Books

Dusting Off the Old Ones

The Tenth Street Bridge

Driving down Tenth Street from Main to the old Milwaukee depot, one would never imagine that at one time there was quite a bridge to cross, traveling the same route today. This bridge was built across the sloughy or gully, that ran through the town. This slough started with a low swail out of Tongue River just north of the Beacon Carter station, and did not deepen to any extent until just east of Seventh Street. From there on, it was quite deep until it entered into the old Tongue River sloughy just north of the Milwaukee depot. The bridge was built of timbers' with approaches at least three feet above the level of the ground, and at its highest point, the bridge was possible twelve feet. It was located in the 300 block and was quite an attraction in dry weather as a playground for the youngsters in the neighborhood. The folks who lived in that block on both sides of the street were John P. McDonald, commonly known as "High-Water Jack," who ran the soft water wagon around town; Charles P. Kelly, who later operated Kelly's saloon on the corner of Main and Seventh; Joe Reece, who worked for the Miles City Meat and Provision Company, and R. R. Clarke, who probably built more chimneys in Miles City than any other man. We do not believe that an automobile ever crossed this bridge as the slough was filled around the turn of the century, just prior to the coming of the automobile. We also believe that this was the only wagon bridge within the city limits of Miles City.