Yesterday in La Crosse
A new interstate bridge in the works, in 1958
The Minnesota Department of Highways announced in 1958 that a bridge for the proposed La Crosse to Sioux Falls interstate was to be built on the Mississippi, starting in 1960. The bridge in the Dresbach area was projected to cost $10 million. The entire cost of what would become the Minnesota portion of I-90 was budgeted at $32 million. That bridge didn’t open until the late 60’s.
Wisconsin voters did something unusual in the spring election of ’58…they defeated an incumbent Supreme Court justice. Emmert Wingert had been appointed to the court just two years earlier. Wingert lost to Hartford attorney William Dieterich, who had run for the Supreme Court twice before, as well as for attorney general. The experts were surprised, because there had been little controversy in the court race, and both candidates identified themselves as Republicans. Dieterich died six years into his 10-year term.
Bangor High School dedicated its new addition that spring, including a gymnasium, and a hallway where photographs showed several standing ashtrays stationed at the windows…in 1958, Yesterday in La Crosse.
Continue Reading