A move that speaks well (07/12/07)

It speaks well of this community.

The old bridge rededicated at a new site in Portland may seem mute to some. But it does indeed speak volumes about this community.

That was clear on Monday when Dr. James Cooper, professor emeritus at Depauw University and Indiana's acknowledged expert on Hoosier bridges, spoke at the dedication ceremonies.

It would have been easy, Dr. Cooper noted, for the bridge simply to disappear. After all, that's what has happened to dozens of other old iron bridges that once dotted the Midwestern landscape. One by one, they've been replaced in county after county by modern, low-maintenance, uninspiring structures.

In fact, the loss of Indiana's iron bridges has merited national attention among historic preservationists.

That's why Dr. Cooper couldn't stop smiling on Monday.

Here he was, within sight of Indiana's only concrete bowstring truss bridge - the South Meridian Street span over the Salamonie River - standing on a vintage iron and steel bridge that had been restored, relocated, and given a new life linking Weiler-Wilson Park and Hudson Family Park.

For a bridge enthusiast, that's hard to top.

Next year, Mayor Bruce Hosier noted Monday, the old bridge will be 100 years old. The fact that it's starting a new life rather than being tossed on the dump heap of history speaks well of Jay County's values, traditions, and sense of place. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]