Callahan Red Bridge - 1906 - Callahan, CA
N 41° 19.398 W 122° 48.757
10T E 515681 N 4574664
A very hard-to-read dated plaque on Callahan Red Bridge, restored in 2013.
Waymark Code: WMX66P
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 12/02/2017
Views: 0
Built in 1906 and a short distance out of town stands the Callahan Red Bridge. The dated plaque is located on the west side of the bridge and high up near the top of the steelwork. I did my best to get a closeup picture of the plaque but not all verbiage was distinguishable. It reads:
1906
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
(Can't read names)Wm J. NELLON CLERK
LIVE LOAD CAPACITY 100 POUNDS PER (illegible)
THE C. C.(illegible) CONTRACTING COMPANY
CONTRACTORS
DENVER COLORADO
The community of Callahan, whose population of 50 watches over this local piece of history.The bridge is constructed of red steelwork frame and stands over wood beams. Beneath the bridge, the Scott River flows out of the valley.
In 2013, Caltrans inspected the bridge and found the lower wooden beams of the structure rotting. Unlike similar situations over the past century when the bridge was refurbished, the Siskiyou County Roads Department closed the bridge. No plans were made to replace the 60 beams, and a piece of local history was drawing to a close. Local community leaders rallied and formed the Save Callahan Bridge Committee.
The roads department agreed to do the repairs if the beams ($149 each) could be obtained outside the county budget. The committee set out to save the landmark. On August 2, 2014, it reached its goal and Siskiyou County workers put the wood beam spanners into place. Callahan's Red Bridge once again called travelers to her service.