Bridging the Past (a "P" Word) to the Future

This pic was taken on a recent Sunday afternoon outing by the Divine Miss N. It's the Poinsett Bridge that spans Little Gap Creek in northern Greenville County (SC). The bridge was commissioned by Joel Poinsett, who himself, could be the subject of a post. Yes, the Poinsettia flower has a connection, but not to the bridge, except for Joel Poinsett for whom it is named; the bridge, and the flower.

If that hasn't confused you enough, the bridge, which was completed in 1820, was along the road that once connected Charleston with the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today that road is pretty much abandoned and the bridge only connects to the other side of the creek, and the past. The road never really was paved anyway, so it really doesn't matter much I suppose. To give you some sense of its proportion, it may help to know that the opening of the Gothic arch is fourteen feet high.

It does seem strange today to have such an ornate bridge that only crosses a creek and hasn't a road with it to anywhere. Although the records are sketchy, it is presumed and agreed to by most Carolina historians that Robert Mills, the famous architect, designed the unique bridge. The bridge served its purpose and portaged progress across its stone bed, until progress left it behind. Now it serves as a monument to man’s ingenuity and as a remaining work of art; a reminder that both form and function should be present when we set out to rearrange God's creation.

I thought of this yesterday evening while boping down I-85, which is crossed by a mammoth bridge every few miles. We mostly build damn ugly bridges these days. They bridge to our future. The Poinsett bridge, bridges to our past. And, what does that say?

Posted by Dread who is still pondering all of this.

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