Rochester, N.Y. - Demolition of the Hojack swing bridge has started, and those who worked on the bridge have fond memories.
The bridge was built in 1905 at the Port of Rochester. It was last in use in the 1990s.
Dave Heeks worked on the bridge for a few years in the 1950s. He would make sure the rail ties were lined up when the bridge was turned so the trains could cross.
“I was a bridge tender and the engineer was responsible for turning the bridge and taking care of all of the records,” Heeks said. “The bridge tender had a lot of maintenance he had to do.”
The Coast Guard mandated the bridge be torn down, calling it a navigational hazard.
Preservation groups, however, would like it to be saved.
