Bentonsport

On Saturday we took Tom and went for a ride to Cantril to the Dutchman store.  Then, since we were in the area, I said I wanted to go to Bentonsport.  I couldn't remember exactly what I was supposed to see there, but Elder Flanders made sure to tell me that we needed to go.

We found "downtown" in the town that time has forgotten.  The main street isn't even paved.  There is this bridge that spans the Des Moines  river.  It was a one lane bridge that was used for traffic up until 1986.  A simple photo shows just how rotten the thing is these days.

It is strictly a walking bridge and has a really nice sturdy decking.

As you can see, there are safe guards put around the exterior of the bridge so you can't fall off of the thing unless you really try.

As we stood on the bridge and breeze blew gently and it was really quite heavenly.  The area is quiet and the river moves along quite swiftly.  I liked being there.  The early saints crossed this river in this area.  It was once a booming town where the ships/barges came and loaded grain and took it out to the Mississippi.  But, the river needed dredging and that became an issue and so it no longer happens.  It is a bit of a ghost town.