The Second Narrows Bridge, North Vancouver, British Columbia: Official Opening, November 7, 1925. Second Narrows Bridge Opening Celebration Committee, North Vancouver, B.C., 1925. Designed and printed by Rose, Cowan & Latta Limited, Vancouver, B.C. Stapled illustrated card covers. Oblong 8vo up to 9½” tall. 32pp. with photographs. In very nice condition with a tiny hole to front cover, fold to top corner, chip to lower edge of pages 21-21. A very rare copy of the official commemorative booklet entitled: The Second Narrows Bridge Spanning Burrard Inlet- Port of Vancouver Opened on Saturday, November 7, 1925.
The Second Narrows bridge was an instant hit, drawing 16,000 cars and 35,000 people on opening weekend. It was a toll bridge, charging 15 cents for cars and five cents for passengers or pedestrians. The rail deck opened in 1926. Currents made navigation treacherous and vessels routinely smashed into the bridge. The worst incident occurred in September 1930 when a log-carrier under tow knocked out one of the bridge spans. The bridge didn’t reopen until November 1934. In 1960, a new (second) Second Narrows Bridge (renamed the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in 1994) was completed alongside the original bridge, and the original bridge was converted exclusively for rail use.
Also available: Tragedy at Second Narrows: The Story of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, Jamieson, Eric. The story of the disastrous collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge in Vancouver, BC in 1958. Item 003094
