On December 12, 1957, the Lazy KX Bar served the first drinks in Mobridge The bar, owned and operated by George and EDee Komarek is located just off Highway 191 south of the Fred Robinson Bridge, a couple of miles. In 1929 the federal government decided to build a bridge across the Missouri River. It took them almost 24 years before they could decide on a site. In 1956, once I learned of the decision to build a bridge near the mouth of Armells I obtained 320 acres that are surrounded by the CMR to start a cow camp. In November I hired the Harold M. Coulter Drilling Co. to drill a 200 ft. well. When they told me they'd hit good water I couldn't believe my luck.
  I decided to build a bar; cafe and trailer court on my land. I applied for and received a beer license in July of 1957. We began to build on August 11, 1957. My wife, EDee, Clyde Coulter and I worked continuously for nearly 8 months to complete the bar before Christmas. One of the happiest days of my life was when we hung the OPEN sign in the window. The first drinks were served to Al Gates, Trig Haugen and Bick Kier, all of Lewistown.
  Construction on the bridge began early in 1957 and with it came an influx of people. A cafe was added and opened in May 1958 for the road crew, carpenters, cement and iron workers who were starting to move in. The trailer court was added and in use by June 1st.
  The wages of the road crew ran about $2 per hour. Cafe help and bartenders got from $.50 to $.70 per hour.
  The bridge was completed in November of 1958 and dedication ceremonies were held in August of the following year. Stan Gar was the first man to cross the bridge. The Lewistown Chamber of Commerce sponsored the contest which named the new community to be, Mobridge. I have a letter from a man in South Dakota who wanted to start a bank. I think 1986 would have closed his doors.
  Since electricity did not come to the area until 1960 we used gas lamps and heaters and propane refrigerators. In 1961 telephone service began and a gas station was added.
  Once the construction workers left I decided to hold some rodeos. The first Mobridge rodeo was July 4th, 1961 and we had two rodeos a year for nine years The crowds were always good.
  An airstrip was built in 1962 to serve contestants, hunters and tourists who were invading the area. First to land a plane on it were Bob Cimrhakl and Fred Sandstrom.
  A major flood on June 16, 1962 nearly destroyed everything. It came up over the rodeo arena, but fortunately stopped four feet from the bar.
  Mobridge has nice weather in the spring, fall and winter, for there is little wind. It does get hot in July and August. ^{P. 275}

  In the early days homesteader's children would gaze north across the plains and dream of being able to cross the Missouri. During the late 20's there was much interest, locally, in a proposed new road to Malta, a bridge across the Missouri River and a highway to Lewistown. On a larger scale others were promoting an easier route from Canada (Dominion) to Yellowstone, in essence to follow the old D-Y Trail.
  In the early 30's four bridge sites were considered. One was at Wilder at a cost of $325,000; at the C K (Winnett to Malta) at a cost of $400,000 and one at the Power Plant at a cost of $440,000. One south of Glasgow was considered too close to the existing Wolf Point bridge. At this time there was 250 miles of river without a bridge, the longest span of unbridged river in the nation.
  In May of 1930 numerous soundings were taken on the river. In June representatives of the D-Y Trail association met with county commissioners and businessmen from adjoining counties to discuss the bridge site at the Power Plant ferry which gained much support, as a bridge there would provide the shortest route for a proposed highway from Canada to Yellowstone. This route would also follow along many historical points of interest.
  After more soundings were conducted the Rocky Point site was designated as the best spot to build a bridge. On July 28, 1930 a bridge picnic was sponsored by the Roy Community Business Club at Wilder ferry, or Rocky Point, to promote this site. Lewistown had not as yet thrown its support to this site; they had already sided with other counties in favor of the Power Plant site. As time went on Rocky Point showed more advantages, not only in construction cost but from an engineering standpoint. Six hundred people showed up for the picnic There were speeches, boat rides, games and plenty to eat.
  The road was surveyed during the 30's and about 30 miles of it was completed out of Malta, in a southwesterly direction. In 1940 an 8-mile stretch was built from Bohemian Corners in a northeasterly direction, stopping in the middle of a pasture, W.W.II came along and the construction was halted.
  Twelve years passed before anything was done again. Early in 1952 oil men began to push for a north-south route to aid in the "development of new oil fields", and speculators were leasing the oil rights from ranchers. The governor began to press for completion of the project.
  By late 1953 the previous bridge sites had been abandoned and the Armells site was selected. Armells was 13-14 miles east of the Power Plant site and 10 miles upriver from Wilder. It was announced that the bridge would become a reality within four years,
  The pouring of the cement for the 698 foot bridge began in February of 1957. Nelson Construction of Sheridan, Wyo. had the low bid of $718,000. Other companies involved in the building of the bridge were Wickens Bros., Walling Construction, and Sheriff Construction. In 1957-58 there were more than 1500 men on the bridge payroll.
  While the bridge was under construction, the building of the highway commenced. The contract for the grading of the south side section was let for $451,000. By July of '59 the gravel work was completed and oiling had begun.
  It was a gala celebration that was held on August 16, 1969 when the bridge was dedicated. There was Governor Aronson and Senator Fred Robinson, who the bridge was named for on hand to cut, not a ribbon, but a log. There were scores of other dignitaries as well as bands, free boat rides, a huge barbecue and 10,000 celebrants It was a 30-years dream come true and it made a change in the country, not only in the way people lived, but in how it looked.
  And that homesteader child that gazed north wonderingly finally got to take a firsthand look at the mountains north of the river not on horseback arriving soaking wet on the other side with many miles to go yet, but in a vehicle across a BRIDGE!
  The James Kipp Park was dedicated the same day. It was named in honor of the early explorer and settler of the river, who negotiated trade with the Blackfoot Indians in the area near the bridge site as early as 1831.

• George and E Dee Komarek -1957 
• An aerial view of Mobridge.