Discovery Bridge
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Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan PAGE 13B Saturday, October 4, 2008 DISCOVERYDedication2008 PHOTO: JEANNIE DONNER P&D ARCHIVE PHOTO PHOTO: CLIFFORD LARSON ABOVE LEFT: Tens of thousands turned out for the 1924 dedication of the Meridian Bridge. The dedication ceremony was followed by a weeklong celebration; ABOVE RIGHT/TOP: Jeannie Donner supplied this photo of the platform used during the dedication ceremony. ABOVE RIGHT/BOTTOM: Clifford Larson provided this vintage photo of the Meridian Bridge as finishing touches were being applied. BELOW: The front page of the Yankton Press & Dakotan telling of a community preparing for throngs to watch the dedication ceremony. Witnessing History For Those Who Attended The 1924 Meridian Bridge Ceremony, The Memories Live On BY NATHAN JOHNSON nathan.johnson@yankton.net It was billed as the event of a lifetime. And for those who were there to witness it, the weeklong dedication of the Meridian Bridge in 1924 is still a source of fond memories. Unfortunately, most people who were in attendance for that extravaganza of cannon fire, parades, bands and caravans from surrounding communities are no longer with us. But there are those who were children at the time and have recollections of the birth of Yankton as the Bridge City. John Podzimek, 93, of Wagner remembers the event as the first time he ever received a paper dollar from his father. He told me, Put it in your pocket, and put your hand in your pocket. When you take it out of your pocket, make sure the wind doesn t take it away from you, Podzimek recalled. Amid all the people and music, Podzimek and his friend, Henry, decided to get a hamburger at the Gurney s building along Capitol Street in downtown Yankton. We ordered our hamburgers, he said. At that time, you could see the hamburger sticking out of the bun. Now you can t see the hamburger in the bun. Podzimek said he handed the waitress his dollar in order to purchase two, 10-cent hamburgers. Instead of getting 80 cents back, he got a much larger return on his investment: A $5 bill and four $1 bills, plus change. She probably thought, Who the hell would give a kid a $10 bill? Podzimek marveled more than 80 years later. Henry was sitting beside me. He laughed and laughed and laughed. It may have been his first experience with paper money, but Podzimek hadn t just fallen off the turnip truck. He knew it was his lucky day, and the two kids made a hasty exit. We went outside and ate our hamburgers, Podzimek said. Henry was laughing and darn near choking. Later on, we went back and decided we should have another hamburger. He said, I ll pay. I said, No. You re laughing, and I ll treat you for that. We got two more hamburgers for 10 1924, Page 18B please Coupon cents a piece. It was a memory the two childhood friends relived many times over the years, he said. Henry never forgot about that hamburger, Podzimek said. I never told that to anybody. He didn t, either. But we talked about it together. Sam Nusz of Menno turned 5years-old on Oct. 12, 1924. He still remembers how excited he was to learn that his father made arrangements to attend the bridge dedication. The family hopped into a Model T touring car and made their way south to Yankton. Nusz was wearing a cherished red baseball cap. However, while descending Highway 81 into the James River valley, a gust of wind blew the cap off his head. Nusz tried to alert his elders of the emergency, but his pleas did not register over the grinding of the motor and the chatter of the family. When the group finally arrived in Yankton, Nusz remembers that they crossed the Meridian Bridge into Nebraska like so many other vehicles that day. He also recalls the toll house on the bridge. Unfortunately, his cap was nowhere to be found when the family returned home. Nusz said he hoped some other boy was able to enjoy it. Other memories of the bridge dedication have become more vague during the course of 84 years. Agnes Nooney, 92, said the only thing she recalls after the family made a rare 17-mile trip south to Yankton is Native Americans cooking dogs on sticks during the celebration. I had never seen that. We had our little puppies at home, and that made an impression on me when I saw it done, she said. That was their tradition, I guess. P&D ARCHIVE PHOTO BRINGING WALL STREET TO MAIN STREET. Wayne Ibarolle Financial Advisor 220 West 3rd Yankton, SD 57078 665-4567 Calvin D. Riesgaard Financial Advisor 508 W. 23rd #1 Yankton, SD 57078 665-7912 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC FREE Commemorative Discovery Bridge Paper Weight While supplies last ~ to be given away Saturday, Oct. 11 only. Must present coupon. Stop by after the Bridge Dedication Discover Yankton s Newest Deli! Homemade! I Mom s Tasty Pastries & Deli Saturday, Oct. 11th Great selection of dips, mixes & sauces for family meals or entertaining. Sample Fest! and Check out our fall/winter fashions for her! Stop in and Register to win Old Salt & Light of Faith figurines by Jim Shore Soups I Salads I Pastries I Desserts Family-Style Dinners on Friday (Dine-in or Carry-Out) Catering I Specialty Cakes I Tea Parties 300 W 3rd St Yankton, SD 57078 Phone: 605.665.3752 Fax: 605.665.3753 Historic Dowtown Yankton 665-6767 Lu Lu s Yankton Rexall Gift Shop Yankton s only Gold Crown Hallmark Historic Downtown Yankton 605-665-7865 * See Store for Details Connecting the World Bridge the information gap with your daily newspaper. Inside it, you ll discover useful and interesting facts on a variety of topics that affect your life, such as politics, business, computers, food, and a whole lot more. Let your newspaper take you to exciting new places. Read it every day. Subscribe on-line at www.yankton.net or call 665-7811 or 1-800-743-2968 BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER First Dakota was present when the first travelers crossed the Meridian Bridge back on October 11th, 1924. We look forward to welcoming our neighbors across the new Discovery Bridge on October 11th, 2008. 665-7432 Yankton Downtown 225 Cedar Street 665-4999 Yankton North 2105 Broadway Avenue firstdakota.com 319 Walnut Yankton, SD 605-665-7811 www.yankton.net Member FDIC
- Yankton Rexall Gift Shop
- First Dakota National Bank
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Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan PAGE 13B Saturday, October 4, 2008 DISCOVERYDedication2008 PHOTO: JEANNIE DONNER P&D ARCHIVE PHOTO PHOTO: CLIFFORD LARSON ABOVE LEFT: Tens of thousands turned out for the 1924 dedication of the Meridian Bridge. The dedication ceremony was followed by a weeklong celebration; ABOVE RIGHT/TOP: Jeannie Donner supplied this photo of the platform used during the dedication ceremony. ABOVE RIGHT/BOTTOM: Clifford Larson provided this vintage photo of the Meridian Bridge as finishing touches were being applied. BELOW: The front page of the Yankton Press & Dakotan telling of a community preparing for throngs to watch the dedication ceremony. Witnessing History For Those Who Attended The 1924 Meridian Bridge Ceremony, The Memories Live On BY NATHAN JOHNSON nathan.johnson@yankton.net It was billed as the event of a lifetime. And for those who were there to witness it, the weeklong dedication of the Meridian Bridge in 1924 is still a source of fond memories. Unfortunately, most people who were in attendance for that extravaganza of cannon fire, parades, bands and caravans from surrounding communities are no longer with us. But there are those who were children at the time and have recollections of the birth of Yankton as the Bridge City. John Podzimek, 93, of Wagner remembers the event as the first time he ever received a paper dollar from his father. He told me, Put it in your pocket, and put your hand in your pocket. When you take it out of your pocket, make sure the wind doesn t take it away from you, Podzimek recalled. Amid all the people and music, Podzimek and his friend, Henry, decided to get a hamburger at the Gurney s building along Capitol Street in downtown Yankton. We ordered our hamburgers, he said. At that time, you could see the hamburger sticking out of the bun. Now you can t see the hamburger in the bun. Podzimek said he handed the waitress his dollar in order to purchase two, 10-cent hamburgers. Instead of getting 80 cents back, he got a much larger return on his investment: A $5 bill and four $1 bills, plus change. She probably thought, Who the hell would give a kid a $10 bill? Podzimek marveled more than 80 years later. Henry was sitting beside me. He laughed and laughed and laughed. It may have been his first experience with paper money, but Podzimek hadn t just fallen off the turnip truck. He knew it was his lucky day, and the two kids made a hasty exit. We went outside and ate our hamburgers, Podzimek said. Henry was laughing and darn near choking. Later on, we went back and decided we should have another hamburger. He said, I ll pay. I said, No. You re laughing, and I ll treat you for that. We got two more hamburgers for 10 1924, Page 18B please Coupon cents a piece. It was a memory the two childhood friends relived many times over the years, he said. Henry never forgot about that hamburger, Podzimek said. I never told that to anybody. He didn t, either. But we talked about it together. Sam Nusz of Menno turned 5years-old on Oct. 12, 1924. He still remembers how excited he was to learn that his father made arrangements to attend the bridge dedication. The family hopped into a Model T touring car and made their way south to Yankton. Nusz was wearing a cherished red baseball cap. However, while descending Highway 81 into the James River valley, a gust of wind blew the cap off his head. Nusz tried to alert his elders of the emergency, but his pleas did not register over the grinding of the motor and the chatter of the family. When the group finally arrived in Yankton, Nusz remembers that they crossed the Meridian Bridge into Nebraska like so many other vehicles that day. He also recalls the toll house on the bridge. Unfortunately, his cap was nowhere to be found when the family returned home. Nusz said he hoped some other boy was able to enjoy it. Other memories of the bridge dedication have become more vague during the course of 84 years. Agnes Nooney, 92, said the only thing she recalls after the family made a rare 17-mile trip south to Yankton is Native Americans cooking dogs on sticks during the celebration. I had never seen that. We had our little puppies at home, and that made an impression on me when I saw it done, she said. That was their tradition, I guess. P&D ARCHIVE PHOTO BRINGING WALL STREET TO MAIN STREET. Wayne Ibarolle Financial Advisor 220 West 3rd Yankton, SD 57078 665-4567 Calvin D. Riesgaard Financial Advisor 508 W. 23rd #1 Yankton, SD 57078 665-7912 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC FREE Commemorative Discovery Bridge Paper Weight While supplies last ~ to be given away Saturday, Oct. 11 only. Must present coupon. Stop by after the Bridge Dedication Discover Yankton s Newest Deli! Homemade! I Mom s Tasty Pastries & Deli Saturday, Oct. 11th Great selection of dips, mixes & sauces for family meals or entertaining. Sample Fest! and Check out our fall/winter fashions for her! Stop in and Register to win Old Salt & Light of Faith figurines by Jim Shore Soups I Salads I Pastries I Desserts Family-Style Dinners on Friday (Dine-in or Carry-Out) Catering I Specialty Cakes I Tea Parties 300 W 3rd St Yankton, SD 57078 Phone: 605.665.3752 Fax: 605.665.3753 Historic Dowtown Yankton 665-6767 Lu Lu s Yankton Rexall Gift Shop Yankton s only Gold Crown Hallmark Historic Downtown Yankton 605-665-7865 * See Store for Details Connecting the World Bridge the information gap with your daily newspaper. Inside it, you ll discover useful and interesting facts on a variety of topics that affect your life, such as politics, business, computers, food, and a whole lot more. Let your newspaper take you to exciting new places. Read it every day. Subscribe on-line at www.yankton.net or call 665-7811 or 1-800-743-2968 BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER First Dakota was present when the first travelers crossed the Meridian Bridge back on October 11th, 1924. We look forward to welcoming our neighbors across the new Discovery Bridge on October 11th, 2008. 665-7432 Yankton Downtown 225 Cedar Street 665-4999 Yankton North 2105 Broadway Avenue firstdakota.com 319 Walnut Yankton, SD 605-665-7811 www.yankton.net Member FDIC
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