WINAMAC – Perhaps Winamac’s most beloved and sentimental landmark, the Memorial “Swinging” Bridge has spanned the historic Tippecanoe River at the town park for nearly a century.
Children have scampered across the wooden planks of the footbridge, squealing in delight (and sometimes in terror!) at the slight sway of the suspension span. Brides have glided across the bridge in processions to park wedding ceremonies. Everyday pedestrians have used the bridge to attend fairs, picnics and ball games.
Now, in anticipation of the bridge’s 100th anniversary in 2023, a citizen’s group has formed to facilitate efforts to spruce up the bridge and make plans for a grand centennial celebration on July 4, 2023 – mirroring the dedication ceremony from 100 years earlier.
Central to the group’s plans is an effort to illuminate the bridge with a professionally designed and installed, multi-color LED-lighting system. To be known as “Light Up Our Legacy,” the lights will be installed on the bridge’s cables, towers and beneath the structure. Light color combinations can be changed for holidays and seasons. Funding will be secured from private and corporate donations through a variety of fundraising projects to be rolled out through the next two years.
The memorial footbridge to honor the county’s military service members was commissioned in April 1923 by the board of the then new Winamac Park Association. A contract was awarded for $3,197 and the 200-foot span was completed three months later.
The day-long dedication festivities for the footbridge in 1923 began with a parade featuring veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War and the Great War, along with Gold Star Mothers. Congressman S.E. Cook gave a speech. The celebration continued in the early afternoon with a band concert and baseball game. The dedication address was given by Major General Leigh Robinson Gignilliat, accompanied by cadets, from nearby Culver Military Academy. The celebration concluded with an elaborate evening display of fireworks.
The centennial committee plans to replicate many of these same events for the July 2023 celebration. The committee seeks involvement from residents across the county, noting the metal plaque on the bridge tower reads, “Memorial Bridge Dedicated to the Soldiers and Sailors from Pulaski County.”
Heading up the Memorial Swinging Bridge Project is Greg Henry of Winamac. The sponsoring organization is the Winamac VFW. Henry is joined by a group of volunteers who have been meeting for over a year brainstorming ideas and gathering histories and photos of the bridge. They have also begun organizing fund-raising efforts, contacting local government entities for support and advice, and interviewing contractors for the illumination portion of the project. The committee has also developed a website and social media platforms, begun a monthly newsletter and produced brochures.
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Winamac’s Memorial “Swinging” Bridge has spanned the historic Tippecanoe River at the town park for nearly a century. |
Todd Zeiger of Indiana Landmarks has been meeting with the committee as a consultant. Plans are underway to have the bridge named to the National Register of Historic Places. The Winamac Town Council and its park committee are working with the centennial committee on needed refurbishing of the bridge. The Pulaski County Historical Society has secured a $6,000 grant from the Efroymson Family Fund to help finance the town’s renovation of the span. The town council has also given its approval for the centennial committee to proceed with its recommendation for a $274,557 option to illuminate the bridge.
In the midst of their efforts, committee members have secured a 22-foot model of the bridge constructed by the Winamac Kiwanis Club about 20 years ago for a festival project. Volunteers have refurbished the model and will be using it to promote their celebration plans.
Volunteers are still being sought to work with the committee in a variety of capacities, including membership outreach, scrapbooking, fundraising, public relations and social media, or in any other area of interest. Supporting businesses and organizations are also welcome.
There are a variety of methods to support the project financially, and they may be found at the Memorial Swinging Bridge Project website: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More detailed information may be found in any of the following ways:
Memorial Swinging Bridge Project
PO Box 14, Winamac IN 46996
Greg Henry (574) 242-1031
Kathi Thompson (574) 270-0128
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
https://www.memorialswingingbridge.com
www.fb.me/memorialswingingbridge
