David, I really like the WPA projects too. Some really wonderful stuff was built during that time. I'll have to drive up and see this bridge. Is it still possible to cross it?
I unfortunately don’t have a picture of it, but when I was last at Whatcom Falls I remember there being a long chute/slide with grates on it, presumably to prevent visitors like myself who daydreamed of riding down it. It was right by that bridge. Do you happen to know the original purpose behind it?
Thanks for your talk on Saturday in Bham. I’m enjoying Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales. I worked at Riverside State Park (home to the Bowl and Pitcher basalt formations) in Spokane during the summer breaks from college in the 60’s where I first became acquainted with the wonderful WPA structures.
That bridge is like a Roman aqueduct. Interesting history of the stone. It is s like civilizations of past in reverse. They used to dismantle and recycle Roman structures like Hadrian’s wall to build their buildings.
Perhaps the most famous dismantling was that of the Colosseum. Starting in the 1300s and continuing for nearly 500 years, the Colosseum served Rome mostly as a quarry. One Giovanni Foglia of Como received permission in 1542 to remove 2,522 cartloads of travertine. Particularly egregious was the stealing of stone by the great families of Rome, who used the travertine for the Barbarini, Venezia, and Farnese palaces, each which still stands. In 1540, Cardinal Farnese’s uncle, Pope Paul III, gave his nephew permission to ransack the Colosseum for 12 hours. Farnese brought 4,000 men to help him.
David, I really like the WPA projects too. Some really wonderful stuff was built during that time. I'll have to drive up and see this bridge. Is it still possible to cross it?
Annette, yes, just a short walk from the parking lot, leading to splendid trails. Have fun. David
I unfortunately don’t have a picture of it, but when I was last at Whatcom Falls I remember there being a long chute/slide with grates on it, presumably to prevent visitors like myself who daydreamed of riding down it. It was right by that bridge. Do you happen to know the original purpose behind it?
I think it may have to do with the fish hatchery but am not sure.
Thanks! 🐟
Thanks for your talk on Saturday in Bham. I’m enjoying Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales. I worked at Riverside State Park (home to the Bowl and Pitcher basalt formations) in Spokane during the summer breaks from college in the 60’s where I first became acquainted with the wonderful WPA structures.
That bridge is like a Roman aqueduct. Interesting history of the stone. It is s like civilizations of past in reverse. They used to dismantle and recycle Roman structures like Hadrian’s wall to build their buildings.
Perhaps the most famous dismantling was that of the Colosseum. Starting in the 1300s and continuing for nearly 500 years, the Colosseum served Rome mostly as a quarry. One Giovanni Foglia of Como received permission in 1542 to remove 2,522 cartloads of travertine. Particularly egregious was the stealing of stone by the great families of Rome, who used the travertine for the Barbarini, Venezia, and Farnese palaces, each which still stands. In 1540, Cardinal Farnese’s uncle, Pope Paul III, gave his nephew permission to ransack the Colosseum for 12 hours. Farnese brought 4,000 men to help him.
Yes, I could vote for festooning ferns! 😃