Main Street Forges New Partnership with Historic Harmar Bridge Company
Downtown is the backbone of Marietta’s local economy and two local nonprofits - Marietta Main Street and the Historic Harmar Bridge Company - have formed a new partnership focused on one purpose: saving the Historic Harmar Bridge.
Built on existing piers in 1856, the Harmar Bridge was originally a covered bridge; between 1856 and 1913, after being converted to railroad use, it has been rebuilt four times in the aftermath of floods. The Bridge’s last reconstruction took place in 1913 and today stands as a key icon and landmark for both residents and tourists alike. However, with the Bridge in disrepair and the expenses needed to restore it to full safety and enjoyment being high, the Harmar Bridge Co. has struggled to keep it afloat.
“We’ve done our best with very limited resources to at least keep the lights on for the walkway,” shares Bridge Co. President Chuck Swaney. “Our volunteers have for years led fundraisers, explored grant opportunities, met with local leaders, and done the best we can to keep the walkway safe. The Harmar Bridge Co. used to be a community-wide effort in its heyday and we need that energy again.”
In the fall of 2019, the Harmar Bridge Co. approached Marietta Main Street with a request to take over the assets of the Bridge Co., which include a variety of properties - train cars, parking lots, a small building - and, of course, the Historic Harmar Bridge.
There’s a lot of positive momentum in Marietta right now, and I hope we can capitalize on that to save the bridge. It would be a tremendous loss to our community to lose this bridge We need to save it. We’re the only ones who can.
— Chuck Swaney, President | Historic Harmar Bridge Co.
“We took this offer very seriously,” said Cristie Thomas, Interim Executive Director of Marietta Main Street. “We discussed this offer with our insurance agents, held a meeting with a local attorney, and discussed this at length with our Board of Directors. Ultimately, we requested the Bridge Co. to retain their assets but organized an additional proposal of technical assistance, leadership development, resource sharing as needed, and coordination of a fundraising campaign to save the bridge.”
The result of conversations between the leadership of Marietta Main Street and the Historic Harmar Bridge Co. was a new multifaceted partnership. Both organizations will work together to:
Launch and sustain a $4M fundraising campaign to Save the Bridge, inclusive of public and private funds generated from citizens, state and federal grant requests, and other revenue streams
Create and manage an endowment at Marietta Community Foundation with the explicit purpose of saving the Historic Harmar Bridge
Recruit and establish a strong leadership team equipped to manage the assets of the Bridge Co. inclusive of stakeholders from across the Marietta community, with education and training from Main Street leadership
Host Ex-Officio seats on each Board of Directors reflective of the partnership, to ensure an active voice on each leadership team and maintain communications between the two
Grow a strong branding and marketing presence for the Historic Harmar Bridge Co., inclusive of digital and traditional media
Ensure current initiatives like Enrich Marietta and Main Street West are informed about matters that pertain to the development of the Historic Harmar Bridge Co. and a fundraising campaign to save the bridge
Marietta Main Street Board President Tim Glover has actively participated in conversations that led to the new partnership between the two organizations.
“The continued maintenance and preservation of the Historic Harmar Bridge is absolutely vital to the enhancement and economic vitality of our historic downtown. Not only is this structure a key driver of our tourism economy, but it also provides necessary access for residents to either side of the Muskingum River,” said Glover. “We are committed to working together to ensure the safety of the public, the preservation of this historic asset, and the access it provides to residents and tourists to either side of the Muskingum River.”
While the two organizations understand how much work is ahead to accomplish these goals, the leadership is primed and ready to commit to working with the community to preserve this landmark icon beloved by so many.
“There’s a lot of positive momentum in Marietta right now, and I hope we can capitalize on that to save the bridge. It would be a tremendous loss to our community to lose this bridge,” shared Swaney. “We need to save it. We’re the only ones who can.”