BRIDGE REPRIEVE

                                

    Beginning around 6 weeks ago, word came, the old Swinging Bridge in Elkhurst was slated to be torn down. Town Councilman Jerry Stover reported the news at several public meetings (Council, BDA, & CAEZ meeting). He called for support to save the old cable bridge, one of the last of its kind in the state.

  Others in the county reacted to the news and offered letters of support. One of those was the County Commission who at the request of the peanut gallery, agreed to put a vote for a letter of support on the next meeting’s agenda.

  After damaged by a local vehicle, some say, by a Black Shirt cruiser severing a few strands of cables the much needed structure was closed on March 24, 2004. Even closed, for many years afterwards, locals needing to cross the Elk River, they continued to ride bikes or on foot, to use the structure.

  Now with most of the wooden decking rotted away, as recently as this Spring, people were seen crossing the span by using the under structure steel to carry Gino pizzas home.

  10 years back, an effort was kindled to try and revive the Swinging Bridge. Lots of Charleston Suits showed and pictures were taken. Little else was accomplished. Word spread that a local prominent family stopped the efforts behind the scenes. Back then, the State Road officials told the assembled, they would gladly sell the rusting structure to anyone for $1. There was a caveat; the buyer had to maintain insurance on it forever. Gulp!

  Many in the community see it from a historical aspect while others think, tourists coming our way for the ERTS State Park experience, it might be yet another draw for the county.

  Today Sept 18, 2019, the BDA Chair read from a letter (via email) that he had just received from the State Road in response to request for info from the same group.

  Here goes clickers, according to that letter, the State Road gang has not, does not, have any intentions nor made ANY effort to tear the Swinging Bridge down.

  Got another tidbit too from that correspondence. The Charleston folks are still willing to give the span away. There was no mention of needing to maintain costly insurance this time around.

 What ta do, what ta do

  Any group, maybe the BDA maybe the CCC, could take ownership. It would be worth a try. OK, who is going to step up  to the plate and make the request???? Hmmmm...

  Our guess, the structure will just= set there until pieces of steel start falling off and the State will come in and torch it apart. Another part of our history gone.          AW

three photos from elkhurst.net web portal