A BRIDGE TOO FAR? OLD APPLETON BRIDGE RESTORATION DRIVE CONTINUES, 17 YEARS AFTER BRIDGE WAS SWEPT AWAY

The original rock piers where the Old Appleton Bridge rested from 1879 until 1982, have been raised five feet. Members of the bridge's restoration committee hope to see the historic bridge back on its piers sometime in 2000. Jackson USA Photo/Mark Evans

OLD APPLETON -- For 103 years the Old Appleton Bridge graced the small community with its looming presence over Apple Creek. To those involved in its restoration, it probably seems to be taking an equally long amount of time.

The historic bridge, believed to have been the oldest iron bridge in Missouri, still in its original location, and possibly the state's last remaining example of a Pratt truss bridge, was on the verge of receiving National Landmark status as 1982 neared its end.

The old superstructured bridge was pummeled by a stunning 15-foot high flash flood Dec. 3, 1982. Witnesses said the bridge tipped to one side, then disappeared into the roaring flood waters.

The broken remains were half buried in the sandbar of the creek and partly on the shore, when the waters subsided. A piece of Cape County history had apparently been destroyed.

Almost from the beginning, though, residents of the historic town banded together for what would be a herculean effort. They would restore the bridge -- somehow.

"Basically the very next day there were some of the townsfolk standing around the bridge site, looking at the wreckage," said Jan Dellamano, long-time committee of the Old Appleton Bridge Restoration Committee. "We started talking about it right then, that it would be a shame to lose it and that it would be nice if there was some way to get it back. We thought we'd explore that option and see if we couldn't do something about it."

The Old Appleton Bridge Restoration Committee has been laboring for 17 years to see the bridge returned to its former piers across Apple Creek. Much has happened during those years.

The bridge -- basically in two sections -- had to be removed from the creek. Like historic houses in the way of progress, it had to be disassembled, as it was recovered from the mud and sand, with each part numbered for later reassembling.

Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised and the committee finally struck gold when it received an ISTEA grant for $250,000.

Sometime next spring or summer the committee hopes to finally hoist the grand old bridge back onto its original rock piers (now raised by five feet) for use as a pedestrian bridge and centerpiece.

"Part of the work we're doing isn't just the bridge itself; we're looking at the whole site," Dellamano said. "We would like to create a community park that has the bridge as its centerpiece, maintains whole site, so the public can come and enjoy the bridge, as well as taking advantage of activities like fishing, swimming and hiking."

Progress was slow and marked by numerous setbacks. The most tragic of which came on May 15, 1986.

Things had finally seemed to be moving forward by 1986. In fact, a quirk of good luck in August, 1985 had seemed to mark a change in luck. Steve Sabo, a St. Louisian who often explored Perry County Caves, was cooling off, wading in Apple Creek, below the old mill dam, when he literally stumbled over the still-lost dedication plaque for old bridge. Medal detectors and magnets had failed to find the 100-125-pound plaque during the previous three years.

Any thoughts of the fates smiling on the Apple Creek project changed on May 15, though. A flash flood which made the 1982 disaster look measly by comparison, ripped through the small creek, taking with it another big chunk of Old Appleton history.

The angry water literally carried away the 162-year-old McLain Mill, built in the fledgling community in 1824. It had been purchased just a few years before by Sam Dellamano (Jan's father), to be turned into a museum and craft center.

At first it seemed that the mill tragedy would also be the death knoll for the bridge project. The surviving pieces of the old bridge -- not yet assembled -- were buried in mud.

"There was that immediate emotional reaction that maybe the project shouldn't go ahead," Jan Dellamano recalled. "Then, when we stepped back and looked at it objectively, we decided that there was no reason why we shouldn't continue. The bridge project wasn't really affected. It was just covered with mud."

"It gets frustrating trying to finish this thing," said Mark Birchler, an engineer with CDG Engineering in St. Louis, who has been working with the committee almost from the time the bridge was washed off its piers, "but if I look at it, we've got a lot done.

"It's a dedicated group," Dellamano said. "We're a bunch of die-hards. We get frustrated at times, but we're still dedicated."

It had been hoped that the project could be finished late this summer. Now 2000 appears to be the target date.

"We still have a big hurdle we have to get over, in determining what's the best way to flood-proof it and still help the Department of Natural Resources out with this proposed fish ladder," Birchler said. "If we can get over that, I can finish the plans quickly."

The fish ladder (a series of pools, or "steps" common on the East and West coasts to help salmon and other fish get past dams) would be a novel way to help historic preservation and conservation at the same time. A fish ladder was on the old dam downstream, although Birchler doubts that it ever worked.

When the final hurdle is cleared and the final plans drawn, the old bridge must then be lifted by crane and placed back on the piers. Then, some 121 years after its first dedication ceremony, and even bigger gala can be expected in Old Appleton.

"Hopefully sometime in 2000 we'll be there for the dedication of the bridge," Dellamano said. "We're looking forward to that."

Disassembled and pulled from Apple Creek, the vintage 1879 Old Appleton Bridge has been painstakingly put back together with nearly all original parts. Jackson USA Photo/Mark Evans

The original rock piers where the Old Appleton Bridge rested from 1879 until 1982, have been raised five feet. Members of the bridge's restoration committee hope to see the historic bridge back on its piers sometime in 2000. Jackson USA Photo/Mark Evans