The following are articles from local newspapers that can be found at the Public Library. These articles were gathered together by Jim Phillips, a native of Pulaski County. Jim manages a Facebook page, “Stalking My Hometown.” Find that page here.
Pulaski County Democrat Mar 9 1923, Microfilm: Permanent Foot Bridge to Park Across the River:
A permanent footbridge across the river, from the town’s little park below the artesian well to the Association park on the peninsula, is practically secured followed [sic] meetings sharing the past week by directors of the Park Association, members of the town council and representatives of the Kiwanis club.
The matter was formally taken up at a park board meeting last Thursday evening, when it was proposed that that organization would finance the project if the town would assure to pay one half the cost within the next couple of years. At Monday night’s meeting of the council this proposition was accepted, paving the way for what is expected to be final action at another meeting of the park board tonight.
Plans for a bridge have been drawn by R.E. Nutt, who estimates that the structure can be erected for about $2,000. It is to be of the suspension type, 200 feet long and five feet in width. A steel tower about thirty feet high, embedded in concrete base, will be erected on each side of the river. Two steel cables, each an inch and a half in diameter, will be stretched from tower to tower, the ends attached to concrete anchors embedded in the earth about fifty feet back of each tower. The floor will be suspended from the cables, at a height well above danger from high water. Long inclines at each side, held in place by concrete walls, will take the place of steps.
There have been dreams of a permanent bridge on the part of citizens of Winamac ever since the park became a place for public recreation many years ago. The present project has every appearance of early consummation, with hopes that work can be started as soon as the weather permits.
Winamac Republican Mar 8 1923, Microfilm: Town Help for New Foot-Bridge
Corporation and Park Association to Join in Connecting City Park With River Beauty Spot – At the March session of the town board on Monday evening of this week, the proposal of the Park Association to go ahead and build a steel suspension bridge over the river from the town park to the association park in co-operation with the town, was considered, and it was agreed that the town would co-operate with half of the construction cost, if the town’s share did not exceed $1,000.
A stipulation was made that in case the park was disposed of in the future to private individuals or a private corporation, the town should then be reimbursed by the Park Association for the funds spent on construction of the bridge.
The Park Association has already arranged for the financing of the proposition, through a loan for the amount necessary over available funds on hand, and through sale of additional park stock in the association.
At the meeting of the Park Association held last Thursday evening, the bridge sketch was before the members. It proposes a steel cable suspension bridge, to be placed at about the location of the temporary bridge used last year. The floor of the bridge would be above high water and the approach to the bridge is proposed to be a gradual incline starting 50 feet back on the ground level, with solid concrete sides, and filled in with material to the bridge entrance. Last week’s paper stated that the plans and drawings were made by Hubert Nutt, which was an error, the plans having been made by Former County Surveyor R. E. Nutt
According to the drawings, the width of the proposed foot-bridge will be about five feet wide, the floor to be of creosoted material. The board has asked Mr. Nutt to go ahead and prepare specifications, and bids will probably be advertised for soon, if the plans are approved. It is hoped to have the bridge in place by June 1.
The proposed bridge will be 200 feet long. A cinder path from the well will be constructed extending to the bridge approach.
Proposed improvements at the park for the coming season include a band stand, another cottage, additional bathing facilities and completion of the drive way.
A meeting of the Park Association members will be held tonight at Reidelbach Bro. office to further consider bridge and other park plans.
Pulaski County Democrat Mar 23 1923, Microfilm: Bids To Be Received On Foot-Bridge To Park
Formal notice that bids will be received for the construction of the proposed permanent foot-bridge across the river, as previously mentioned, appears in a legal notice elsewhere in this paper.
At a meeting of the board of directors of the Park Association last Thursday evening, the plans were approved and the request for bids ordered. They are to be opened on April 2. It is stated that at least four local contractors are expected to offer proposals, and perhaps some others.
The directors also ordered a dividend of 8 per cent to stockholders in the association. While the park and its equipment are free to the public at all times, the income from concessions on picnic days and the like, the rent of the cottage and other receipts were sufficiently above the operating expense to justify the dividend.
Pulaski County Democrat Apr 5 1923, Microfilm: Foot-Bridge Contract May Be Let Tomorrow
Whether the proposed permanent foot bridge across the river, from the artesian well park to the association park, will be constructed is to be decided at a meeting Friday evening of directors of the park association, members of the town council and directors of the Kiwanis club.
But one bid was filed on the work, by R.E. Nutt, at $3,197. This is considerably above the original estimate, explained by late increases in cost of material and enlargement of the plans.
The matter now depends largely upon the sale of sufficient additional stock in the park association to render the work possible. A committee of the association has met with gratifying results in a canvass now being made If it can report enough further subscriptions at Friday night’s meeting, it is felt that the contract will be let.
Winamac Republican Apr 5 1923, Microfilm: Park Association on Bridge Job
Committee Brings In $1,600 of New Stock – Assures Building of Foot-Bridge From Town to River Park – at a call for bids for the construction of the proposed suspension foot-bridge over the river from the Winamac town park to the river park held last Monday only one bid was received, that of R.E. Nutt, who bid $3,197. Mr. Nutt stated that the price of steel and cement had taken a jump since the specifications and estimates had been prepared, and his bid was therefore above the estimate which had been presented to the association.
The matter of letting was continued over till Friday night of this week, where a committee of the park association will meet with the board of directors of the Kiwanis club and attempt to decide on a definite move.
On Tuesday afternoon, a committee from the park association went out among local people and sold $1,600 of park association stock, and it is considered probably, that with this additional stock sold, that the foot-bridge plan will be carried through in spite of the added cost over the previous estimate.