Bridge: Firesteel River Bridge, MI

The Firesteel River bridge was located three miles east of Peppard, near Simar. The DSS&A Keweenaw Bay branch crossed the river here on a 527' trestle. [DSSM] This was identified as Bridge M-7.

Notes

Time Line

1923. The MPSC condemned this bridge in 1923 because it was not structurally sound. [MPSC-1923]

1925. Nineteen inmates of the Marquette branch prison, whose temporary paroles have been approved by Governor Groesbeck, will be used to dismantle a large wooden bridge spanning the Firesteel River near Mass City, which the state has purchased from the Mineral Range railroad. The railroad abandoned the bridge and the state bought it for $8,000. It is estimated that it contains 1,000,000 feet of lumber, of which about 600,000 feet can be salvaged for use in the prison box factory. The convicted laborers are men who have excellent prison records and will be eligible for parole January 1, 1926. Warden Jas. P. Corgan said today that if the bridge job goes through satisfactorily, crews of prisoners probably will be sent into the woods next winter to cut logs for the prison sawmill. [DFP-1925-0518]