THE OLD STEEL BRIDGE

As Spring turns to Summer and the days get hot and humid, and we pack our "long handles" away 'til next winter, our memory begins to reminisce to the days when this was the time of the season to go to the Old Swimmin' Hole! No better place was to be found for the entire family than the Old Steel Bridge of Eastern Douglas County.

It is located on the North Fork River about 4 miles up river from the Twin Bridges, just off Highway 14. To get there, turn north at the old Cash Grocery Store, two miles on County Road 14-279. It is known today as the Hebron Crossing Access. In days gone by, it was known only as the "Steel Bridge". Everyone in the area for miles around knew it as one of the most revered places for the entire family on a Sunday afternoon picnic.

Whether you were a family with some little ones who could only wade in knee deep water, searching for tadpoles and crawdads, or a group of teenagers who wanted to dive from the bridge floor into the cool, deep, blue waters...there was accommodations for everyone.

Many romances were initiated at the Steel Bridge swimming hole, as teenagers for miles around gathered each Sunday, for an afternoon of entertainment and just plain "girl and boy watching". The boys would attempt to impress the fairer sex by diving off the bridge, while the girls "ooohed and aaahed" as their heroes would attempt to outdo their rivals with their acrobatic acts. Many "cannon balls, jack knives and back flips" were cast into the deep blue water to attract the attention of some charming young thing.

After an afternoon of swimming and just relaxing in the sun on the gravel bar, one would almost be starved waiting for the matron of the family to get the picnic lunch set out for us to appease our starvin' stomachs. Fried chicken, potato salad, green onions, deviled eggs, and oh, don't forget the homemade bread.

At times several families would join together and enjoy a family cookout, which in addition to the above menu would include fried potatoes, maybe a panful of young squirrel, or if the fishermen of the group was lucky, perhaps a skillet of goggle-eye or perch, fried to a golden brown over an open camp fire.

It seems as if the Old Steel Bridge has just "always been there", but if we face reality, we must consider that it is man made and to get to the history of the locale, we must go back to about the turn of the century.

Even before the bridge was constructed, this was a major crossing of the North Fork River, known as the Dean Ford. As it being a natural crossing, and with the deep hole of water just above the crossing, it was already an exceptional spot for community recreation in the summer time.

The bridge was erected in 1914, by J.H. Murray & Co., at a cost of $5900. There is still a rusty plaque, of cast iron, in place above each end of the bridge showing the names of the officials at the time of construction. James Thompson was Presiding Judge (Commissioner), James A. Nash and John B. Deeds, Associate Judges (Commissioners), E.C. Bunch, County Clerk and W.S.Dunn, County Surveyor. It was the engineering marvel of the times, for this community.

People came from miles around just to see this mass of steel and concrete. The local skeptics declared this would never withstand the heavy loads of cross ties being hauled by wagon to the railheads of the area. Some feared of what would happen if, in fact, she would collapse.

Some younger teams of horses had to be blindfolded on their first trip across the bridge, as they sensed a feeling of insecurity, not being on firm footing.

It was said, in the early days of the Steel Bridge, it was mandatory for a fox-trotting horse to be required to come to a walk to avoid damage to the bridge. It seemed that the rhythmic cadence of the hoofs of the fox-trotter caused the bridge to modulate to the extent that the diagonal trusses would slap together and create an eerie sound as if the bridge would collapse. But after many years this theory was proven to be in error, as the bridge is still standing today as was in 1915.

The Steel Bridge crossing was used for purposes other than a Swimmin' Hole. On many occasions there was "baptizings" held here by the local churches of the area. On some Sundays more than one denomination would gather to baptize their new converts. Some of the largest crowds ever to congregate at the bridge was for the purpose of baptismal services. In the following picture, note the large gathering on the bridge floor.

Ordinarily, the baptismal services were held following a revival in one of the local churches in the community. Usually, a dedication sermon would be preached, with the minister dedicating the new converts to Christianity, and on occasion, before the sermon was over, others were converted and were baptized "on the spot".

In the accompanying photo, this particular event was on February 20, 1916. The writer's parents, Ed and Edith Gentry, are sixth and seventh, respectively, from right. Note the winter scene. Can you imagine the faith attained to endure total and complete submersion in these icy waters? These were, no doubt, hardy "souls"!

 

At other times the area was used for local community picnics. Usually around the Fourth of July, the Steel Bridge Picnic was held, featuring lunch stands, ice cream stands, and at dusk the dance floor became the center of attraction. The local fiddler of the area struck up a lively hoe down and four couples "joined hands and circled eight". The price of a dance was 10 cents per couple, per set, with the fiddler receiving 25% of the take. No doubt this is how the phrase was coined, "if you're gonna dance, you gotta pay the fiddler"!

At times "peace and harmony didn't always prevail". If some young man got too friendly with another's girl or danced too much with her, it became necessary to intervene. Fists flew, and frequently rocks, but seldom was there ever serious injury. Sometimes these misunderstandings were carried over from the previous neighborhood gathering, and occasionally carried over to the next gathering. These picnics were discontinued during the World War II years never to be revived again.

After the War years were over the Steel Bridge picnic area came under private ownership by an "outsider". The owner built a summer cabin for his weekend retreat and relaxation, cleaning off the underbrush, which had taken over during war years when there was very little activity.

The local natives didn't take to the outsider, as he would have liked. Some of his ideas for improvement were adverse to the natives "leave well enough alone" attitude. Their feelings were, "why try to improve on God's blueprint of the perfect recreational area".

After many years the area became the property of the U.S. Forest Service. It is maintained through the cooperation of the Forest Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation. This is one of the main attractions of many canoe float trips down the North Fork River, as it is a major put in and take out point. To the current generation it is known as the Hebron Crossing Access, but to us folk of the passing generation, it will always remain...The Old Steel Bridge Swimmin' Hole.

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