Heading south on 101 we come to Coos Bay and the Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge. There is lots of nature’s beauty along the coast. Only a few places are man made structures impressive enough to demand attention. This is one. According to Wikipedia, it “is a cantilever bridge that spans Coos Bay on the U.S. Route 101 near North Bend, Oregon. When completed in 1936 it was named the North Bend Bridge. In 1947 it was renamed in honor of Conde B. McCullough who died May 5, 1946….The Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge replaced ferries that had formerly crossed the bay. The bridge is outstanding for its attention to form and detail, and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its design and cultural and economic importance.“
I’m sure that Coos Bay residents and visitors have stories about and memories of the bridge. A friend named Margaret shared with me a photograph she took from the bridge the day after she said thank you and see you later to her Mama.
She writes, “My Mother’s name was Sharon Kay…A West Virginia girl who fell in love with the Pacific. Jesus took her Home to Heaven from Coos Bay. It will always be a special place to me.” Here is Sharon Kay as an eighth grader.
And here is my painting of that majestic, historic bridge in Coos Bay, OR.
GALLERY