Now is time to save Ely’s Stone Bridge

Help save the Ely's Stone Bridge. Past Jones County Supervisors paved over it, choosing to ignore advice at the time from concerned citizens that this would be detrimental to the bridge. Paving up to and on the bridge directed water over the stone, causing extensive damage and will continue to do so unless some action is taken!

In a May 12 article in The Gazette ('Showing its age”) Jones County Engineer Derek Snead admitted that paving the structure 'has caused some of the damage.” He also estimated a repair cost of $40,000. Recently experts from the University of Colorado have submitted a detailed repair and water diversion plan costing $23,926. They have offered to come here and do this repair at no cost to the county. Snead has advised our supervisors to wait.

The Colorado group is also working on long-term proposed outcomes for the bridge project and will present them with the cost of each avenue to the Board of Supervisors by March 31, 2017.

There is also no evident cyclical maintenance plan or any observed maintenance being done to keep this bridge functioning, or any currant plan to do any repair and maintenance. Responsible farmers and homeowners understand the need to repair and maintain their buildings to maintain the integrity of their structures.

I have been told we are a poor county with limited revenue. But if we do nothing Ely's Stone Bridge will be gone. What happens then? The road closed, with no bridge until funding is available? That could be years, with taxpayer money needed. It will cost us sooner or later, but while we are waiting for the final plans, why not let the Colorado team do the much-needed bridge repairs and curbing to prevent further deterioration of the historic bridge?

There is a group of concerned citizens willing to put the time and effort needed to maintain this project for future generations. I was told by one citizen, 'When we die all that is left is pictures. Dying of natural causes and in God's time is one thing, but dying from neglect and abuse is another!”

In Europe there are many historic structures that tourists visit. We have the privilege of having a historic bridge right here in Jones County. An article on the Ely's Stone Bridge will be appearing in the Our Iowa Magazine in the near future.

Please help save the bridge. Write or call your county supervisor. Let your voice be heard before it is too late! For more information, contact Rose Rohr at rcrohr64@gmail.com, or Google 'Ely Stone Bridge” and read about this historic bridge.

' Dorothy Rupp, a member of Friends of the Ely Stone Bridge, is the great- great-granddaughter of Reuben Ely Sr., who with his son Reuben Ely Jr. built the Ely Stone Bridge in 1893.