Michigan park honors union members who built the ‘Mighty Mac’
By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
Melinda and I make a point of visiting labor history sites when we travel.
We just got home from another road trip, this one to Mackinaw City, Mich., and nearby Mackinac Island and Mackinac Bridge. (On the way up in our 2019 Buick Enclave, we passed by the Lansing Delta Township GM plant were members of UAW Local 602 built our crossover SUV.)
In Mackinaw City, Mich., we discovered that part of a public park is dedicated to Ironworkers who built the nearby Mackinac Bridge.
Spanning the Straits of Mackinac, the 26,372-foot, four-lane "Mighty Mac" is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. The span, which opened in 1957, connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas via Interstate 75.
The park features a unique, life-size, "hot-dip" galvanized metal statue of an Ironworker and an "Ironworkers Walk of Fame." Unveiled on the 50th anniversary of the bridge's completion, the statue "is comprised of an amalgamation of more than 3,000 ironworker tools and steel building components, donated by ironworkers from across the USA and Canada.” The likeness was also crafted from “pieces of iconic steel structures, including the World Trade Center, Golden Gate Bridge, George Washington Bridge, and Mackinaw Bridge were also used to create the tribute.”
All told, “three tons of galvanized steel were used to create the piece, which took approximately 400 hours to assemble prior to galvanizing."
The statue overlooks the “Ironworkers Walk of Fame,” which is comprised of paving bricks bought in honor of an Ironworker or bridgeman, the plaque explains. "The men and women that serve this noble profession will forever be honored here as inductees in the Ironworkers Walk of Fame," says the plaque.
The bricks are inscribed with names of Ironworkers from several locals in the U.S. and Canada. I didn’t see any from Kentucky, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some Bluegrass State Ironworkers headed north to work on the bridge project, which began in 1954.
“The Ironworker profession is an honorable and proud group of craftsmen that have ‘Built the World’ with their physical strength and tireless dedication,” the plaque also says. “They are known as the most respected tradesmen in the construction industry.”
Another Ironworker statue stands in St. Ignace on the other side of the bridge. Also unveiled in 2007, the 6-3 likeness of an Ironworker in a hardhat standing on a beam honors the five men who died building the bridge. "The statue was sponsored by Iron Workers Locals 8, 25 and 340," according to the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, whose logo includes a likeness of the famous bridge. "Retired iron workers Rick (Squeegee) Whitson and Mark Morton met with Janice about 10 times, bringing authentic tools, clothing and a toolbelt to make sure they got it just right. In nice detail on the iron worker's tool belt are two spud wrenches, a sleever bar, a 12-inch crescent wrench and a 1-inch bull pin. Over his shoulder he has a rod-busters tool belt, with pliers, a wooden rule and a wire reel. He's carrying an eight-pound sledgehammer."
Mackinaw City also salutes the bridge builders and their union with an annual summertime International Ironworkers Festival. It's set for Aug. 12-14 this year.
The festival "attracts Ironworkers from across the United States and Canada to compete in friendly competition. It is open to the General Public, although only Ironworkers & Retirees can compete in the Skilled Events. These events include Knot Tying, Rod Tying, Rivet Toss, Spud Throw, Column Climb (Field Event), and the World Championship Column Climb."
More information is available by phone from Tim Roman at (906) 228-6450.