The Minnesota and International Railway Trestle at Blackduck in Beltrami County, Minnesota was the longest timber trestle in the state.[2] It was built in 1901 and 1902 by the Minnesota and International Railway, a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railroad, on a line between Koochiching (now International Falls) and Bemidji, Minnesota, where it met a branch line of the parent railroad running north from Brainerd. The bridge carried the railroad over Coburn Creek and a difficult marsh in Blackduck and was noted for its considerable length and intact substructure when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places 2014.[3]
Minnesota and International Railway Trestle at Blackduck | |
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| Location | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) north of junction CSAH 39, Blackduck, |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47°43′34″N 94°32′52″W / 47.72611°N 94.54778°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1901 |
| NRHP reference No. | 13001144[1] |
| Added to NRHP | February 5, 2014 |
The bridge was a low structure 701 feet (210 m) long. After the railroad was abandoned the trestle became part of the Blue Ox Trail, a recreational trail used by hikers and snowmobilers. More than one-third of it was burned by arson in April 2015.[4][5] Efforts have been made to raise funds to rebuild the destroyed portion of the bridge.[6]
See also
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References
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Collins, Bob (April 14, 2015). "Arsonist destroys state's longest trestle bridge". NewsCut: reflections and observations on the news. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
the longest trestle bridge still standing in Minnesota has burned
- ^ Kellner, Debra (March 2013). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Minnesota and International Railway Trestle at Blackduck" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- ^ Wesley, Bethany (April 13, 2015). "UPDATE: Historic Blackduck bridge set ablaze by arsonist, authorities say". Bemidji Pioneer. Bemidji, Minnesota: Forum Communications Company. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- ^ Walsh, Paul (April 15, 2015). "Arson pinned on severe charring of historic rail bridge in northern Minnesota". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
Hikers and snowmobilers who often crossed the historic bridge in Blackduck, Minn., are mourning the loss of the key piece of the area's trail system and wondering whether and when it will be rebuilt.
- ^ Kiser, Brityn (October 16, 2015). "Community to raise funds for historic Minnesota bridge destroyed by arson". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota: Forum Communications Company. Retrieved 2017-01-26.