This bridge has captured the imagination of many, in photos and in paintings. The surface is dirt and grass and now leads only to what look like deer trails in the woods to the right. It bridges the Rocky River, one of the three rivers that gave Three Rivers its name. The other two are the Portage and the St. Joseph which is winding its way to Lake Michigan via South Bend (of the St. Joseph, that is), Indiana. It is the St. Joseph that brought the French Jesuits to the future Three Rivers in 1760.
A watercolor of the bridge was in a recent annual juried exhibit at the Three Rivers Carnegie Center for the Arts. Ken Clay captured it beautifully and included with his original watercolor was a reproduction of a painting of an English bridge, almost a replica of the Cowling bridge. That English painting was brought to this country when his grandparents immigrated to the US to remind them of the home they had left but still loved.
EXCELLENT, Helen!
ReplyDeleteA very colorful and interesting addition to the Sunday Bridge series!
A very nice bridge. I like it when the reflection makes an "eye" like that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely bucolic scene. I can see why artists would set up their easel here. Makes me want to go walking in these woods.
ReplyDeleteThis to me is such a lovely Midwest scene! You photographed it beautifully; love the subtle spot of pink on the right side.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a pretty scene!
ReplyDeleteI very much like this photo! But I'm fond of country shots. :)
ReplyDeleteI love how you got the crab apple branch in the shot...very nice...
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your praise of this photo! The pink blossoms are Redbud and the woods behind the bridge are filled with them.
ReplyDeletedefinitely looks like a bridge out of a story book.
ReplyDeleteLovely old bridge - so picturesque I can see why it is painted often! Beautiful spot.
ReplyDeleteI live just upriver from this bridge. Not only is the bridge a lovely visual, the river itself offers its own enchantment. On a warm sunny day, your canoe will allow you a brief visit with many woodland creatures. Many blue heron nest near the river and you'll often see huge carp sunning themselves in the shallows. Definitely one of the gems in Fabius Township!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the road this is on; Rob drove us past it once and I couldn't remember where it was. I made him slow down so I imagine how the surroundings would have looked when this bridge was in use. Wonder what common landmarks of today will be seen as sentimental in one hundred years. Telephone poles, maybe?
ReplyDelete