One Heck of a Bridge!

The picture on the front of this “real photograph” post card is of the Lethbridge Viaduct in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The writing on the front of the post card informs us that the length of the bridge is “ONE MILE & 47 FEET” long and that the height is “307 FEET”. A quick glance at Wikipedia concurs that this in, indeed, a very large bridge.

The website tells us that the bridge, built by 100 men, was a replacement to the original route that was built in order to complete the Canadian Transcontinental Railroad to British Columbia in a reasonable amount of time. This bridge replaced at least four other bridges, shortened the route by 8.5 kilometers and reduced the grade from 1.2 percent to .4 percent!

The website also tells us that it is the largest railway structure in Canada and the largest of its type in the world. Construction began in 1907 and was completed two years later.

The picture was taken by Arthur Rafton-Canning. According to the Images Canada Web site description of the contributing Sir Alexander Galt Museum and Archives, "Arthur Rafton-Canning established the British & Colonial Photographic Company at Sixth Street South in Lethbridge in 1907, and operated it until 1913 when he moved out of southern Alberta."

Rafton-Canning retired to White Rock, B.C. his wife, Annie Elizabeth (Parsons) Canning, whom he married in 1885 in England, died in 1949, age 83. In White Rock, Mr. Rafton-Canning was an amateur photographer. He was also a member of the Canadian Legion, Branch No. 8, and the first president of the White Rock Board of Trade. At the time of his death on December 15, 1952 at age 87 or 88, Arthur Rafton-Canning was residing in his home called "Fort McMurray" on Donald Avenue.