Mill Street Bridge

Key Facts

About the Mill Street Bridge Bridge, From Michigan Historic Sites Online

Narrative Description:

 Main span number: 3

 Main span length: 8.0'

 Structure length: 35.0'

 Roadway width: 22.4'

 Structure width: 22.4'

 Located in the City of Brooklyn, this bridge carries Mill Street across the south branch of the Raisin River. A hydro-power dam spans the river south of the bridge, while a large associated industrial plant stands along the riverbank to the southeast. The bridge features flared concrete wingwalls with stone veneer, and upstream (south) cutwaters on both piers and at both abutment/wingwall junctions. A concrete apron slopes down to natural riverbed on north side. Solid parapet railings along each side of the bridge are faced with stone veneer and topped with concrete coping. The riverbanks on both sides of the crossing are lined with mortared stone several feet out from bridge.

Statement of Significance:

In 1921, Henry Ford purchased Brooklyn's original mill site along the banks of the Raisin River. An industrial plant was constructed in 1937, with workers producing automobile horns, distributors, and starter switches. From 1954 to 1967, output shifted to plastic automobile interior parts and lamp lenses. A giant water wheel provided hydro-electric power for the manufacturing operation. If the 1925 construction date attributed to the present bridge is correct, it may have been built to accommodate anticipated traffic increases associated with Ford's property immediately to the south of the crossing, although the site was left vacant for several years. The attractive stone veneer that faces the concrete arch of the Mill Street Bridge qualifies this unique, aesthetically pleasing structure for the National Register.