Postcards and Cocktails

Twilight Hour Tuesday. The Honeymoon is Over.

On January, 27th, 1938, approximately 84 years ago this week, a giant ice jam flowed down the Niagara River and piled up on the footings of the Honeymoon Bridge. The arched structure groaned as it was bombarded with ice blocks causing authorities to suspend all transportation across the expanse high above the Niagara River. At exactly 4:20 pm the gossamer steel bridge gave way and crashed with a great roar into the Niagara Gorge 200 feet below. Tourists and honeymooners watched in suspense as the bridge that connected the United States and Canada was loosened from its abutments on the American side and fell onto the frozen ice below. Within moments the Canadian side followed suit settling on the banks off shore and sending a spray of snow and ice crystals high into the air. As the clouds cleared and dusk set in the giant skeleton of the bridge could be seen far below.

photo credit A.P. Davis

Honeymoon Bridge, also known as the Upper Arch Steel Bridge and the Fallsview Bridge, was completed in 1899 and owned by The International Railway Company. At the time of its construction it was considered the greatest steel arched bridge in the world. Over the years numerous motorists and pedestrians traveled across the lofty expanse high over the Niagara River that provided a busy connection between the American and Canadian side of Niagara Falls.

online image of theHoneymoon Bridge.

Long considered the quintessential honeymoon destination the magnificent falls awed many-a-newlywed. A popular destination for tourists and honeymooners alike accommodations, eateries, bars, and entertainment venues sprung up throughout the region to meet the demand. Vintage postcards from the era depict locations travelers might frequent such as the Knotty Pine Court or Whirlpool Bar and Restaurant.

postcard collection A.P.Davis.

Luckily, on that fateful January evening in 1938 celebrants were kept safely out of harm’s way. To escape the frigid weather, newlyweds may have happily returned to the privacy and comfort of their room to enjoy a Honeymoon Cocktail!

photo credit A.P. Davis

First published in Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 book, Recipes for Mixed Drinks, the Honeymoon Cocktail recipe is as follows: 2 oz. Apple Brandy, 1/2 oz. Curacao, 1/2 oz. Benedictine, 1/2 oz. lemon juice. Shake with ice and strain into a glass.