"The Ballad Of The Third Street Bridge" (G. Heritier) - George Heritier: Rolling Records label - 1977. Did not chart nationally.
The Bay City Third Street Bridge, constructed in the early 19th century, was a recognizable landmark in the city's riverfront skyline, but that all changed On June 18, 1976. At 3:10 a.m., the western span of the bridge snapped and folded into the Saginaw River while opening for an oncoming ship.
Musician George Heritier had been driving cab in Bay City at the time and wrote “The Ballad of the Third Street Bridge” soon after. Heritier had played in several local bands including the Draytons, Sand, Jay Walker and the Jayhawkers, and Buffalo Chips before embarking on a solo career.
Heritier recalled that the song was recorded in producer John Kilbourn's son's bedroom at their house on Litchfield Street, on Bay City’s west side. Heritier played guitar and harmonica and sang on the primary track, then overdubbed bass. Kilbourn later had Mike Cook, Andy Rogers, Jamie McGee and Fred Reif overdub guitar, fiddle, 12-string and washboard respectively.
Highly unusual for a local release, the single was attractively packaged with a fold-out poster that included liner notes and a shot of the collapsed bridge, along with stylish photographs of Heritier by Terry Bert.
