Man recalls diving queen during dedication of 'Big Mac'

BILL BURMEISTER at his Gill’s Pier home, and with his first wife Marion while driving Miss Allegan County as part of the Mackinac Bridge dedication ceremony.

Bill Burmeister of Gill’s Pier watched with great interest as the Mackinac Bridge marked its 50th “birthday” last weekend.

Burmeister, 76, was among 83 dignitaries from throughout the state who participated in the original dedication of the bridge in June 1958. Leelanau County was represented by Deanna Powell of Northport.

“The Michigan Jaycees asked for drivers carrying ‘queens’ from each county,” said Burmeister, who said the bridge had been in operation for a year when the ceremony was held. “It was one of those, ‘You’ve got the time; you do it things.’”

Burmeister, who was 27 at the time, and his first wife Marion traveled north from their Allegan County home to St. Ignace for the ceremony.

All four lanes of the “Mighty Mac” were closed to through traffic for the event. Dozens of white Olds ‘98 convertibles were allowed, however, to carry the royalty from throughout Michigan across the 26,372-foot span across the Straits of Mackinac to Mackinaw City. The dedication was marked with speeches by then-Gov. G. Mennen Williams and game show host Hal March of the “$64,000 Question.”
“I didn’t know it until later, but the governor was asked to pose on a piece of equipment, put it in reverse and almost drove off the bridge,” Burmeister said, quoting from a book on Michigan trivia.

Burmeister, a native of the western Upper Peninsula, had taken the car ferries across the Straits many times. The ferry rides of his youth took 11⁄2 to 2 hours, between loading and unloading.

“They were big boats that carried railroad cars too,” he said. “It was exciting. I remember hearing the engines running when I was a young kid.”

The bridge crossing was much quicker and more awe-inspiring, he said.

“I felt safer in the boat,” Burmeister said of his maiden voyage on the Mackinac Bridge. “The height really got to me.”

The Mackinac is the third largest suspension bridge in the world and the largest in the western hemisphere. The bridge, 54 feet in width — carries automobiles up to 200 feet above the water. Other interesting trivia quoted by Burmeister:

• The bridge was considered one of the seven marvels of the world.

• It took 20 million manhours to build over 31⁄2 years;

• Five of the 2,500 workers participating died during construction;

• The bridge cost $100 million and includes 42,000 miles of wire.

“I was just amazed at the size,” Burmeister said, adding that he had not seen pictures of the structure prior to the dedication ceremony. “It was awe-inspiring. Fifty years later it still takes my breath away.”

Burmeister worked for about 20 more years downstate before relocating to Leelanau County in 1976.
“I came up to Leelanau County and fell in love with it,” Burmeister said. “Everyone I met was so friendly and loving. I knew I wanted to live here.”

Reflecting on Big Mac’s 50th, Burmeister can’t help but feel good about volunteering for the dedication held 50 years ago next summer.

“It looked like it would rain and we were all in convertibles,” he said. “It turned out to be a beautiful day. I was honored to have been there.”