GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — On the morning of July 26, 1883, over 600,000 logs broke loose, rushing through the Grand River and tearing out every railroad bridge in Grand Rapids. …Heavy rains in June and July 1883 brought water levels on the river to record highs and overwhelmed lumbering booms for transport to saw mills in Lowell, Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Robinson townships. When lumbermen tried to take advantage of the high water to float their logs downstream, a seven-mile log jam formed above the Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge. The jam that eventually broke loose is known as one of the most devastating events in the city’s history. …For four days and nights, tons of logs pushed steadily through the Grand River. Seventy-five men worked on manmade obstructions to prevent more destruction of bridges. The Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee railway bridge collapsed from the pressure of logs. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad bridge and the Chicago and Milwaukee bridge were destroyed.