Fate of Union Cemetery bridge discussed at public meeting
Jun. 21—ROCK CREEK — The fate of the Union Cemetery bridge was discussed at a public meeting Monday night at Morgan Hose Volunteer Fire Department.
The through-truss bridge was constructed by Riverside Bridge Co. at an unknown date, but was moved to its current location in 1913.
The metal, six panel, pin-connected Pratt through-truss carried Stiles Avenue over Rock Creek between Footville-Richmond Road (Route 166) and Union Cemetery. It was abandoned 30 years ago. Vehicles now enter the cemetery from Main Street (Route 45).
Rock Creek Fiscal Officer Pam Forristal said that a gentleman in the township approached one of the Morgan Township trustees several months ago, wanting to move the bridge to his house to put over his pond.
"The village of Rock Creek feels strongly that there's too much history with that bridge," she said. "At this point we are investigating what it would cost to rehabilitate the bridge for pedestrian traffic or move the bridge into the cemetery and use it in there in some possible way. We're not sure what that would look like, but we do want to explore those possibilities and find out can it be done and at what cost."
Around 20-25 residents from the community attended the meeting.
"All of them felt very strongly that if there is a way to salvage the bridge ... we should," Forristal said.
She said that the council is gathering information at this point to see if the bridge can be saved.
"Most grants ... we've missed those opportunities this year so we're probably looking at next year's grant cycle," Forristal said.
"But we need to know if that's something we can do and would it be all four entities ... being the cemetery, Morgan Township, Roaming Shores, Rock Creek Village ... or is it something that we would want to do privately with fundraisers ... we don't know yet. The Village of Rock Creek feels strongly that we do not want the bridge torn down or given away."
