Sec. A Page 27 Missoulian Centennial First Bridge Washed Out By High Water of 1871
First Bridge Washed Out By High Water of 1871
After the high waters of 1871 had washed out Missoula’s first bridge across the Clark Fork River south of where St. Patrick Hospital is now located, a contract was let in 1872 to J. J. Tasker to build a county bridge across the river and island where the present Higgins Avenue Bridge is located.
The north end of this structure was to be located at the center of the south end of Higgins avenue, the southern approach to be on the low ground just east of where the Milwaukee Passenger Station stands.
Tasker began construction of the bridge but for financial reasons was unable to complete it. John Rankin, a young carpenter and builder, took the contract off Tasker’s hands, completing the structure in time for service during the high water of 1872.
The original structure was repaired several times, including its extension to the top of the bench on the South Side3, until 1891, when an entirely new bridge replaced it. This was the structure which remained until the floods of 1908 washed it out.