Meeting is latest effort to renew interest in Stone Bridge

   Is there hope for Ely’s Stone Bridge?

   About 50 people attended a public meeting May 13 at the VFW Hall in Monticello to discuss that very topic.

   While the overall outlook presented was not necessarily an optimistic one, many of those in attendance expressed an interest in finding ways to fund the preservation of the 132-year-old structure, just northwest of Monticello.

   “We’re in a battle to save this bridge,” said Tim Fay, chair of the Jones County Historic Preservation Commission. Fay opened the event with an introduction.

   “As a commission, we’ve been trying to do something with the bridge for over 10 years.

   “This bridge is an architectural gem. (But) historical preservation is just not a key thing in Jones County. I’m hoping that we can fight that trend and do whatever we can to save this bridge. It’s all in our court now.”

   Commissioner Dean Zimmerman spoke about the history of the bridge, which was built in 1893 by Reuben Ely and his son, Reuben Ely, Jr., at a cost of $400.

   The only three-arch stone bridge in the State of Iowa, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

   The bridge was permanently closed to vehicle traffic in 2017 due to extensive deterioration.

   Part of the problem was the paving of the bridge in 2003, Zimmerman said.

   “Construction in the last 25 years has been detrimental to the bridge,” he said.

   Since then the commission, which was formed in 2016, has had a goal of restoring and opening the bridge for foot and bicycle traffic only.

   Fay said the commission has tried for grants, but, “the sad reality is, there’s just not a lot of money out there. We’re talking probably a million dollars to do that bridge right.”

   Some expressed concern that even if $1 million could be found to restore the bridge, more problems might be found during the process and more money might be required.

   The bridge is owned by Jones County, but John Schlarmann, a member of the county board of supervisors who attended the meeting, said the county currently has no plans for the bridge.

   A recurring theme during the meeting was the idea of creating some sort of park near the bridge to make it a destination for visitors, a concept that was repeated by several in attendance.

   However, presenters at the meeting said any plans for a park, and use of the bridge for pedestrians and bicycles, is moot if the bridge itself cannot be saved.

   “The main goal now is to stop the bleeding,” Fay said.

   “Right now the biggest hurdle we have is preserving the bridge,” Zimmerman agreed.

   “Added Justine Siglin, a structural engineer for Axiom Consultants of Iowa City: “The first focus is to get the bridge stabilized. Time is not on your side. Every freeze and thaw means more damage.”

   Dave Balster, also a commissioner, said he believes it’s possible.

   “There’s potential,” Balster said. “Everything comes back to money. We need major donors. There’s money out there.”