Posted on: Nov 18, '08
THE STORY BEHIND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was
inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge
connecting New York with the Long Island. However
bridge building experts throughout the world thought
that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to
forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not
practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his
mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time
and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done.
He just had to share the dream with someone else.
After much discussion and persuasion he managed to
convince his son Washington, an up and coming
engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Working together for the first time, the father and
son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished
and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great
excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a
wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and
began to build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few
months underway a tragic accident on the site took the
life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left
with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted
in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so."
"Crazy men and their crazy dreams."
"It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that
the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings
were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be
built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never
discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete
the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some
of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task.
As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the
sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle
breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was
able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside
for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give
up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move
one finger and he decided to make the best use of it.
By moving this, he slowly developed a code of
communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating
to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again.
Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to
tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but
the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions
with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge
was finally completed.
Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all
its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's
indomitable spirit and his determination not to be
defeated by circumstances.
It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team
work, and to their faith in a man who was considered
mad by half the world.
It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and
devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently
decoded the messages of her husband and told the
engineers what to do!!
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a
never -say -die attitude that overcomes a terrible
physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day -to -day life,
our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many
others have to face.
The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem
impossible can be realised with determination and
persistence, no matter what the odds are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with
determination and persistence! !
Tags: brooklyn, bridge, story, washington, john roebling, engineering
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