A history of Carpenter’s Bluff bridge (the KO&T Railroad bridge), was given by Kathryn Plunkett, who serves as the digital information literacy librarian at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Thursday evening as part of the Museum on Main Street Journey Stories exhibit.

People who gathered at the Upper Crust for the presentation enjoyed an artistic photographic montage of the bridge by Ethan Tweedie and a PowerPoint presentation on the history, written and created by Plunkett. The presentation was narrated by Dr. John Love.

After the presentation guests were able to share memories and stories about the bridge.

When asked to give this presentation, Plunkett admittedly knew little about the bridge, however she used the opportunity to learn about its history. “My presentation is really answering my own questions,” she said.

Plunkett remembered crossing the bridge as a child. “It was pretty scary to cross the bridge as a young person,” she said.

Many motorcyclists, bicyclists and canoers often visit the bridge. “There is a huge interest in this bridge,” she said. “People come from all around for the history and the serenity of it.”

The bridge was built in 1910 as a combination railroad and wagon bridge crossing the Red River.

The bridge is still in service today. “It’s very well used,” said Plunkett. It only has one lane and is shared by both directions.

“It’s such a fun bridge to drive over,” said Plunkett. “I think it’s unique.”

Carpenter’s Bluff bridge was slated to be torn down a few years ago due to damage it had sustained, but people in Bryan and Grayson counties rallied to save it and its history.

They succeeded and the bridge was one of the 119 bridges across Oklahoma that was approved for repair or replacement in the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges project. Construction on the new bridge is scheduled to begin in 2012.