Gods of the Bridge

I usually don't pay attention to current politics.  It's too exhausting.  Too emotional.  Conversation gets heated.  I find most people are either uneducated about their passion, or educated by one side of their passionate argument.  I found this the other night in an off-handed comment about the proposed CRC bridge.  The Columbia River Crossing. You can check the map here. 

Jantzen Beach was a part of my childhood.  Friday night with Grandma and Grandpa at the Denny's, then over to the mall where $1.00 from Grandma would buy at least 1/2 pound of something at Morrow's Nut House.  But always back to the house on Fairhaven Street for Dallas.  And always, always, fudge ripple ice cream out of the tupperware ice cream holder.  Fudge Ripple was Grandpa Newton's favorite.  And then the next morning, Grandma would ask if Grandpa's snoring kept you awake.  But you and Grandpa would have a wink because it was always Grandma's snoring that would wake you up!  But, as usual, I digress! 




I commented to my friends that even though Waddles is now a Hooters, at least the sign is still there.  But soon it will be gone.  They had no idea that this was possible.  We discussed why the Red Lion burned under suspicious circumstances.  My friends had no idea that the CRC was going to take out most of what we have known on the island.  See Waddles here! 

But who knows how long it will take to erect the CRC.  So far, over $100 million has been spent on talking about it.  Probably much more now.  I'm glad that I can watch the progress of a bridge and know that the men hanging by a tie up on those towers every day are being paid.  And that they will complete their work on time and probably before it's time.  Again, I digress.

What the CRC needs is a bridge god.  A Champion. A Hero.

Frank Branch Riley was the hero of the 1-5 bridge.  Don't know who he is?  Well, that's too bad.  I pity you.  But don't worry.  I will cover his history later.  Just be assured that he loved Oregon as much as Tom McCall and Mark Hatfield and I'm not quite sure why they didn't name the bridge for him.  Because he sold it up and down I-5, Canada to California, and to everyone in between that would listen.  And they paved the whole way. A big fat deal in 1923.







Hero of the I-5 bridge---which was attached to a larger vision.  A paved route from north to south.

And, the idea came to fruition.  And Frank held that as his mantra.

But then Frank's bridge just led to development across the river to the north. 

And then what happened?  Another bridge was needed.


And then came Glenn L. Jackson.  Again, don't know who he is?  Well, that's too bad.  He was elusive, so it's okay that you don't know much about him.  But he was chairman of the Oregon State Highway Commission.  For a long while.  He set things into motion before his death, before the 205 bridge was under construction.  And they honored him.  And he would have HATED IT!

Am I digressing again?

No, not really.

The CRC won't happen without a champion.  And I am fine with that.  Waddles will stay.  People won't lose their homes.  Jantzen Beach as I knew it has already been torn down and I already cry myself to sleep in the summer sometimes knowing that I never went on the roller coasters there or heard Louis Armstrong play.  And I never experienced Vanport. 

And before I digress yet again, there is the Bridge of the Gods, and then there is the God of the Bridge.  You can't have one without the other.