Save old bridge for bike-riding, walking place

To the editor:

Greetings from Alabama. I grew up in Cape Girardeau and still visit there often. I also read the Southeast Missourian on the Internet.

At a recent 1950s Central High School reunion, a lot of us were talking about old times. A good part of that discussion was about the new and the old bridge. So many of us thought it would be a shame to tear down a part of the history of Cape: the old bridge. When you live away and bring your children and grandchildren to visit, everyone gets excited when they see that old bridge. You know that you're home.

The new bridge is beautiful and will be a good thing for traffic, but why spend all that money to destroy history? Why not use the money to renovate and make that a walking and bike-riding place where families could go on weekends? How many times have you said that it would be fun to walk across the river? I bet I'm not the only one who would like to do that.

I hope the hometown people will speak up and be heard. Save a part of our town's history, just like the Marquette Hotel which used to be so beautiful. I worked for a stock brokerage office which was located on the first floor of the Marquette many years ago. I am so glad to see the renovation there. I hope there will be good news about the old bridge too.

JUDY BOLLINGER SMITH

Huntsville, Ala.