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Post by elephtheria47 on Jan 18, 2010 14:45:46 GMT -5
does anyone know if the original bridge is located somewhere in valpo today? what are your favorite stories/memories of this??
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Post by valporun on Jan 18, 2010 15:41:51 GMT -5
The Kissing Bridge was actually moved somewhere on campus by members of the Engineering Department, and there is a webpage for it on the Valpo site. The link is below: www.valpo.edu/student/asce/bridge/index.htmlI don't have any memories of it, as I never knew it existed in my time at VU, 1999-2004. |
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Post by elephtheria47 on Jan 18, 2010 15:53:26 GMT -5
Is that the original or just a replica? I read somewhere that the original was moved to somewhere along 30, but the article was from '04-'05
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Post by valporun on Jan 18, 2010 15:59:11 GMT -5
According to the site, it is the remaining piece that exists, with some replicated pieces due to wear and tear from years of use or sitting stagnant, but it apparently sits behind the Christopher Center (the library), near a piece of U.S. 30 that sits along that space. I haven't been back to Valpo to see this bridge, but I hear that it looks really cool.
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Post by agibson on Jan 18, 2010 16:08:42 GMT -5
I had a vague notion (1996-200?) that it was there in the woods south of the Chapel somewhere.
And that it was wooden, not brick.
But maybe I'm inventing all of that. It was supposed to cross over some railway tracks, right?
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Post by rick on Jan 18, 2010 16:35:34 GMT -5
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Post by vuweathernerd on Jan 18, 2010 21:10:14 GMT -5
it is next to the retention basin next to the parking lot behind the library
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Post by vu72 on Jan 18, 2010 21:20:27 GMT -5
The bridige was still in place over the railroad track when I was on campus. It was near where the law school is today, or Founder's Rock if you prefer.
Though it was there it had been condemned and so there wasn't any kissing going on! The picture that Rick posted is pretty accurate although the steel part that exists on campus now, if hidden from view by the trees. Wooden boards and steps down to Sager's lake were what was unfit to walk on and were attached to the steel portion at both ends.
The steel portion, I'm guessing, was about 20 feet long, and was moved after condemnation to a playhouse on route 30 called Bridge VU. Many big time entertainers came to Valpo to perform at that theatre.
When Bridge VU was closed the bridge was moved and finally found and installed in the wooded area south of the Chapel. It is a fond rememberance of days gone by when many of the campus building and classes were on "old campus"
jj probably did a lot of kissing on that structure!!
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Post by jj on Jan 18, 2010 22:03:41 GMT -5
I sure did,in fact I pinned (fraternity pin) my wife to be back there in '53. I kid her that I heard a hissing sound when I did so. We also used the bridge to get to a bar called the Blue Goose,which was down near Rt. 30. Many a good time was had there. We did attend the dedication of the replica of the bridge several years ago. Fun!
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Post by okinawatyphoon on Jan 19, 2010 3:36:30 GMT -5
The kissing bridge (in its current location) is circled in red.  |
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Post by agibson on Jan 19, 2010 4:46:39 GMT -5
From Rick's link:
"Between 1859 and 1867 an iron bridge was built across the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks on the south edge of the Valparaiso University campus. In June 1967 the City of Valparaiso condemned a 400-foot wooden trestle that connected to the bridge. By November 1967, Valparaiso grad W.F. “Bill” Wellman purchased a 30-foot-long iron section with timber deck and moved it near his now-defunct Wellman’s Restaurant, about a mile and a half from campus. In 2004 the bridge was relocated to a spot on campus south of the Christopher Center Library where it can be found today."
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Post by valpo10 on May 25, 2010 1:06:34 GMT -5
The kissing bridge (in its current location) is circled in red. Dunkin' Donuts to the south? |
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Post by okinawatyphoon on May 25, 2010 9:37:17 GMT -5
The kissing bridge (in its current location) is circled in red. Dunkin' Donuts to the south? The Dunkin Donuts is about a mile or two west on US 30....not sure why Google Maps labels it there. |
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Post by vuweathernerd on May 25, 2010 13:30:17 GMT -5
Dunkin' Donuts to the south? The Dunkin Donuts is about a mile or two west on US 30....not sure why Google Maps labels it there. there are in fact times when google gets it wrong.  |
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