The lift bridge?  That’s the “new” bridge isn’t it. I remember the “turnstyle” bridge, lined up with Bridge street coming down the hill. Bridge street was steep and icy in winter. Coming home, I would time the stoplight, launch off from a few blocks uphill, hit the green light and cross the bridge. There was no stopping. I’d then turn around in Hancock and return to Houghton, heading for the old KD house at 1110 College Ave. And, Tony’s Bar was on the corner in those days.

Jim Bailey ’56

I moved to Hancock from Portland, OR, and had tons and tons of warnings from the local yoopers and downstaters about how much snow the UP gets each year. I read all the weather records and typical snow fall numbers. I felt quite confident that I could hand it. I had just spent five years on the west coast without any snow at all during the winter and I was READY to get some snow! I had even purchased a fat tire snow bicycle specifically for the conditions (and I did ride my bike to campus 3 miles each way throughout the winter).

What everyone neglected to warn me about was the intense wind gusts! I cannot express to you the incredibly heart dropping feeling I experienced riding across the lift bridge each day with the metal grates slick from deicing salts and a wind gust would send my rear tire sliding to side with traffic buzzing past me. Luckily I never had a fall on the bridge, but those windy days crossing the bridge were very memorable.

Aerik Carlton ‘13

I know what you mean, Aerik. I lived in Hillsboro, Oregon for a bit, and it’s like a mini-Columbia River Gorge along the Keweenaw Waterway. I just haven’t tried the windsurfing here yet. –Kevin