Burr Oak, my hometown, is unusual in having two main road bridges with creeks running under them, within the town’s city limits. Since the town was founded where the Burr Oak Creek joins the White Rock Creek, there had to be bridges on the north side and west edge of town.

The first iron clad bridges were used for many years. My family crossed the bridge on Highway 28 on the north side of town to visit my grandparents. It would rattle every time it was crossed. Next to the bridge, in a low place, was the Huntsinger filling station. The tall iron beams of the bridge amazed me as a...