Goderich Ontario - The Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) bridge which spans the Maitland River was constructed between 1904 and 1907 and remains an engineering marvel.
 
It was part of the great rail system that was instrumental in building the Dominion of Canada from "Sea Unto Sea."
 
The bridge is one of Huron County's most spectacularly dramatic landscape features.
 
It may seem inconceivable today, but it was almost demolished were it not for the efforts of a small group of motivated citizens known as the Menesetung Bridge Association.
 
They rallied the community 30-years-ago to save the historic structure from certain destruction.
 
The Maitland Bridge was part of an 82 mile stretch of the CP from Guelph to Goderich.
 
Construction proved to be the most challenging part of the new line for the M.A. Pigott Engineering Company of Hamilton.
 
Work began in the summer of 1904.
 
At its peak nearly 1,000 men, 50 teams of horses, six small Donkey engines, and three steam shovels worked at the bridge.
 
For a fine account of the bridge's construction, see Ryerson Neal's "Bridge to the Past".
 
The bridge's construction was not without mishaps.
 
In September 1905, a near catastrophic landslide destroyed much of the CP rail bed on the Colborne Township side of the river.
 
An enormous embankment of clay, sand, and gravel gave way on the north bank of the Maitland River.
 
It buried the twisted wreckage of a steam shovel in the riverbed.
 
The bridge's construction was perilous work.
 
One worker was scalded so badly by steam that he was left disabled.
 
Indeed, the Alexandra and Marine Hospital's first patient was an injured rail worker.
 
On 26 Oct 1906 a runaway Donkey engine forced a dozen workmen to jump out of its way, according to Neal, but not before one man, Emanuel Maddeford, was swept off the bridge and killed.
 
After almost three years of construction delays, accidents, and labour disputes, the 700-foot-long bridge and 60-foot-high trestle (which rested on six massive concrete piers) received its first official passenger train from Guelph.
 
That was on 26 Aug 1907.
 
It was the first of three special trains bearing 2,700 passengers from Guelph.
 
They were greeted by over 2,000 local citizens to celebrate the event.
 
The correspondent for the Guelph Mercury was greatly impressed with the engineering skill of the railroad builders as the train rounded a horseshoe curve and very expensive bridge.
 
The view from the bridge was described as beyond comparison.
 
At the time it was also the longest railway bridge in Ontario.
 
The mayors of both Goderich and Guelph celebrated with a gala celebration at Harbour Park.
 
That was followed by a grand banquet at the British Exchange Hotel.
 
The Goderich Star reported that the two mayors smoked the good weeds to consummate the bonds of steel that linked the two founding Canada Company towns.
 
Although passenger service on the CP line to Goderich was ended in April 1955, the CP bridge served its original purpose as a rail line until 16 Dec 1988.
 
That was when the last train pulled out of the Goderich CP station and crossed the old trestle one final time.
 
The following year the rails were hauled up.
 
Nothing remained but to demolish the aged structure.
 
But in late 1989, when the bridge's ultimate fate seemed uncertain, Dr. Michael Dawson, whose Gloucester Terrace medical office overlooked the trestle, went for a rather risky walk on the old bridge's railway ties.
 
As Dawson stood on the windswept bridge and looked at the spectacular views up and down the valley, he wondered, how could we let this go?
 
At a hospital board Christmas dinner, he raised the issue with his tablemates, all of whom shared his concern.
 
But time was of the essence, as demolition equipment was already being moved into the area.
 
After consulting local citizens like John Smallwood of the Maitland Trail Association, and local service clubs, Dawson made a deputation to the Goderich council on 18 Dec 1989.
 
He asked council to consider delaying the bridge's destruction.
 
Community support, Dawson said, for saving the bridge was strong.
 
A petition, which quickly gathered 800 signatures, was presented to council.
 
Dawson told council that the Maitland Trail Association, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, Local Architectural Conservancy, several businesses, and many private individuals had offered financial support for saving the bridge.
 
Indeed, the Goderich Kinsman club pledged $5,000 towards halting the demolition.
 
Some council members feared the expense of the town taking on a potential major liability when other projects like a new fire hall and ice surface seemed more pressing.
 
Mayor Eileen Palmer broke a 4-4 tie vote to halt demolition.
 
Even council's support was almost not enough to save the bridge from destruction.
 
A memo dated 16 Jan 1990, to Trestle Committee member Rod LaFontaine, stated that he wanted the $5,000 cheque or demolition work would begin.
 
The memo concluded that there was no room for negotiation.
 
The contractor received his cheque and the bridge's demolition was temporarily stayed until July.
 
A further payment of $13,000 in the spring of 1990 bought out the demolition contractor's interest in the bridge.
 
In April 1990, Dawson and Mayor Palmer were part of a delegation that presented a report from the newly-formed Menesetung Bridge Association.
 
It outlined the advantages of converting the bridge into a pedestrian walkway.
 
The report stressed the bridge's historical and aesthetic value.
 
The report contended that "the preservation and conversion of this bridge is an investment in the future of our community" as a linear park and trail.
 
The town delegation noted that another $60,000 would be required to make the trail continuous from St Christopher's Cove to the Tiger Dunlop's tomb.
 
Community support for saving the bridge remained strong, which made it easier for local politicians to get behind the project.
 
Following a naming contest in local schools, the bridge's name was changed to the Menesetung Bridge.
 
According to legend, Menesetung is the Ojibwe word meaning "laughing waters".
 
Canada's most famous short story author, Alice Munro, lent her support to saving the Menesetung Bridge, thereby giving the project some national prestige.
 
On 30 Aug 1990 the Menesetung Bridge Association (MBA) was formally incorporated.
 
One of its first acts was a unique fund raising event.
 
The sale of 1,400 planks at $20 and 120 hand rails at $100 raised over $40,000.
 
Huron MPP Jack Riddell auctioned off the final plank for $400 at a special ceremony in June 1992.
 
Lieutenant-Governor Hal Jackman hammered the final nail in the Menesetung Bridge.
 
A massive 22 ton rock was transported from Benmiller to the bridge's south entrance where a plaque listed all of the major donors to the Menesetung Bridge project.
 
On Canada Day, 1 Jul 1992, a Royal Canadian Legion colour party led the inaugural walk from the CP station to the Menesetung Bridge.
 
MPP Paul Klopp, Mayor Palmer, and Dr. Michael Dawson cut the ribbon formally opening the Menesetung Bridge to pedestrian traffic for the first time.
 
Although the bridge has required continued maintenance over time, there is no doubt the Menesetung Bridge has become an integral part of the area's landscape.
 
Yearly it draws thousands of visitors to stroll along the old bridge and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
 
Today. Dr. Dawson's son, Grant Dawson, is the chair of the MBA, which continues its role as the bridge's custodian.
 
The Menesetung Bridge is a key link in the rejuvenated Goderich to Guelph Trail, which winds its way through the 132 kilometres of the old CP railway.
 
Strangely, it took longer to save the bridge than it did to build it.
 
David Yates.