It is critical that anyone concerned about the preservation of the Skinners Falls Bridge continues to stridently advocate for it. 

There is invaluable information at the website for Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) and also on Facebook at Save the Skinner’s Falls/Milanville Bridge.

State and local leadership from the National Park Service, many members of the Upper Delaware Council, and of course entities like PennDOT and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro are deaf, dumb and blind to a sustainable, economic solution provided by experienced engineers with a track record of preserving historic bridges.

The Skinners Falls Bridge is a vital element of our cultural and historic heritage that has served as a purposeful crossing since it was built in 1902. It can be restored and it should be.

The UDC meeting on February 6 opened with a wonderful presentation about the Callicoon Train Station and the history of rail in our river valley. The intent was to highlight the future of that structure as a visitors center. It included images of much that has been lost to time and change.

How ironic that this presentation took place during the same meeting where the UDC did not respond to just as effective a presentation by DCS and an engineer who is a specialist in preserving old bridges on how to stabilize and renovate the Skinners Falls Bridge.

Historic preservation has intrinsic value, but it also has demonstrable quantitative and qualitative, economic, and cultural benefits. 

The Skinners Falls Bridge can become our region’s successful example of adaptive preservation, like Walkway over the Hudson State Park and The Highline. Those projects came into being because of communities coming together and engaging local, state and federal entities. 

The only way the possible becomes impossible is when minds become closed to opportunities that might be challenging, but which are ultimately worth the persistence and commitment which makes any venture of value a reality.

Cynthia Nash
Milanville, PA