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W
e e k l y F
e a t u r e P a g e
Links to archived past pages on lower left
The contents of the “Weekly Feature” page are provided
to you for your entertainment, amusement, and perhaps information.
Here you may find articles of interest, pictures, historical information
on the Club, or whatever shuffles to the top of the pile on our
desk. The only defined characteristic of this space is that we
will make every effort to change/replace it around the middle of
each week. Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again. Click
on any photo to see it larger in a separate window. |
SOMETHING
FISHY
The historical Parshallburg Bridge was an icon in
our area, spanning the Shiawassee River for decades, just a few miles
upstream from Chesaning.
Like most relics from the early 20th century, it had come to the end
of its useful life. When a dedicated group of preservationists set
upon a mission to have it moved to downtown Chesaning and re-mounted
as a pedestrian walkway, we thought it a very ambitious project, but
welcomed the effort and looked forward to a second life for the venerable
structure. The second life was doomed to be a brief one, as the iron
span fell victim shortly thereafter to the considerable forces of Mother
Nature, in the form of a violent ice breakup driven by the high water
of the spring thaw. The bridge was no more, and the concrete dam that
had maintained the backwater level in the river was weakened beyond
repair. The destruction left the equally historic Chesaning Showboat
stuck in its muddy berth, unable to be moved, and the Village officials
in the market for some new ideas. As always, certainly in these times,
the budget had to be one of the prime considerations, but something
had to be done. We all know how fussy things can become when dealing
with environmental, wildlife, and waterway issues in this era where
there is a “rule” to govern our every movement. In spite
of the hurdles, a solution was found, using nothing more hi-tech than
the humble but very available “rock”. The result, as you
will see in the photos below, is a simple, terraced system of ascending
levels created by graceful arches of stone in approximately the same
location as the original dam. The new installation performs the necessary
task of maintaining the required water level upstream, while adding
access to the upriver area for the fish population. The term “Rock
Dam Fish Ladder” pretty well says it all, but falls very short
of describing what an attractive feature this adds to our local surroundings.
Sounds simple, works well, looks great. With the addition of the new
Riverfront Grille restaurant on one side and the existing Cole Park
Playscape on the other, it’s a nice place to be, and a welcome
bit of good news for a Village that welcomes it.
(click on individual photos to enlarge)
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