Used to party on top in the 80s. We had bonfires and walked the length of it which now I think it was pretty stupid to do because it was very dangerous, but many beers gave us the courage to do it and it was fun. We also tied a knotted rope to a tree on the bridge and shimmied down to the "rock" then back up. That was a great interview about the history...thank you.
@nigelhardy39782 жыл бұрын
Heck yeah Scott
@historyinyourownbackyard23634 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@claudermiller2 жыл бұрын
I've seen video of the trolley-airplane race.
@johnshooter47635 ай бұрын
Does anyone know if my friend Eric Sperling still lives in Waterville ohio, we lost touch in 99!
@historyinyourownbackyard23635 ай бұрын
I don't know.
@martybrooke96382 жыл бұрын
Great video and great interview. I Loved the story about the trolley and plane race and her little laugh was special!!! Very nice lady, beautiful old bridge. Good job Susie!!!
@pa6370 Жыл бұрын
Why not just let the bridge die a natural death. Do you cut down every tree that might fall on someone kayaking or remove every submerged object? Let the local small businesses have the benefit from the tourist dollar until nature finishes taking its course.
@bereabeard Жыл бұрын
I visited it last summer and was enchanted. You've done some gorgeous & fascinating drone photography! The loss of this historical landmark will be a tragedy. Great job!
@historyinyourownbackyard23634 ай бұрын
Craig did a fantastic job with the drone.
@SunnyJohn454 ай бұрын
Ohio had more interurban track mileage than any other state. The bridge is one of the last vestiges of the interurban era in Ohio. Leave the bridge alone. There are better ways to spend $2 million.
@historyinyourownbackyard23634 ай бұрын
I don't know how many more years this bridge has left in it.
@JonAdams-q7i3 ай бұрын
2 million to repair? that's nothing.
@boballmendinger379928 күн бұрын
@@JonAdams-q7i to demolish.
@chriss5262 жыл бұрын
I’ve been watching several of your videos recently and I think that this interview with Kathy has been my favorite so far. I’ve never been to Waterville, Ohio, but her knowledge and passion for history expressed in this interview make me want to go find this bridge!
@daveshultz37182 жыл бұрын
I'm somewhat close to Waterville like within a half hour or so and have seen this bridge several times. I even have a postcard or 2 of it with a trolley on the track. What you saw in the video as far as the river? A Polar Bear swim is done there every year on New Years Day. There's a local story behind that too. There's lots of videos on the swim including one that I shot. No way would I ever partake in one.
@markhuss59602 жыл бұрын
I grew up playing on that Bridge 🌉 Grandma lived in Waterville
@briansmith-l1q3 ай бұрын
got time, and no money for this? put time into something that counts. like, how much money would it take to get rid of the bridge. It's trash. I'm a historian to a certain degree, but things get stupid.
@touchgrass7129 Жыл бұрын
damn, Scott drove on this?
@kesmarn2 жыл бұрын
I live in this area and this is a beautiful bridge. The river itself is really lovely. The interview was excellent. I had only recently discovered the History in Your Own Backyard channel, and was pleasantly surprised to see Susie at work almost literally in my own back yard!
@DawnGrimm2 жыл бұрын
I moved to Waterville in 2016. I stumbled across the bridge by accident. I was completely fascinated by it. I thought it was absolutely beautiful. I voraciously studied everything I could about it. It quickly became my sacred quiet spot. I love anything historic but this bridge has a special pull. I am just absolutely devastated that the sale of the bridge fell through both times and now it's up for destruction. It will be an enormous loss for our community. 💔💔😭😭
@historyinyourownbackyard23634 ай бұрын
I agree 100%.
@misplacedbuckeye12 жыл бұрын
What a great video to document the history of the bridge. I'm sure it would be a monumental task to preserve it, but still such a shame for it to be destroyed.
@SnatchesRus2 жыл бұрын
anyone know when its schedules to be demolished?
@chuckg60392 жыл бұрын
I was going to say exactly what Chris S said which is this is my favorite video you all have ever produced. I greatly enjoyed the subject matter, and those drone shots were stunning! I also liked the added length and detail. I liked it that you got right into the material, and didn't eat up time (often 1/2 the video) by explaining time and time again what a phantom bridge/road is. Great questions were asked. All in all, just a wonderful video and production. A++
@devinbender84282 жыл бұрын
Love the video. Love the history! But this is the time capsule. This will be around for decades. The bridge needs torn down. It’s a safety issue. It’s a ecological issue. If some private company wants to pony up $20,000,000 to make it a walking bridge go for it. But NO tax money should be used to rebuild it.
@JonAdams-q7i3 ай бұрын
govt could save this bridge.
@michaelhill74712 жыл бұрын
Ms Cathy/Kathy was quite the presenter of the history of the bridge. One of the best I have seen on this channel.
@historyinyourownbackyard23634 ай бұрын
Yes she is very good.
@pastorvoyersts2 жыл бұрын
It's good to see you guys do some stuff up here in NW Ohio. The Black Swamp is full of gems. Next time your up this way let's reconnect.
@exploreohio17352 жыл бұрын
I visited this bridge and it's beautiful, I hope there's away to deter deterioration but keep the look it has now for years to come. You don't need to be on the bridge to realize how special that area is.
@jameshill17402 жыл бұрын
One of the very few spans that survived the 1913 flood. And the lore describing the red devil is based upon truth. Its speed was legendary for its time but also a testimonial to its engineering marvel
@esmeraldaslifefandango75942 жыл бұрын
Wonderful interview. Fascinating topic. Great questions and interesting and informative answers. Kathy is so knowledgeable, articulate and personable. She and Susie seem to be well matched. The photography was fine also. This is my favorite of many fine History in Your Own Backyard videos.
@sandikinsinger52442 жыл бұрын
I played on and around that bridge my whole life! Locally, it's referred to as "The Old Bridge". Before they completely cut off access to the bridge, I might have made my way up there once or twice. :) There's a whole lot of history right there! Watching this interview was a nice trip down memory lane.
@markhuss59602 жыл бұрын
My old stomping grounds !!! Grandma lived in Waterville 25 Mt Vernon
@sandikinsinger52442 жыл бұрын
@@markhuss5960I grew up on Locust Street behind the Philips family whose house was on Mt. Vernon. Small world!
@markhuss59602 жыл бұрын
Small world Sandi ??? Sandy my mother in law lives accross 20 by the water tower in new Waterville ??? Her husband Keith my Dad my son Robert and Keith's brother Dave all passed within two years and then we lost the 17 yo Jack Russell shortly after !!! Mildred and Frank Weiler lived at 25 Mt Vernon for as long as I can remember ?? I grew up out there but also went to Whitmer and Meadowvale schools lived on Talmadge all through HS there used to be a par 3 golf course there many moons ago
@markhuss59602 жыл бұрын
I can remember in 79 when the transmission went out in Sandy's T Bird Driving in Reverse through Waterville to the Mechanic 🧰 I was in trouble 😵💫
@FoxsDen30122 жыл бұрын
Love your videos
@timeflysintheshop2 жыл бұрын
This was one of your best videos for sure! The awesomeness of the subject helps of course, but overall just a great, informative video about an amazing place I never knew existed! Thank You! I wonder if they could identify a portion of the bridge two or three connected arches in the middle that are in preservable condition. Instead of spending 2 million to knock it all down, spend 1.5 million to knock down all but the presevable arches and spend the balance .5 million to make smaller scale repairs or to do things to extend the life of a few arches. That way it is inaccessible to vandals, but still illustrates the grandure of what was once all the way across. What do you think? Can you get this suggestion to the woman in the video who is part of the local preservation society?
@chuckg60392 жыл бұрын
This is kind of what I was thinking too. Maybe concentrate on just the north end so any work would be easily viewed from S. River Road. After rennovation of just a few arches, then leave each of the pylons across the river .....much like they did for the two old bridges at Harpers Ferry, WV.
@historyinyourownbackyard23632 жыл бұрын
I will let her know. Thanks!
@markhuss59602 жыл бұрын
I grew up playing on that Bridge 🤣
@martyrose34602 жыл бұрын
Wow. The Cincinnati and Lake Erie Line! Who knew?
@richwalker88982 жыл бұрын
History? That's recent news to most of the world!
@twopoundsofbeef2 жыл бұрын
I wanna help save this bridge who's got info on some kind of benefit
@historyinyourownbackyard23632 жыл бұрын
This video project is probably the only help that the bridge will ever get from this point on.
@Penelope17302 жыл бұрын
Very nice interview! So many memories with that bridge, especially for art, photography and a beautiful meditation area when walking the tow path at Farnsworth Park or canoeing. I also remember ALL the parties...it was the go-to place back in the day. It's a dangerous liability, but still sad to see it go. Waterville is such a sweet Village. It's grown exponentially since I grew up there, yet it's still one of the best and beautiful places to live, or raise a family, in Northwest Ohio. I've always loved the history and New England vibe.
@chuckg60392 жыл бұрын
I wonder if one option is to restore a small section on each end to save costs. This option to me makes sense, especially if the powers to be succeed in getting the ok to demonish the bridge.
@devinbender84282 жыл бұрын
What’s the point of that? Like the pointless pillars at the Maumee/ Perrysburg crossing? Also the State doesn’t want the liability to maintain it over the years.
@chuckg60392 жыл бұрын
@@devinbender8428 would be better than total destruction. They could design around liability I bet with small section of one arch. There are many structures standing with very limited liability.
@devinbender84282 жыл бұрын
@@chuckg6039 one arch, where people could still walk under it and around it. That would still costs MILLIONS initially and thousands annually. If a private company wants to great! But no tax dollars
@chuckg60392 жыл бұрын
@@devinbender8428 there are many examples all over the country where funds are raised to support local history. Everything from preservation grants to local businesses stepping up. If that county wants something bad enough good things can happen. At some point I see it being destroyed unless that good thing happens.
@devinbender84282 жыл бұрын
@@chuckg6039 oh I agree. Not saying it can’t happen. But your talking about raising millions AND having insurance to cover the liability.