The Brooklyn Bridge

In yesterday's blog, I spoke of my grandmother's trip to New York City with her father in the fall of 1887.  As part of that trip they crossed, by foot, the much celebrated Brooklyn Bridge.  It was an exciting occasion for Jessie May Ward to accompany her father over the vast span.

It took over fourteen years for the bridge to be completed.  It was open to the public in May of 1883 and was dubbed:  "The 8th Wonder of the World".  People thronged by the thousands to the unique and extraordinary structure.  Shortly after opening there was a tragedy.  Over 20,000 people were reported to have been on the bridge at the time. 

As the bridge began to sway, a rumor passed through the crowd that the bridge was near collapse. This resulted in a massive panic where twelve people were crushed to death with hundreds emergingbruised and bloody-- some with their clothes torn off.

In "Generations" you will read about a warning Jessie May and her father, Bruce received from a by-stander who proclaimed:  "You'll never find me on that bridge--there are safer ways into Manhattan." 

The danger, (imagined or otherwise), did not phase Bruce Ward--and only added excitement to Jessie's spirit of adventure.

The bridge still stands today, and has become a hallmark of "sales enterprises" as an offering to the gullible.