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Correspondence from KingBridgeCo.com

Just visited your website. A wonderful testament to preserving a part of American history. My great-great-great grandfather, Zenas King was the bridge builder. You can find more information about Zenas and the King Bridge Company at our website: www.KingBridgeCo.com. Keep up the good work!

Christopher King Sloan

----- Original Message -----
From: HKWorks
To: Dale Gaylord
Cc: Christopher Sloan
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2002 11:25 AM
Subject: RE: old iron bridge


Thank you for adding us to your website. My father, Allan King Sloan, has many records for the old King Iron Bridge Company, including lists of bridge locations (many of which, unfortunately, are not gone). He may be able to locate a record confirming your bridge as a King bridge, however I cannot guarantee that your Old Iron Bridge is a King Bridge though certainly the schematic of the King bridge design on your website suggests it is a King Bridge. Was the schematic associated with your bridge? If not, we may have to rely on anecdotal evidence to establish the bridge's manufacturer. Do you have any other documents or old bridge signs that may assist in determining its manufacturer? Mr. Mesler may also be able to provide a more positive ID, we would be interested in his report.

You are doing a wonderful job protecting history, your efforts and website should serve as an incentive for others to do likewise. Your website gave me the idea of adding a "Preservation" section to our website to highlights the efforts of you and others. Look forward to hearing from you.

Christopher Sloan


-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Gaylord
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 10:24 PM
To: Christopher Sloan
Subject: old iron bridge


Dear Mr. Sloan,

Thank you so much for adding our precious bridge to your website! We have updated our website recently with information about restoring our bridge. www.torchlake.com/oldironbridge
We have contacted an engineer named, Vern Mesler, who restores old bridges and has a historic bridge park in Kalamazoo, MI. He will be visiting our bridge this month.
We still hope to find the date of origin for this bridge. We have placed it before 1900, and believe it could have been purchased in the 1880's.
Would you have any records that would reveal if this bridge had it's start in your grandfather's company?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Again, thank you for your help. I am sure your great, great, grandfather would be very proud of you and your website.

May all the old bridges never die!

Sincerely,

Dale Gaylord