Remember when: Wooden Wabasso Bridge symbol of better, slower times
By TCPalm Staff
Saturday, April 19, 2008
I remember when Wabasso Bridge was a narrow rickety wooden bridge with a bridge tender. I remember standing on the bridge as a car went by, you could see and feel the boards move. I remember that sound as the tires went over each aged plank of wood until it faded completely as the car drove on. Pa da, pa da, pa da, pa da, pa da, pa da. When driving on the bridge you had to stop for oncoming traffic because the bridge was so narrow.
I remember not being in a hurry when you had to wait to let a boat pass through. There was always a fisherman on the bridge, days and nights. There was always fish too, and the river was so clean that it was easy to shrimp from that old bridge.
What I remember most about the area was the drive down the road before you got to the bridge and the road after the bridge. Australian pines lined the road in both directions, making almost a covered tunnel effect. You could see a light at the end either direction you went. In our younger crazier days, we use to drive down that road at night with our lights off; you had that light at the end to guide you. Heading east, you came out at Wabasso Beach Park. Heading west was U.S. 1. I remember I was sad to see the old Wabasso Bridge go. With it went all the pines down that beautiful scenic road and all the slower easier paced days as well. It was the most beautiful place in our county as I remember it.
Kathy Ozark
Vero Beach
 

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