Mr. C. E. Wright, with his usual enterprise, has put up a steam elevator at the foot of Walthall Street, on the riverfront, which will be used for the purpose of unloading cotton from the boats on the river and placing same on top of the bank. The elevator will have two tracks to the lowest water in the river-one car going up and the other down.
From The Delta Flag, September 25, 1896
On Monday, the Board of Supervisors let the contract for the bridge across the Yazoo River. It is to span the river at the head of Fulton Street, just above the P. Line warehouse. The contract was given to the Croten Bridge Company, a New York firm who made the survey last year, their bid being the lowest and in accord with the specifications and requirements made by the Board. It was let for the sum of $25,000. This bridge will do great things for Greenwood. We understand that a number of our citizens intend to purchase building lots across the river, so there will be a suburb to our town called North Greenwood, and thus we continue to grow and in the years to come, we'll have "Greater Greenwood".
From The Daily Flag, January 7, 1898
The pier of the bridge will deflect the current of the river against the bank and very probably cave the bank in front of the P. Line warehouse and courthouse, and along the front below the courthouse. If this happens, it will destroy a street that will cost the city a great deal of money to replace. A line of piling could be put in from where the current strikes the bank at a very normal cost, compared with what the street will cost if done while the contractors for the bridge have the steam pile driver in the river.
From The Daily Flag, August 5, 1898
Capt. A. Rainey has just returned from Jeffersonville, where he closed the contract with the Howards for a splendid steamboat for the Tallahatchie and Yazoo trade tributary to Greenwood. The City of Greenwood will be the name of the new boat. Its dimensions will be: length, 120 feet; beam, 30 feet; it will be driven by a pair of Carliss engines, 8 inches in diameter and 48 inch stroke, and two boilers, 44 inches in diameter and 14 feet long. It will be fitted up in the most modern style, and will be the best carrier and fastest boat in the trade. Capt. Rainey is a popular steamboat man, and his new boat will be a thorn in the side of its competitors.
From The Daily Flag, August 5, 1898
It may not be generally known that the Yazoo River was ever frozen over, but such is the fact. In a conversation with the genial clever, Capt. Marcey Johnson, a Sentinel man learned of a novel experience that gentleman had several years ago. It was the last day of the year 1876, that Capt. Johnson, in command of the steamer Tallahatchie, was making a down trip, in company with Capt. Ed Jackson, of this city. The day was cold, and a blinding snow soon began falling. Ice had been forming rapidly in the river, and when the steamer got about two miles below the mouth of the Tallahatchie in the Yazoo River, the snow and ice had gorged to such an extent that the boat could not proceed, and she was stopped, and was literally locked in the icy embrace of the Yazoo.
The officer made the best of the situation, and walked ashore on the ice, and went two miles to get a photographer to take a photo of the unusual scene. None, however, could be procured. The next day, Jan. 1, 1877, the steamer Sunflower, going up the river, with her bow weather boarded over to protect her, plowed her way through the ice with her wedge-shaped bow, and in that way cut the ice around the Tallahatchie and rescued her from her unwilling imprisonment.
Capt. Johnson says that was the only time in the history of the country, so far as he knows, that the Yazoo River was ever frozen over. The snow was two feet deep in Greenwood and one foot deep in Yazoo City.
Mr. H. S. Selliger, of this city, who was living at Greenwood at that time, saw the Tallahatchie while she was frozen up. -Yazoo Sentinel
From The Daily Flag, December 9, 1898
It is now only a matter of a very short time when contractor Young will turn the bridge, which spans the Yazoo at this place, over to the board of supervisors. It is a massive structure, and when completed, will cost in the neighborhood of $25,000.00. The height of the middle pier from top to bottom is 96 feet and 277 feet long: the south side pier is 77 feet, and the north side is 112 feet long, with 300 feet of earthfill, making the total length of the bridge from the extreme north end to the extreme south end, 766 feet. The bridge has been a long felt want in Greenwood for many years, and now that it is about to be turned over to the county, everyone rejoices. Contractor Young certainly understands his business, and this work reflects much credit upon him as a bridge builder.
From the Delta Flag, January 13, 1899.
Yesterday at 10:30 o'clock, the Steamer "City of Greenwood", Capt. Abner Rainey's new boat, arrived in port. Capt. Rainey, like the old warhorse that he is, said he would bring to Greenwood the prettiest steamer that ever plied the Yazoo River, and in his new boat, he has kept his word good.
The boat was built at Jeffersonville, Indiana by Edward J. Howard, at a cost of $10,000.00; has a storage capacity of 800 bales of cotton, besides ample accommodations for 40 first-class passengers. The boat is 130 feet long, 28 foot beam, with 32 feet overall, while the cylinders are 10 inches in diameter and have a four foot stroke. A neat office, saloon, and dining room and 12 state rooms, fitted up with the latest up to date steamboat furniture, makes the "City of Greenwood" an ideal river carrier.
Capt. Rainey has engaged a first-class crew of officers, as the following names will show: A. Rainey,Capt.; Ed Mercke, First Clerk; John Erskin, Second Clerk; James Johnson, Pilot; Charles C. Keeler, Mate; Charles H. Weisman, Chief Engineer.
Capt. Rainey has long been identified with the river interest of Greenwood, and in putting his new boat in the Yazoo River trade, he has filled a long felt want, for which the people of this city will ever thank him.
By invitation, several couples left Wednesday afternoon for Sidon, to make the trip from that town to Greenwood on the boat, and while in that town were royally entertained by Dr. W.W. Durden. At about 8 P.M., the boat steamed into that port and the young people simply took possesion. Those who were of the party are as follows: Misses Florrie Chapman, Sallie Cole, Sallie Barnes Humphreys, Lillie Brooks, and Lalla Boyd. Messrs. Lee Simms, Ben George Humphreys, H.H. Southworth, E.M. Purcell, T.M. Gouldman, and Mr. and Mrs. A. McKimbrough.
After remaining at the landing a short while, the steamer rounded about and went back down the river as far as Phillipston, and during the time the young people enjoyed themselves in dancing, card games, and other innocent amusements.
A dance and public reception was to have been tendered Capt. Rainey on his arrival here, but owing to Mayor Miller's illness, the festivities have been postponed until next Monday night, when the whole-souled, genial, jovial captain will be presented with one of Weiler's magnificent gold watches by his many Greenwood friends.
From the Delta Flag, February 24, 1899.
The christening ceremonies of the new steamer, "City of Greenwood" last Monday night, was witnessed by a large crowd of representative citizens. Mr. R.T. Jones, acting mayor in behalf of the city, delivered the address of welcome in his usual characteristic style, after which Mr. R.V. Pollard, in magnificent manor and well chosen words, presented Captain Rainey with a solid gold watch, the present coming from the big-hearted captain's many admirers in this city. Captain Rainey, in replying, thanked the enitre populace for the kindness and appreciation shown him, and said that when the Ruler of Mankind made men with the "Gift of Gab", it left him out, but that he would ever keep the timepiece as a rememberance of the occasion. Little Miss. Sallie Kimbrough christened the steamer by the usual custom of breaking a bottle of champagne over her bow.
After the christening ceremonies were over quite a number of the young people enjoyed themselves in tripping the light fantastic until a reasonable hour in the vacant room over Treadwell's store.
From the Delta Flag, March 3,1899.
The regular monthly session of the County Fathers met last Monday and continued till Wednesday morning, all members being present. The following business was transacted:
Ordered that no one shall drive or ride faster than a walk over iron bridge across the Yazoo River at Greenwood, and no one be allowed to ride a bicycle across said bridge, and anyone violating such order shall be fined $5.
In the matter of the Yazoo Bridge. Be it remembered that on this day, the 6th of March, 1899, being the day of regular session of the Supervisors of Leflore County, Mississippi, The Groton Bridge Co., of Groton N.Y., the contractor who was employed by said Board to build and complete said bridge over the Yazoo River, and approaches thereto, at the city of Greenwood, in said county, presented to said Board for their acceptance of said bridge, and the said Board of Supervisors (every member thereto), repaired to said bridge and completely examined the same for it's entire length, including the earth dump or approaches thereto, and the said Board, in addition to the said examination, carefully read the report of J.H. Frederickson, an engineer appointed to examine said bridge and it's approaches and to report to said Board wherether said bridge and said approaches were built and constructed to the plans and specifications on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of said county. The said Board of Supervisors accepts said bridge and it's approaches with the express understanding that the Groton Bridge Co., will, within a reasonable time, raise the dump at the north approach to said bridge to the height as indicated and set out in the report of said Frederickson, and that the said Groton Bridge Co. will also, within a reasonable time, put in the bolts as indicated and set out in the aforesaid report of said Frederickson. In the said Board of Supervisors reserve the right to retain out of the deferred payments to be paid for the construction of said bridge the amount that will be required to complete said dump as aforesaid, and to put in bolts as aforesaid, in the event said bridge company fails to do work as aforesaid.
T. Staige Marye, President
T.P.Parks
W.R. Prophet
J.H. Fraser
C.A. Haley
Ordered that Board do now adjourn until next regular meeting.
T. Staige Marye, President
From the Delta Flag, March 10, 1899.
In turning the bridge across the Yazoo River Wednesday, one of the shafts of the turning apparatus was broken. While repairs were made, the bridge was turned by means of ropes. A new shaft was made and placed in position Thursday afternoon.
From The Commonwealth, March 11, 1905
The government dredge boat, Ben Humphreys, Capt. J. H. Bobbs in charge, kept many vehicles and people waiting an hour yesterday (Wednesday) evening on the drawbridge while they removed a number of logs from the channel on this side of the river. One lady missed her train on account of it and many busy men were kept from their business. Some of those so delayed expressed the hope that next time the Captain would choose a less busy hour for such a task.
From The Greenwood News, September 13, 1917
The U.S. Government snag and dredge boat Ben Humphreys arrived here yesterday afternoon about 5 o'clock from Vicksburg and began work in the Yazoo River at the bridge.
It was necessary for the bridge to be opened for fully 30 minutes. The boat was the center of attraction for quite a crowd of eager onlookers who viewed the snag boat in action.
The Ben Humphreys will remain in Greenwood today, working east of the bridge. From here they will go up the river and will return in the next few days, when more work is expected to be done in the river in and around Greenwood.
From The Commonwealth, September 19, 1917
The old bridge across the Yazoo River will soon be a thing of history, under the work of demolition now being pushed forward vigorously by the bridge contractors. All of the overhead support has been removed, the first floor of the bridge resting on a false work built underneath.
The new bridge, which replaces the structure now being torn down, will use the center pier, which will be strengthened and enlarged. According to statements of the contractors, the bridge will be ready for use by January 1st.
The old bridge has an interesting history. It's construction is closely identified with the growth of Greenwood and it's development of the county, for it's construction afforded a better access to the western and northern portions of the county, and preceded by but a few years the development of the automobile.
The building of the bridge on which construction work was begun in 1897, did not come without a struggle. The proposal was bitterly fought as being a useless and unnecessary expenditure, and only good generalship and skillful political work brought it about.
It was chiefly to the farsightedness and public spirit of T. Staige Mayre, Father of W. S. Mayre, that the decision to build the bridge was finally made.
Mr. Mayre at that time was president of the Board of Supervisors. A refusal on the part of the other members to order the bridge brought an offer from Mr. Mayre to build the bridge himself, and maintain it as a toll bridge. An election for the bridge was then ordered and carried by an exceedingly small majority.
The bridge, when first constructed, was without walkways, and a constant guard was kept to prevent horses from crossing at a greater speed than five miles an hour. For years, the riding of a bicycle across the bridge was punished by a heavy fine.
The coming of the automobile changed all this, and in twenty years had rendered the bridge, which was opposed so vigorously as being unnecessary, inadequate to handle the daily traffic. After it's construction, the plantations across the river were surveyed into building lots, and today more people live in North Greenwood than were resident in the town of Greenwood when the bridge was first constructed.
From The Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, July 24, 1924
Driving a Dodge Coupe, Mrs. S. J. Riley, wife of Contractor Riley, accompanied by Mrs. Stanford, wife of Engineer Stanford of the Highway , supervising engineer of the construction work of the new Yazoo River bridge, the first automobile was driven across the structure Saturday afternoon, coming from the north bank of the river.
Moving pictures of the event were taken and will be displayed in Greenwood later.
From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, March 16, 1925
Water From Spring At Malmaison Will Be Used In Ceremonies Of Naming Bridge Leflore County's magnificent new bridge will be officially known as the "Keesler Bridge".
This action was taken by the Board of Supervisors at its meeting this morning, when the other four members of the Board enthusiastically endorsed a petition of citizens asking that the bridge be named for General Keesler, out of recognition for his services and his devotion to it's construction.
The official christening of the bridge will form an important of the ceremonies at the official opening of the bridge, which will be celebrated Thursday.
Past and present will link hands when little Elizabeth Leflore Ray, great-great granddaughter of Colonel Greenwood Leflore, will christen the bridge, "Keesler Bridge", with pure spring water from the spring at Malmaison, Greenwood Leflore's home.
From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, May 4, 1925
Columbus, Miss., Nov. 19. - S. J. Riley, contractor of the new $180,000 bridge across the Tombigbee River, who was critically injured Wednesday afternoon, died late last night, following the accident. Another worker on the bridge was killed instantly.
Mr. Riley supervised the construction of the Keesler Bridge at Greenwood, which was formally opened on May 7, 1925, and made many warm friends during his stay in Greenwood while the bridge was under construction.
Mr. Riley will be buried at Poplar Bluff, Mo.
From The Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, November 19, 1926
For the second time since its grand opening in June 1925, the Keesler Bridge has been turned to permit the passing of a big boat. Last week it was turned to permit a dredge boat to pass on its way to the Gulf Coast. This morning the big bridge was swung so that the government snag-boat, Jos. E. Ransdell, of Vicksburg, might pass up the river.
The Jos. E. Ransdell, in charge of Captain J. H. Bobbs, will go the Tallahatchie River as far as Minter City, removing obstructions and clearing the channel of trees, etc. Then about August 1, it will come down the Yazoo again on its way to Vicksburg after clearing the Yazoo of obstructions.
The boat belongs to the Vicksburg river district and is used for the purpose of clearing up inland waterways. This is its first trip to Greenwood in several years, and the Captain expects to accomplish much good for the benefit of traffic. The Jos. E. Ransdell is especially built for the purpose of clearing away any and all obstructions, no matter how large, and is powerfully constructed. It is navigated by huge paddle wheels located behind the stern.
The boat arrived in Greenwood about 7:30 o'clock and the bridge was swung about 8 o'clock by state highway and local highway workers. General S. R. Keesler stated this morning that despite the fact that the bridge is rarely turned, it operated very smoothly and except for a slight glitch, which will be corrected by the state highway department soon, it was perfect. A large throng watched the operation, as the Jos. E. Ramsdell has been expected for several days.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, July 19, 1927
Last week as we drove beneath the lacy branches of shade trees along Riverside Drive in Greenwood, I happened to recall a fact that is unknown to the average Mississippian or person in the City of Greenwood-that being that along that driveway was the original locale and inspiration for the American folksong, "Way Down Upon The Suwannee River".
I learned this while visiting "My Old Kentucky Home" at Old Bardstown, Kentucky, sometime ago. In this stately ole mansion is housed most of the Foster relics, as it is the place where the Pittsburg musician composed most of his famous melodies.
Stephen Collins Foster visited Greenwood on a leisurely trip through the Gulf States. While standing on the banks of the Yazoo and watching the stevedores load bales of Delta cotton, he thought of the beauty of the surrounding country and was prompted to write the melody and lyrics of his famous classic which began in the original manuscript as "Way Down Upon The Yazoo River, Far, Far Away".
One autumn afternoon, Foster walked into a music publishing house in Pittsburg, Pa., offering his "Yazoo River" for sale. The publisher gave the young composer a hearing and was greatly pleased with the song. He told Foster that he would gladly publish his work if he would change the name of that "funny sounding river which would make everyone laugh, thus spoiling the beauty and sentiment of the song".
The Pittsburg musician pleaded with the publisher to retain the old Indian name and pictured all the quaintness of a Mississippi delta river town, but the publisher insisted that another name be substituted before the sale could be transacted.
Very reluctantly, Foster searched the map of Southern states for a river that could be substituted in the place of "Yazoo". Finally he located a very small stream in Florida, named "Sewanee", and with much regret he crossed the name "Yazoo" and placed "Sewanee" there instead.
And just think what publicity the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce has missed since the old song was sung the world over.
Last Thursday night I attended the Municipal Opera in St. Louis, hearing the lovely vehicle, "New Moon", which is a story of Natchez.
This made me think of an expression by the talented director of the National Broadcasting Company that "most of the inspiration for American music comes from the Southern States and Mississippi in particular".
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, August 17, 1934
The Junior Chamber of Commerce is seeking erection of a neon sign to be placed on the Yazoo River Bridge, with the letters GREENWOOD in huge neon lights. This sign would be a big advertisement for Greenwood and plans are to have the sign so that the lower part of it would be made so that interchangeable letters could be inserted, thus advertising any forthcoming event to be held in Greenwood.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, October 28, 1938
A large neon sign bearing the word "Greenwood" with an appropriate slogan will form part of the Christmas decorations this year. The City Council, after a request from the Junior Chamber of Commerce, last night decided that the sign should be a permanent one as an advertisement of Greenwood and authorized its purchase and erection.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, November 2, 1938
A beautiful neon sign will hang on the Yazoo River Bridge welcoming visitors to Greenwood. The sign will be ready as a part of the Christmas decorations, but it will be a permanent sign. The city is buying the sign and the county Board of Supervisors granted permission to place the sign on the bridge, which is under their jurisdiction.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, November 10, 1938
The beautiful Greenwood sign, which will be erected on the Yazoo River Bridge, has arrived and will be placed in commission immediately. Within the next day or two, it will add to the beauty of the bridge and extend a permanent welcome to visitors to Greenwood.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, December 2, 1938
The beautiful new sign, which will welcome people to Greenwood, is being put on the bridge today. Its present location is temporary pending a permit from the State Highway Department for a permanent location on the bridge approach.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, December 3, 1938
The beautiful neon sign erected by the city at the North end of the Yazoo River Bridge was lighted for the first time last night. The sign fully justifies the hopes for its sponsors, The Greenwood Junior Chamber of Commerce.
It is handsome in appearance. The wording of the sign is friendly and creates a fine impression on every person entering the city across the bridge.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, December 7, 1938
Congratulations on the beautiful sign at the bridge welcoming people to Greenwood are continuing to be received by the city officials and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The installation of the sign at its present location is temporary, but it seems to be the proper place, and it is hoped that permission will be granted by the highway department to leave the sign where it is now located.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, December 12, 1938
Scores of people expectantly lined the banks of the Yazoo River at Greenwood this afternoon awaiting the arrival of a government barge and river tug.
The real object of curiosity however, was not the barge itself, but rather the Yazoo Bridge, which will have to be turned to permit passage of the barge on its trip up the river. Workmen of the State Highway Department have been working for several nights preparing the bridge for turning. Years have passed since the mechanism was called into action, and it was necessary to make a number of repairs and through lubrication to facilitate the turning.
The low level of the river caused the barge considerable trouble early this afternoon just below Greenwood. The use of the dragline was necessary to aid the tug. The barge was expected to arrive at the bridge, however by five o'clock this afternoon.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, May 29, 1941
Keesler Bridge will be opened sometime within the next ten days to permit the Monighan dragline, now stationed at Glendora, to move down the Yazoo River. Notification of the necessity of opening the bridge was given to the city by the Pioneer Construction Company of Dyersburg,Tenn., which has been engaged in constructing cutoffs in the Tallahatchie River as part of the flood control program.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, February 2, 1942
A crew has been at work on the Keesler Bridge yesterday and today getting the swing span ready to be opened for the passage of a dredge boat down the river within the next few days. The dredge has been up the Tallahatchie River near Glendora digging cutoffs as part of the flood control system.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, February 10, 1942
Keesler Bridge was opened this morning for the passage down river of a dredge boat, which has been making cutoffs in the Tallahatchie River near Glendora. Passage of a boat on the river involves opening bridges in Leflore County at Minter City, Money, Shellmound on the Tallahatchie and Greenwood, Fort Loring, Roebuck, Shell Bluff and Silent Shade on the Yazoo.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, February 12, 1942
The Sheriff's office announced today that the Keesler Bridge across the Yazoo River would be opened sometime tomorrow, probably around noon, to allow a dredge boat to pass up the river where it will be used in making cutoffs near Phillip and Glendora.
This message was received from the contractors in moving the dredge boat up the river from Vicksburg.
The boat is now south of Greenwood on its trip up the river and will probably reach here tomorrow at the time mentioned.
The announcement is made so that users of the highway as well as people living in North Greenwood may arrange their schedules so as to avoid any delay. No definite time can be computed as to how long the bridge will remain open due to some matters that may arise in opening and closing the structure.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, February 20, 1943
Traffic was tied up for nearly an hour yesterday afternoon about three o' clock when the Keesler Bridge at Greenwood was opened for the passage of a dredge boat going up the Yazoo River for work in the Tallahatchie River.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, February 22, 1943
Announcement is made by the ones in charge of dredging above Greenwood that the Keesler Bridge across the Yazoo River at Greenwood will be opened this afternoon at 2 o'clock to allow passage of a dredge boat. Notice is given in order that those using this thoroughfare may know of the bridge opening and act accordingly in traffic use of the structure.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, August 21, 1943
The world's largest inland long staple cotton market, Greenwood, will have its name in lights again.
The Junior Chamber of Commerce is having the large neon sign on the bridge repaired and will have it back in operation in a few days.
This sign has become one of the most outstanding landmarks in the City of Greenwood and thanks to the Jaycees, will once again be a credit to our city. Originally the sign was a brainstorm of the Jaycees back about 1940, at which time the city made the purchase to tie in with the Winter Carnival that year.
Many a passer-through has long remembered Greenwood because of this eye-catching advertisement of "The World's Largest Inland Long Staple Cotton Market", therefore the Jaycees, thinking well enough of its benefits to the city, are financing the repairing as one of its 1947 projects.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, February 27, 1947
The State Highway Department announced that the bridge across the Yazoo River will be turned sometime Thursday to permit passage of a barge containing a Model 6160 Bucyrus-Monighan walking dragline machine which is enroute for work on the Yalobusha River channel improvement project. The dragline is the property of the Kenyon Dredging Co., Inc. of Bauxite, Arkansas.
As soon as any definite information is available as to the time of arrival of the barge, both local radio stations will broadcast the information at intervals.
The announcement is made for the benefit of motorists using the bridge daily.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, May 30, 1951
According to information received here this afternoon relative to turning of the Yazoo River bridge to allow a barge to pass, the tentative schedule at present is that the bridge will not be turned until 7:30 o'clock Friday night.
Part of the mechanism of the bridge across the river at Silent Shade was found out of order and it is hoped to get same repaired by 7 o'clock Friday morning and the barge started toward Greenwood. Silent Shade is about 40 river miles south of Greenwood.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, May 31, 1951
Traffic jams are the rule rather than the exception the past few days while the highway department readies the Keelser Bridge for turning the middle span to permit the passing of a barge along the Yazoo River. It is the first time the bridge has been turned in years.
Time for the turning is tentatively scheduled this evening at 7:30 p.m.
From The Morning Star, June 1, 1951
The turning of the bridge turned out to be a big occasion in Greenwood. Since it had been seven years since the middle span of the edifice had been turned, and it required days to cut the asphalt from the floor of the bridge, delaying traffic in the meantime. And last night traffic was tied up from about 8 p.m. until hours after midnight by various difficulties encountered.
First of all the turning mechanism gave trouble and it required hours to get the span turned. Then after midnight, when the span was in readiness, the big dredge boat ran aground under the bridge on the shallow bottom and that took up time.
But that was not all. Getting the span back in place presented another problem which had not yet been solved at an early hour this morning.
Meanwhile, all the vehicle traffic was impossible, and for a time foot traffic was halted. People were stranded on one side or the other, and motorists, trucks and busses were delayed for hours. The busses arranged to transfer passengers to Greenville and made detours to Memphis. Some trucks and motorists were detoured by other bridges. Some simply waited and "cussed".
The dredge which caused the furor is to be used on a contract of work at a cutoff upstream and may be engaged there several months or a year.
Meanwhile, there was more walking done in Greenwood than in many years.
From The Morning Star, June 2, 1951
The Yazoo River Bridge will be turned tonight at 7:30 o'clock if plans go ahead as scheduled to permit passage of the huge walking dragline aboard a barge enroute to location for work on the Yalobusha River channel improvement project.
N. J. Corona, secretary-treasurer of the Kenyon Dredging Co., Inc., of Bauxite, Ark., is in Greenwood today looking after details of the project for the company.
The barge containing the dragline is 60 x 20 feet and requires a 65 foot clearance. It is being pushed up the river by two small tugs. Due to the low water in the Yalobusha River, the dragline will be carried up the Tallahatchie River and unloaded at Craigside. This will call for opening the Tallahatchie bridge at the north end of Grand Boulevard. After unloading, the dragline will be walked to location. The machine can pick up 10 yards, or approximately 15 tons of dirt at one operation.
The contracting company will open an office here, employing about 12 men as office personnel. Others will be hired later for the project.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, June 1, 1951
The State Highway Department plans to turn the Yazoo River Bridge Thursday night to allow passage of a barge owned by Grimmett, Janes & Traylor, Port Barre, La. The time scheduled is 11 o'clock.
The barge together with other machinery is being brought up the river from Vicksburg where it will engage in channel improvement starting at the mouth of the Yalobusha River to the Avalon bridge.
Yesterday the county turned the bridge across the Yazoo River at Silent Shade, Shell Bluff and Roebuck. The railroad turned the ridge at Fort Loring this morning.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, April 29, 1953
W. A. Birdsong, assistant district engineer for the State Highway Department, Batesville, said at noon today that everything was in readiness for turning the bridge across the Yazoo River tonight at 11 o'clock. He has assembled a crew here for the job and said that everything was in good shape and that he anticipated no trouble. He hoped to complete the job in 45 minutes.
The barge, owned by Grimmett, Janes & Traylor of La Barre, La., is enroute up the Yazoo to the mouth of the Yalobusha River where work of channel improvement will be done on that stream as far as the Avalon bridge. The barge is at the bridge in Greenwood awaiting passage through tonight.
Fire Chief Ruben G. Duren said that all emergency equipment in the city, such as ambulances, wreckers, etc., are invited to make use of the Fire Station No. 3 tonight during the turning of the bridge. The telephone number is 3293.
After the barge passes the Yazoo River bridge it will have to pass the railroad bridge further upstream before it reaches its destination.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, April 30, 1953
The State Highway Department will turn the Yazoo River bridge again tonight at 11 o'clock to allow passage of the towboat that carried the barge upriver Thursday night.
The towboat is enroute to Vicksburg after delivering equipment of Grimmett, Janes & Traylor of La Barre, La., to the mouth of the Yalobusha River where channel improvement work will be started.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, May 2, 1953
Above is shown members of the State Highway Department as they put their weight to the huge key used to turn the Yazoo River Bridge.
The turning of the Yazoo River Bridge last week marks the end of an era for Greenwood. With the completion of the new permanent span bridge at the Buckeye Oil Mill, no other heavy river traffic will be able to pass that point. The old bridge seemed to know that the end of its turning days had come. It took several hours of toil and manipulation to turn her around as she rebelled at every turn of the key.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, May 6, 1953
The Yazoo River bridge will be turned tonight at 11:00 o'clock to allow a large barge to pass, according to information from Mayor Allen D. Saffold.
The bridge has been turned several times recently and each time there has been considerable delay in traffic. The difficulty in turning the bridge appears to be in the turning apparatus which for several years has not been used enough to keep it in first class shape.
All preparations for a smooth turning will be made prior to the arrival of the barge.
Persons planning to visit the opposite side of the river should, for their own convenience and to assist in eliminating as much traffic as possible, return to their side of the river before 11 o'clock.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, July 14, 1953
The Yazoo River Bridge will again be opened tonight at 11:00 to allow a barge carrying a large dragline for the Kenyon Dredging Company down the river. The dragline has been on the Yalobusha River clearing the channel. It came up the river several months ago.
From The Greenwood Commonwealth, July 16, 1953
