Remarks Shared at Bridge Turning
The following remarks were shared by Chuck Swaney, President of the Historic Harmar Bridge Company, before the turning and closure of the Harmar Bridge on Sunday, March 1st, 2020 in acknowledgement of an important chapter in Marietta’s history.
Good Morning and thank you all for coming out to this somber, historic, yet opportunistic event.
Since the announcement of our Save Harmar Bridge campaign and today’s closure of the bridge, we’ve received a tremendous amount of phone calls, messages, and emails from friends near and far saddened by the news. To date, we count nearly 400 individuals who’ve subscribed to our email list and over 2,400 people who’ve visited our Save Harmar Bridge website.
The Bridge Co., who has been charged with caring for this bridge the past 30 years, carries a big load on the shoulders of just a few volunteers. Our decision to close the Bridge was not easy, but out of concern for the safety of our citizens and tourists and our obligation to maintain access to vessels crossing underneath the bridge in lieu of high water, this decision has been made.
While we are not celebrating today’s events - the closure of a beloved community landmark and treasured access way for our east and west side neighbors - we are encouraged by the rallying cries of this community, of our friends in Columbus, and of Mariettans across the U.S. who have offered to help in significant ways. Whether its been the offer of time, of talents, or of resources, we are grateful for it all.
I, personally, am moved. This Bridge means a lot to me; it meant a lot to Brooks Harper, and it means a lot to our community.
Fundraising $3-$4 million to Save Harmar Bridge is no small task but the outpouring of support already and the contributions of leadership, marketing, and guidance from Marietta Main Street leaves me and the Bridge Co. optimistic. I truly hope you join us in this optimism. We can save this bridge.
Now, before the official turning of the bridge, I would like to say that very soon information will be posted on our Facebook Page and our website, SaveHarmarBridge.com, that outlines what the needs of this bridge are, work that’s already been done to save it, and what steps are ahead for this effort. Saving this Bridge requires much more than a new walkway, and we look forward to leading the way hand in hand to ensure this beautiful, historic bridge is preserved, functional, and safe for generations to come.
While the turning hurts us today, it is truly our hope that we Save Harmar Bridge for our kids and grandkids to enjoy a lifetime of river views and Marietta memories.
Thank you for being here today.