Pond Eddy...A Pictorial
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| The Road To Pond Eddy |
Though
some might not know it, the Pond Eddy Bridge is a destination, the
drive there, walking across the bridge taking you back to far simpler
times. The PA. DOT seems to have just three options they are willing to
consider right now, and none of the three are acceptable. Their first,
and probably preferred option is to just tear the bridge down and
replace it...the fact that said bridge is on the Federal Registry of
Historic Landmarks makes that option a tricky one.  |
| Greek Orthodox Church |
Their
second option would be to buy the people on the Pennsylvania side of
the bridge out, relocate them...to where? With all due respect, if you
walk across the bridge, make a right and walk down till you come to the
old tracks, you would realize you cannot put a price on the beauty,
solitude and serenity those people have right outside their front or
back doors. How would you propose to make someone whole if you took
their property through imminent domain? Yes, they are pretty isolated,
but guessing they want it that way, enjoy the sound of the river passing
by, enjoy the silent beauty of a walk down the tracks, perhaps picking
berries along the way.
The
third option would be to give the bridge to someone willing to MOVE IT
so that they can build another new ugly bridge in its place, and in the
process destroy the quiet solitude and beauty that is that special
place...and for what? Why would a bridge of four lanes need to be
built? Why would a bridge capable of supporting heavy trucks need to be
built where a romantic one lane bridge has more than sufficed for
decades upon decades?...perhaps to open the land up for development, or
worse, fracking? What about what the people on the two sides of the
bridge want?
Pond Eddy, the bridge, the surrounding area are a very special place, a
place of history, a rare space of pristine beauty, quiet and
peaceful...all rare commodities in these times in which we live. Pond
Eddy is a place where I could see myself living. As I write, find
myself wishing I had the money to buy up the old Motel and Pizza place,
restoring them both, perhaps putting in a small walk up window where
people could stop in for a soft serve cone and to ask directions. The
slow pace would suit me, could see myself snuggling in for the winter,
maybe writing a book, or taking my camera and driving up the road a
piece in the hopes of catching a Bald Eagle on its own winter sojourn.
To know Pond Eddy, to spend some time there is to love it, to recognize
it as the special destination that it is. I would encourage all those
who hold the bridges fate in their hands to take a nice slow drive to
the bridge. Roll down your windows and drive slowly, leaving rushing to
others as you take the time to take everything in, stopping the car at
the sound of water, or slowing down further to admire the flock of wild
turkeys meandering along the edge of the woods. When you arrive at the
bridge, park your car across from it, and walk across the bridge,
stopping between the two spans to hear the water, the birds, the wind.
Once on the other side, revel in the silence as water splashes down the
rock face on the left, towering trees shading you from the heat. Walk
up onto the track and look off into the distance in both directions and
you can almost hear the train whistle as history whispers in your ear.
Pond Eddy, the bridge are more than the sum of their parts, and the magic that is the place should be saved.
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