How many remember this bridge, known as “The Old Adams Bridge” over the Kaw River. It was torn down and replaced in 1974. The bridge was build in 1900 with some financial support from several members of the Adams Family, as well as Wabaunsee and Pottawatomi County bonds. Members of the Adams Family that supported the project included Franklin Adams, who up to 1900 operated a ferry across the Kansas River known as “The Rossville Ferry.” This ferry was originally known as the Darling Ferry and had been in place since the 1850s. Horace G. Adams also supported the bridge financially, because he began raising large amounts of corn on river bottom land north of the bridge. In the winter, he would set up large feed lots on the corn ground where he would fatten cattle for market. The bridge brought great convenience to his operations, and those of later generations of Adams cattle producers. The bridge also meant that Maple Hill and St. Marys citizens could cross the Kansas River with great ease.

To the credit of those who built the bridge, it withstood four great floods on the Kansas River, including the floors of 1903 and 1951. As a child, I remember seeing Raymond E. Adams, Sr. driving his car across the bridge in 1951, when the Kansas River was lapping at the floor boards of the bridge. Yet it survived another 20 years. I remember my parents and grandparents thinking that the bridge might collapse every time they crossed, it made shook and made such loud “rattling” sounds. It was not to be!! The bridge remained in place until it was torn down and replaced by the new concrete structure.

I also remember my father, John “Tim” Clark and many others fishing from the old bridge. It was a great place to catch big cat fish and flatheads. In spring, my dad and his fishing friends would gather dead crappie and other fish from the spring thaw and make “stink” bait, which was as good as any in catching catfish. Then in mid-summer, he would switch to chicken entrails and livers. The catfish lapped those up and provided lots of good eating for our table growing up!!