May 25, 1883

Yesterday was an aw-inspiring day! I’m sorry I did not write yesterday but I was so consumed by the events at the Brooklyn Bridge. Not to mention the fact that people look at me rather strangely when I pull my lap top out of my bag. But, let me tell you about yesterday.
I made my way to where to the newspaper said. It was a beautiful day, we couldn’t have asked for better weather there was not a cloud in the sky (4). I could see many people arriving by boat along the shore line. Harpers weekly called it, “A festival so unique New York has seldom seen….” There were huge red, white, and blue flags were everywhere; on balconies, from roof tops, and from windows. (3) People were buzzing, waiting for President Chester Alan Arthur to finally arrive. The fence across the Chatham Street entrance to the bridge had been torn down by workmen and replaced by a solid line of police (1). I was amongst thousands of people waiting for the same moment I was. There were vendors selling Bananas, flags, gumdrops and buttons with the Roeblings faces on them were roaming the streets. (1)
At 11:15 A.M. the ceremonies began and the regiment sounded the escorted President of the United States, the governor of New York and the mayor of New York City into the commencement area. After them marched the soldiers wearing their summer uniforms. (4) I have never seen a more spectacular scene and the band played “Hail to the Chief 4 times. (1) The speakers called this a “Wonder of Science” and an “Astounding exhibition of the power of man to change the face of nature”. It was a “Monument to enterprise, skill, faith, endurance.” It was also a monument to “public spirit”, “the moral qualities of the human soul”. (1). At about 9:30 P.M. I could hear music playing. It sounded like a party so I went to look, surprisingly admission was free. (5) I decided not to dance because I knew my modern dancing style would give away my cover.
Like most people I waited around until sunset to see the gas lamps light up and the excitement continued into the night. The Times estimated that at least 150,000 people came out the East River to watch bridges first day in use. Suddenly a solitary rocket shot into the sky over the Mayors house and burst into blue stars. (1) People in the streets let out shrieks of surprise and happiness. It was announced that the bridge would open at the stroke of mid-night so people gathered on both ends and waited for their turn to walk across. However, it actually opened at 11:22PM. It cost one cent for me to walk across and I paid it and went on my way. (4)
After the long day I dragged myself back to my boarding house. I went upstairs and opened the door and fell to my bed from exhaustion! I have never walked so much in my life!

(1) McCullough, David. The Great Bridge. New York, New York (1972)

(2) Haw, Richard. Art of The Brooklyn Bridge. New York, New York (2008)

(3) Wiedman, H. John. “Why we need our Brooklyn Bridges”. American Society of Civil Engineers. Library of Congress (1983)

(4) "BRIDGE TOLLS ARRANGED :ONE CENT TO BE CHARGED FOR FOOT PASSENGERS.." New York Times (1857-Current file), May 15, 1883, http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed February 24, 2009)

(5) "THE BRIDGE OPENING :MAYOR LOW'S PROCLAMATION AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RECEPTION.." New York Times (1857-Current file), May 18, 1883, http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed February 24, 2009

(6) "MRS. ROEBLING'S SKILL :HOW THE WIFE OF THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE ENGINEER HAS ASSISTED HER HUSBAND.." New York Times (1857-Current file), May 23, 1883, http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed February 24, 2009).

(7) "TWO GREAT CITIES UNITED :THE BRIDGE FORMALLY OPENED. IMMENSE CROWDS ATTRACTED BY THE CEREMONIES.." New York Times (1857-Current file), May 25, 1883, http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed February 25, 2009).

May 23, 1883

I too am amazed by the date. It was just this morning that I was living in 2009 going about my business, getting ready for another day of exciting classes at UNLV, when I got in my car to drive to campus. All I did was stop at the local Seven-Eleven, everything seemed normal in the store, but when I walked out I found myself looking down a dusty old road filled with buggies, horses and the smell of life, I turned around to see not the Seven-Eleven that I had just come out of, but a small red brick mercantile. Feeling like I was in the middle of a Dali painting, I looked down at my feet only to find them enveloped in soft kid glove leather, high button shoes and a long beautiful gown, instead of the cute little outfit I left home with this morning. In fact, everything had changed; my clothes, my car, oh my God! Where the hell is my car? It’s a good thing I still have my laptop. Without my laptop I am lost, and I mean lost. I walked down this mysterious street and saw a “Newsie” on the corner, he was shouting “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” Immediately I bought a paper from this boy and started to rifle through the pages I realized that this wasn’t a dream I was actually in 1883! I glanced at the date, and it said May 23, 1883, then it occurred to me that I was sent back in time to cover the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. This being a monumental event in US history, I will gladly leave the economic crisis and unemployed world of 2009 and venture back to 1883 when the US was filled with hope and excitement on the verge of a technological revolution.
Taking 14 years for it to be fully constructed; most people thought the day when one could walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn would never come. Twenty-seven people lost their lives during the construction including the architect himself, John Roebling (1). A Bridge over the East River had been thought about years before any proposal had been accepted. The first recorded proposal for a bridge uniting the two cities was recorded in 1800. This bridge was to be twice the size of any bridge Roebling had ever built. (2)
I decided it would be in my best interest to venture toward the East River to see this marvel. Although it wasn’t open to traffic just yet. I figured I would go to the shore and look at it. I started to toward the Bridge as it can be seen from many areas of the city. It’s a good thing it can be seen, because my Map Quest isn’t coming up on the computer.(1)
The skyline in 1883 is not quite what I remember from my New York City vacation. There are no sky scrappers. The common landmarks that I know aren’t here because they haven’t been built yet. When I got to the edge of Manhattan, I saw the materials this great bridge was built with, modern materials (steel, brick, etc.), common for 2009, but not 1883. (2) The bridge extends 1,595 feet and 6 inches across the East River, and at this time is the longest suspension bridge in the world. I felt so small looking at the great towers; they must take up a whole city block each! They must stand at least seven stories tall, and I can see the steel of which they are made so clearly! The towers must be sturdy to hold up the massive cables slung across the top (1) despite the tidal waters of the East River the bridge seemed very calm as the sun set.
I walked back toward Manhattan to look for a place to eat and sleep for the evening. I found Lilly Mae’s, a nice boarding house near midtown. The other boarders were like me, well not exactly; they hadn’t come from 2009. They were all in New York for the same reason, this great bridge. From asking around I’ve heard nearly 50,000 people are visiting the city waiting to walk across the great bridge. I have found myself incredibly lucky to have found room and board at all! (3)
There is much talk about Emily Roebling, she is the wife of Washington Roebling, the cheif engineer of the bridge. John Roebling, Washington’s father died suddenly on May 5, 1869 of a mysterious fever and since then Washington and Emily took the job of making this bridge a reality. Washington was asked to take on the job of Chief Engineer to finish the bulk of this project. (2) Emily is highly respected by those who speak of her. She makes daily (sometimes 2 or 3) trips to the bridge. There are messages to deliver and decisions to be made. She served as a principle contact for her late husbands company. I was very excited to hear she would be making an appearance at the ceremonies tomorrow. (1) One woman I met showed me a newspaper clipping about the opening of the Bridge. It read, “The East River Bridge will be open to the public Thursday, May Twenty-fourth, at 2 o’clock, 110 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn” (1)
It seems to be getting rather late here in 1883 and I want to be fully rested for the festivities tomorrow! Goodbye for now!