About 1923 Allen St. Bridge Collapse
Presented by Erich Ebel, Historian
On Wednesday, January 3rd, 1923, Cowlitz County Commissioner-elect
Benjamin Barr sat in the back seat of his vehicle, when his driver, Arleigh
Millard, felt an unsettling shudder through the springs in his seat. Miller
glanced nervously at Barr through the rear-view mirror, unable to move the
vehicle forward. The pair were stuck atop the Allen Street Bridge in Kelso,
Washington. Seconds later it all came crashing down, resulting in the deadliest
bridge collapse in Washington history. Join us to learn more about this
historic Washington tragedy, including the causes and consequences of the
deadly disaster.
About the Speaker:
Erich Ebel has lived on the green side as well as the brown side.
He’s navigated the rivers and climbed the mountains. He’s fished its lakes,
hiked its trails, marveled at its geology, and studied it’s fascinating,
storied history to help share it with the world. Erich has spent the past ten
years discovering and sharing stories about Washington’s history, heritage, and
culture. His blog, videos, and podcasts hold a treasure trove of interesting
facts, unknown facets, and fascinating tales that help to educate the general
public about the privileges of being in Washington.
As the principal of Washington, Our Home consulting, Erich
is dedicated to assisting the state’s cultural institutions in preserving and
promoting their own stories by expanding and enriching the experience of their
audiences. From logos to local history curriculum, strategy to social media,
and news releases to new technologies, Washington, Our Home has the
professional skills to help cultural community organizations reach a larger and
more diverse audience, generate new heritage tourism dollars in local
economies, and promote local history worldwide. Visit http://washingtonourhome.com/ for more
information.
Photo Courtesy: Washington, Our Home