By Teresa Brummett
Lamp staff
As you enter Springfield and drive around the Lake there’s two roads that you’ll meet up with. Just between East Lake Shore Drive and West Lake Shore Drive there’s a bridge. It holds that name of a man born here in Springfield almost 139 years ago. It’s called the Vachel Lindsay Bridge.
Nicholas Vachel Lindsay who was an American writer and poet is known for his versatile poetry. Poetry that is to be sung or chanted, he is considered the founder of modern singing poetry
Lindsay was born in Springfield on November 10, 1879. Lindsay’s childhood home sat across from the Illinois Executive Mansion or The Governor’s Mansion as some of you may know it today. Although Lindsay did go to medical college for a short time he didn’t want to be a doctor like his father.
Through the years of 1905 and 1910 his popularity grew. Part of that popularity was due to a showcase with two other poets by the names of Carl Sandburg and Edger Lee Masters. Which helped them all boost their careers. And by 1915 Lindsay had given a poetry reading to President Woodrow Wilson and his entire cabinet.
After disappointments in his life and a broken relationship, Lindsay packed up and moved to Spokane, Washington in 1924. He was living at the Davenport hotel when at the age of 45 he met and married 23 years old Elizabeth Conner.
When daughter Susan Doniphan was born in May 1926 and then just over a year later his son Nicholas Cave was born in September 1927 it put more pressure on Lindsay. Financial pressures gained momentum and he desperate for money he went East and Midwest with strings of poetry. This lasted from October 1928 till March 1929.
In 1929 the stock market crash was hard for everyone. But with Lindsay received some good news in the form of a lifetime achievement award, which he was awarded $500.00 (which is $6974. In 2012). Although it was expensive and tiresome Lindsay packed up his family from the same room they’d been in since 1924 and moved back to Springfield, Illinois. Where he moved his family into his childhood home.
Lindsay then published two more poetry volumes: The Litany of Washington Street and Every Soul A Circus. Gaining money by doing odd jobs between but only earned little during his travels., this put more stress on Lindsay.
With financial worries piling up and his health starting to fail due to the six-month road trip, Lindsay sank into a deep depression. Which led him to commit suicide on December 5, 1931. He drank an entire bottle of Lysol. And with his last words, he said” They tried to get me, I got them first!”
Which brings us to the bridge which holds his name here in Springfield. The bridge was started in 1933 and was finished in 1934. With the help of The Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company. Who drew up the plans to simulate multiple arches. But, is really a series of cantilevers with heavy counter weighted abutments. All eleven spans total 1,394 feet in length.
As of today, the bridge has had some recent restoration work. In 2011, according to City, Water, Light and Power officials, repairs on the expansion joints, overlay, balusters, deck, pillars and drains. Sidewalks were repaired and lighting was added.
At the time the bridge was completely closed off. No bikes or people were allowed on the bridge. Which made travel to and from work for a handful of people troublesome. Having to go all the way around the lake. Which took double the time.
The Henson Robinson Zoo and the Muni operators although they knew of the repairs. People around the area did not and were disappointed at lack of communication between the city and its residents.
Today you can go around East or West Lake Shore drive and look at the beautiful work that has been put on the list for The National Register of Historic Places.
Detail of the arches make the bridge look like something out of a fairy tale, along with the lamp posts which light up the paths in its darkness. And the man-made tunnel that was created underneath allows pedestrians full access to the lake. There’s stone placed around each door way and the path is wide and just a short walk through to the other side.
Although Lindsay’s life wasn’t an easy one he has created some of poetry’s greatest works. So, it’s no wonder why this beautiful bridge was built in his honor. Like he honored us with his poetry. Here are just a few of his works: The Litany of Washington street, The Congo and other poems, and Johnny Appleseed.
Teresa Brummett can be reached at [email protected].