On our return trip from storytelling at Twin Falls State Park in southern West Virginia, we decided to take the long way home and visit the area where my husband grew up. He was so happy to see that the long swinging footbridge over the Coal River near Emmons was still in place and in excellent repair.
Larry remembers walking across the bridge many times to play baseball, go visiting, or to go swimming in the cool shade along the river. The bridge is very well constructed, with steel cables holding it together. I liked the way this big steel o-ring looked.
And after walking across, looking down into the shady river below, it was time to head on up the road. I think the old bridge will be in place long after we're gone, barring a bad flood or some other accident.
We had a swinging bridge where I grew up in Breathitt county, KY.
ReplyDeleteIt was just down the hill from a Carmelite Missionary boarding school that my granfather donated the ground for.
It was built by one of the teachers at the school, out of graditude and neccessity, for the benefit of the community.
When the North Fork of the Kentucky River was up, people were cut off from the main road (a wagon road until after WWII) into the town of Jackson and had to add about 10 extra miles to a trip to town by going around the mountain on War Creek.
It was situated just down stream from a low-water bridge that could accomodate horses, wagons and small trucks. But if the river rose, as it always did even in a moderate rain, that bridge was unpassable. Maybe for a day, maybe for weeks.
At least with the swinging bridge, you could get across and walk the 2 miles to the road and probably catch a ride from someone or another.
Just a little of my heritage.
I would like to know the history behind this brige--I enjoyed your story of the one you grew up with. Do you know if it's still in place?
ReplyDeleteI suspect this one was built for the same reason as the one you describe, because it connected two main roads on either side. Nowadays they're not as "ain" but back then they were very busy, and the coal miners lived on both sides, so they'd need a way to cross the river t get to wrk if it was in flood. Maybe one of the coal mine companies built it for that reason. Or maybe the CCC? I don't know if they built bridges though.
Someone is maintaining it too--brand new treated lumber decking.
I haven't been back up there 3-4 years, but it was the last time I was there.
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