FEB. 4TH MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ICE-BRIDGE TRAGEDY By George Bailey
2012-02-01 10:39:19
4 comments Latest by Niagara falls tours from Toronto 02/27/12 02:10:59 EST
Years ago it was popular to walk out on the ice-bridge that formed on very cold winters below the falls. Some locals even set-up shacks where they sold Niagara souvenirs and alcoholic beverages. However on Feb. 4th, 1912 the weather turned warm and the ice-bridge started to break up. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge Stanton and Burrell Hecock were carried by two separate pieces of the ice-bridge down river pass the Honeymoon Bridge and thrown into the river where they drowned. Attached is a photograph of Mr. Burrell on a piece of the ice-bridge.
Attempts to rescue them by lowering a rope from the bridge for them to grab failed. As a result of this tragedy it has been forbidden to go out onto the ice-bridge.
This year's mild winter weather possibly could result in the formation of no ice-bridge. Records, which have been kept since 1974, indicate there were only three years (1986, 1987, and 1998) when ice-bridges didn't occur.
Ice-bridges or not Niagara Falls is still a great location to visit in the winter months.
