Callahan Red Bridge

by Marnie Patchett

Title

Callahan Red Bridge

Artist

Marnie Patchett

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

In 1851, Mathias Bernard Callahan's pregnant wife fell into the Scott river at the south end of the Scott Valley. Legend says she went into premature labor and the Native American's rescued her. Here the family founded the town of Callahan. Callahan became a gold rush town as well as a place for travelers to stop.

Built in 1906 short distance out of town stands the Callahan Red Bridge. The community of Callahan, whose population of 50 watches over the local history.The bridge is constructed of red steelwork frame stands over wood beams. Beneath the bridge, the Scott River flows out of the valley.

In 2013, Caltrans inspected the bridge and found the lower wooden beams of the structure rotting. Unlike similar situations over the past century when the bridge was refurbished, the Siskiyou County Roads Department closed the bridge. No plans were made to replace the 60 beams, and a piece of local history was drawing to a close. Local community leaders rallied and formed the Save Callahan Bridge Committee.

The roads department agreed to do the repairs if the beams ($149 each) could be obtained outside the county budget. The committee set out to save the landmark. On August 2, 2014, it reached its goal and Siskiyou County workers put the wood beam spanners into place. Callahan's Red Bridge once again called travelers to her service.

Uploaded

July 12th, 2016

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