Another Loss - Shawn's Sense with Shawn Loughlin

Not long after I started work with The Citizen, nearly 20 years ago now, the topic of historic Ball’s Bridge became central to a number of debates. It was around that time that the bridge and all of the history it brings with it faced an uncertain future and was closed to vehicular traffic. However, a group of dedicated volunteers and residents - who have since reassembled to fight a new gravel pit in that same area - worked to save the bridge and, soon enough, it was repaired and open to vehicles once again.

 

That reopening and historical designation took place in 2007 and we covered it, though, at the time, The Citizen was a much more rigid paper in terms of its coverage area. If news happened in Blyth or Brussels and small hamlets in between, like Belgrave, Auburn, Londesborough, Ethel or Cranbrook, we covered it, but, closer to Wingham, Seaforth and Clinton, that wasn’t really our business. Heck, when we had Blyth and Brussels Public Schools still operating, we barely covered the goings on at Hullett Central Public School, which is a mere five minutes from Blyth and is now accepted as Blyth’s home school since the closure of Blyth Public School. 

 

Anyway, back to the task at hand. Around that time I met Daryl Ball - the namesake of the bridge - for the first time. It was then that I learned about the history of the bridge and its importance in the landscape of historical bridge structures in the country and why it was crucial to preserve by any means necessary.

 

What followed was a nice time. The bridge had been saved and people were back using it for its intended purpose. I would hear stories about families or couples using it for photo shoots on special occasions, thanks in large part to the beauty of the bridge, the nature surrounding it and the river running below it.

 

Having said all of that, it was disheartening to see the issue raised again at Central Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) Councils earlier this week, both of whom had to face the fact that, despite their best efforts, restoration had not taken hold and the actions of bad actors within the community meant that the bridge was going to have to take a step backwards, rather than forwards, and close.

 

It’s that old adage of a few bad apples spoiling the bunch and, while surely the bridge will remain open for foot traffic, the aforementioned picture-taking expeditions and sight-seeing initiatives, it’s sad that it won’t be used the way it was intended because of the behaviour of a few people who have no care or consideration for history, the property of others or the rule of law. I think about those advocates and politicians who made the reopening happen all of those years ago and how disappointed they must be with where the situation is today.

 

The saying goes - from our parents’ mouths to the social media of today when something completely unnecessary spoils an experience for everyone - this is why we can’t have nice things. This is truly a perfect example of that tired old sentiment. Deprived of a sufficient number of roads and parking lots, in a county full of them, in which to do burnouts, people have taken to one of the most historic bridges in the country - certainly the most historic within the county - for the super fun and intelligent pastime. Internet must not be too good over that way. 

 

And so ends another chapter of Huron County history simply because people didn’t care enough to preserve it and treat it properly, supporting it in all the ways it needs support. It’s a real shame and many will feel the sting.