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!
