Dear Editor,The bars on the openings in the concrete under the green bridge between Falcon and Peyton have caused many to think the bridge was built with prison labor. I lived close by during the time the bridge was built, and I am writing to say those stories are not true.The green bridge was one of many projects funded in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration, part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal.It was a blessing for the dry land farmers in the area, as there was a serious drought and crops were poor. Money was tight and the farmers had a lot of hungry children to feed. My family had 12 children at home. There were nine children in the family of my future husband, Lloyd Baber.Lloyd’s father, John T. Baber, applied for and won the job as foreman and my father, Clyde H. Seger Sr. was hired to help with his team of mules. Alvin Eaks, Walter Harmon, Cliff Goin, Raleigh Pastur and Joe Dzuris worked on the bridge, too.The bridge took a long time to complete. All of the labor was done by hand with no machinery like we have today.Rick Manyik worked for the El Paso County Bridge Crew. He said the bridge approaches were poured with concrete and are a hollow box so they can be inspected. In order to do this, the contractors had to leave a “hold” (a window in the wall) to remove the concrete forms. Bars were put in to keep people out.Many of the children called the bridge their daddy’s bridge, because of all their daddy’s hard work.Lloyd and I were married in 1947 and soon will be celebrating 63 years of marriage. I believe we lived in the best of times and we certainly saw a lot of changes that we will always remember.Helen BaberColorado Springs
