A Lot Of Memories -- December 2, 2023

Locator: 46228ARCHIVES.

I was born in Bismarck, ND, in 1951.

Two years later, our family of four moved Williston, and eventually became a family of eight.

I graduated from Williston High School, 1969, the best year for:

• music; and,
• muscle cars

The Lewis and Clark Bridge southwest of Williston:

The original two lane Lewis and Clark Bridge in Williston was built in 1927. Set 50 feet upstream from the current bridge location, its predecessor was a pontoon bridge built in 1916.

After a flood took out the pontoon bridge, the first steel bridge was constructed.

This version of the Lewis and Clark was a very steel-heavy structure compared with the current bridge.

In 1973, a new bridge was constructed to keep up with traffic demand and the weight of larger, more modern trucks.

The bridge is 36 feet wide and 1,530 feet long. During construction, crews used 228 tons of concrete and eleven hundred tons of steel to build the bridge. The ribbon cutting for the new bridge was held in November 1973. State and local leaders were present to cut the ribbon, and the dedication ceremony included a cannon salute and several marching selections by the local American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.

Soon after the completion of the modern bridge, the previous bridge was demolished.

My dad was a Williams County Commissioner when the bridge was dedicated, and spoke at the 1973 dedication. I missed the dedication; I was in college, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD.

The map of the Williston area now:

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Williston Memories

Outside of my family the individual that had the most influence on my high school years, and perhaps my entire life: "Jo" Ashmore. She died in 2017. Wow, what a story. I did not know. When I came across this, the "story" hit me like a ton of bricks. Think of the most important person in your life in high school, multiply the feelings you have for that individual by ten and you might come close to the thoughts I have about Ms Ashmore. I'm sure I would not have accomplished half the things I accomplished in life without her mentorship. Wow, I had a great high school experience.

Link here. Archived.