculean achievements in the Rainy River wilderness — not the least a railway, a dam, two paper mills and now this mighty bridge.
The feat would be part of an accelerating transportation system which would draw thousands to the northern border.
The beginning
The river that runs between International Falls and Fort Frances is one of the area’s most defining characteristics. But a century ago, the river isolated two villages, two peoples, two countries. The local settlers who lived on its dominating banks joined Backus’ vision that their natural environment must be altered to survive and to prosper.
And so it was these early economic motives which defined a new era 100 years ago.
As Backus made true his dream of harnessing the Rainy River to power his mills, it became clear to the rapidly gathering incomers that a dam and the mills were not the only potentials for profit. While the water that frames the border towns inherently imprinted life and fueled the major industries — creating the ability to easily cross that river dramatically changed existence.
In the 3,000 miles of the northern U.S. border, not every community along it has an international crossing station. Fewer still are positioned on international boundaries set in water.
Fast forward 100 years
As an economic driver for the Falls and Fort Frances, the role of the historical bridge can’t be overestimated.
Mirroring the Backus blueprint, the paper mills of the sister cities are still bonded by rails and pipelines supported by the bridge. This allows the mills to interchange wood, pulp, clay, steam, filtered water, chemicals, and storage among other aspects.
For commerce, each bridge crossing by motorist whether commuter or tourist, is multiplied by all passengers’ spending and exponentially impacts the local economies immeasurably. And any change in the number of crossings affects both sides incalculably.
A wider margin for business opportunities exists because of the bridge. As for shopping, commuter traffic comprises the largest number of daily crossings. Without the bridge, the market field would consist of only half a circle.
Maintenance and management of the bridge generate regional employment not to mention the growing stations of customs, immigration and border patrol.
Bonding lives
With sister-city agreements to share fire and ambulance systems as needed, the bridge allows the allied communities more protection. Governments and agencies have been able to collaborate.
The cultural advantages of having the cities connected are vast. For 10 decades, the bridge has carried generations of families over the river; facilitated dual citizenry and international marriages; enabled friendships and bonded them in the fields of fishing, curling, sailing, soccer, little league, art, education, worship, socializing and music.
The bridge is undeniably a fundamental component of the economic, cultural and social aspects of these border towns.
A bigger picture
Allowing access as far north as the Yukon Territory and Alaska, and to the south Mexico and beyond, the bridge that was first built to facilitate local transportation is now a conduit to international trade.
The International Bridge is one of the North American bridges that physically connect the United States and its largest trading partner, Canada.
The bridge is the northern conclusion of U.S. Highway 71 as well as U.S. Highway 53. A lifeblood for these main arteries, the bridge encourages improvements to the corridors of the Falls and Fort Frances. It is known that because of the bridge’s capacity, the Minnesota Department of Transportation routes oversized freight loads in this direction. And all international rail freight crosses the bridge.
For local folks, border crossings are as ordinary as the river. This is true even though residents might see gargantuan trailers loaded with the colossal blades of wind turbines headed for Canada; raw-granite loads headed for St. Cloud, Minn., or drilling rigs bound for North Dakota.
Spanning the ages
Facelifts to the bridge have modified it over the years; its structure revealing evolution along with the landscape. In 1980, a major renovation increased the bridge to four lanes. But the bridge’s steel structure still remains and the original 100-year-old steel assembly is rated as structurally strong as it was in the early 20th century.
This is due to rigid maintenance and certification compliance, reports Darwin Joslyn of the historic company, Minnesota, Dakota & Western Railway, which sustains and manages the bridge. Always owned by some configuration of the Falls’ and Fort Frances’ companies, the bridge is currently co-owned by Boise Paper and Resolute Forest Products.
The systems of collecting the tolls have changed over the years and issues of crossing the bridge, including wait times, have been publicly deliberated. The old edifice has undergone its share of controversies like most everything which endures through time.
A dramatic decade
It’s been an intense decade for customs and border crossings as well as American infrastructure. Regulations and inspection requirements have been sharpened, particularly following the 2007 collapse of the 35W Bridge in Minneapolis.
Likewise the terrorism of 9/11 and the resultant changes in crossing requirements as well as the 2008 economic recession have all left indelible marks on traveling between countries. In one year following the recession, local crossings into Canada underwent a decline of 200,000. Joslyn reports a slow but steady recapture of those crossings reporting that 2011 saw the highest number of commuter crossings since the year 2001.
Wisdom of the pioneers
A century ago, two mayors stood at the imaginary boundary line of the bridge and they spoke of “America and Canada awakening to a great wealth of forests, farms and mines in the Rainy River Valley.” How proud they might be that decades later a more-recent mayor would remark, “Where some countries might build a wall, we built a bridge.”
The recorded words of those who gathered in 1912 to celebrate “this newly opened door … this great highway of steel thrown open to the public” have, on the grandest level, been realized. And their words should remain in a current-day consciousness:
“Let this go down in the record as a link of intimacy and sisterly love between the United States and Canada, and serve to draw closer these two vast and beautiful domains.”
Whitbeck is the president of the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.
Timeline
• 1903 — E.W. Backus gets permission for construction of a dam in the Rainy River and through Act of Congress, seeks approval for construction of bridge connecting International Falls & Fort Frances.
• 1903 — Village of Koochiching changes name to International Falls, after the river rapids which would eventually industrialize the area.
• 1907 — Railroad comes to International Falls.
• 1909 — International Falls incorporated as city.
• 1908-09 — Bridge piers & concrete approaches installed.
• 1909 — 30,000 horsepower dam completed.
• 1910 — International Falls census at 4,000, one of the fastest-growing cities in Minnesota.
• 1910 — Minnesota and Ontario Paper Company (Mando) was formed and the first roll of paper produced at the Falls mill; first car arrives in the Falls although there were only two blocks of traversable streets.
• 1911 — Backus lets $90,000 contract to Minneapolis Steel & Machinery for combination railway, vehicle and footbridge across the Rainy River. Steel work erected. Overall cost of bridge: $108,000. Fort Frances mill under construction.
• 1912 — International Bridge opens, at first seeing mostly horse-drawn and foot traffic. By mid-decade, Backus’ companies would employ thousands and more and more motorized vehicles use the bridge.
If you go:
WHAT: International Bridge Centennial Exhibit
WHEN: 4-7 p.m. Aug. 1
WHERE: Fort Frances Museum
Cost: The public is invited
• There will also be a centennial exhibition of the bridge by the Koochiching County Historical Museum. Watch The Journal for details.
