Julie's Bridge

I have known Julie Bowers for over 25 years. We wandered the hinterlands watching our favorite rock and roll band together for a big chapter in our collective life. She returned to her home ground of Grinnell, Iowa several years ago.

A couple of years back, Julie made it her mission to save the old McDowell Bridge near bye on the Skunk River. She organized numerous benefits to raise money for restoration and expended countless hours of effort on the old bridge's behalf. In a world where so many of us are content with chasing our individual carrots in front of life's stick, she devoted herself to an old iron bridge, a historical relic worth saving for everybody. Time consuming work with little pay and little credit.

The Skunk River had its own plan. It started rising several weeks ago and the bridge broke off its moorings and escaped somehow on an ill fated quest for freedom. It's twisted up and resting now somewhere down river.

If you click on the title of this post, you will see a video of the recent history of the bridge that I really find moving. I can't put it directly on the site because the video takes over.

I don't know if it will ever be rebuilt but I think that my friend's work should be applauded. It takes such hard work to attempt to do what she has tried to do. Tip your cap to her. Lets hope that the Skunk River Bridge can rise again. Congratulations Julie for all your efforts. Don't give up.