Celebrating 75 Years of the George Washington Bridge
No, on a world level it might not be in the same category as the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge, but in the world of this blogger the George Washington Bridge is at the top of the chart.
It is my bridge. Depending on which direction one is travelling, it is either gateway to the city (NYC) or gateway to the mainland (a welcoming site upon return from the big city or Long Island).
October 24 marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of the bridge which connects upper Manhattan and Fort Lee, New Jersey. A special anniversary supplement in the Bergen Record puts it best "North Jersey as we know it was born on October 24, 1931. The day the bridge opened, the region was changed forever".
On a personal level, the bridge opened new possibilities for my family. A veteran of World War II, my Dad was able to seek the green and open space of Northern New Jersey thanks to convenience and affordable made available by the Bridge and GI Bill low interest loans.
My folks made the trek from the Bronx (one of 8 miles but seemingly 800) in 1951. We remain in the same town (My Mom in the same house).
Our family's story is not unique. It represents the story and dream fulfilled of thousands. Therefore, the bridge is more than a vehicular artery. It is a thoroughfare in the story of individual life stories, those of families and that of a region.
Part of that story can be found on the special supplement in The Record. It contains vintage photos and everything you ever wanted to know about the bridge.
Included are the famous picture of the Ricardos & Mertzes of "I Love Lucy" heading across the bridge as they head out for California, the story of the stone towers never built, and how a subway line was to be part of the lower level (the line was never built although the lower level was added in 1962).
An then, of course, the story of this great gray bridge would not be complete without a mention of the early 20th century lighthouse dwarfed by the New York tower - a situation that served as inspiration for the 1942 and now famous children's story,"The Little Red Lighthouse and the Gray Bridge", by Hildegarde Swift with Iluustrations by Lynd Ward (of Leonia, NJ) .
Happy Birthday GWB - and thanks for all the memories and comfort you have provided (minus, of course, the traffic jams).
For more on the George Washington Bridge 75th Anniversary, see: www.northjersey.com
It is my bridge. Depending on which direction one is travelling, it is either gateway to the city (NYC) or gateway to the mainland (a welcoming site upon return from the big city or Long Island).
October 24 marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of the bridge which connects upper Manhattan and Fort Lee, New Jersey. A special anniversary supplement in the Bergen Record puts it best "North Jersey as we know it was born on October 24, 1931. The day the bridge opened, the region was changed forever".
On a personal level, the bridge opened new possibilities for my family. A veteran of World War II, my Dad was able to seek the green and open space of Northern New Jersey thanks to convenience and affordable made available by the Bridge and GI Bill low interest loans.
My folks made the trek from the Bronx (one of 8 miles but seemingly 800) in 1951. We remain in the same town (My Mom in the same house).
Our family's story is not unique. It represents the story and dream fulfilled of thousands. Therefore, the bridge is more than a vehicular artery. It is a thoroughfare in the story of individual life stories, those of families and that of a region.
Part of that story can be found on the special supplement in The Record. It contains vintage photos and everything you ever wanted to know about the bridge.
Included are the famous picture of the Ricardos & Mertzes of "I Love Lucy" heading across the bridge as they head out for California, the story of the stone towers never built, and how a subway line was to be part of the lower level (the line was never built although the lower level was added in 1962).
An then, of course, the story of this great gray bridge would not be complete without a mention of the early 20th century lighthouse dwarfed by the New York tower - a situation that served as inspiration for the 1942 and now famous children's story,"The Little Red Lighthouse and the Gray Bridge", by Hildegarde Swift with Iluustrations by Lynd Ward (of Leonia, NJ) .
Happy Birthday GWB - and thanks for all the memories and comfort you have provided (minus, of course, the traffic jams).
For more on the George Washington Bridge 75th Anniversary, see: www.northjersey.com
posted by eric model | 4:17 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home