In 1883, a creative Germany
born engineer named John Augustus Roebling (in Trenton, NJ) was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge
connecting New York with Brooklyn, however bridge building experts
throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told
Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not
practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the
vision and after much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his
son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could
be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son
developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles
could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the
headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began
to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but
when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took
the life of John Roebling (because of tetanus). Washington was injured and left with a certain
amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or
talk or even move.
In spite of the mockery and his
handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire
to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. . Suddenly
an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to
make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of
communication with his wife - Emily Warren Roebling.
He touched his wife's arm with
that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers.
Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what
to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped
out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge
was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all
its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and
his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a
tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man
who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible
monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years
patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what
to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best
examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical
handicap and achieves an impossible goal. Even the most distant dream can
be realized with determination and persistence.
About Brooklyn Bridge -
The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United
States, stretches 5,989 feet (1,825 m) over the East River,
connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan ad Brooklyn (on Long
Island). Upon completion it was the longest suspension bridge in the world
- the first steel wire suspension bridge. Originally referred to as the
New York and Brooklyn Bridge, it was dubbed the Brooklyn Bridge in 1867
letter to the Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and formally so named by
the city government in 1915.
Its construction began
on Jan 3, 1870. It was completed in 13 years and was first opened
for use on May 24, 1883. On that first day, a total 1,800 vehicles
and 150,300 people crossed the brdge. The bridge's main span over the East
River is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 m). The bridge cost $15.5 million to
build and approximately 27 people died during its construction.
At the time it
opened, it was the longest suspension bridge of the world - 50% longer
than any bridge built before. For several years its towers were the
tallest structures in the western hemisphere. It is built of limestone,
granite and Rosendale cement. Since the 1980s, it has been floodlit at
night to highlight its architectural features.