In Spite Of Their Handicaps, The Roeblings Were Able To Build The Brooklyn Bridge.

It really takes persistence to achieve ones goals.
John Augustus Roebling, a German-born American civil engineer envisioned a massive bridge.  Though other bridge building experts tried to dissuade Roebling telling him his plans were unrealistic, he could not abandon his vision.  He shared his dream with his son Washington, who was an engineering officer in the Union army during the Civil War.  Together they developed designs and concepts.  John was taking some compass readings while standing on some pilings at a ferry slip and did not notice that a boat was docking.  One of his feet was caught between the pilings. His injured toes were amputated. Roebling was shortly diagnosed with tetanus and developed lockjaw. He suffered severe seizures and periodically lapsed into a coma before dying in the early morning hours of July 22, 1869 in Brooklyn Heights, Not Too Long After the Incident.

Washington Augustus Roebling, His Son took over the project, beginning construction  in 1870. Tragedy struck again in 1872 when Washington emerged from one of the deeply sunk caisson foundations at the bottom of the river stricken with “the bends.”  shattering his health and rendering him unable to visit the site, He was paralyzed from the waist down.

In spite of his handicap, Washington still had a burning desire to complete the bridge. Although he could not speak well, he managed to communicate details of the operation to Emily, his wife. At first all communication was by hand pressures and Washington slowly developed a code of communication with Emily.

Washington relied on Emily to relay his orders to the foremen.  To fill his shoes, she studied civil engineering and many suspected, even at the time, that many of the orders came from her.

For 13 years Washington communicated instructions to Emily, until the bridge was finally completed and opened on May 24, 1883.  Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge that connects New York with Long Island stands as a tangible monument to Emily’s love and devotion, who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband Washington and told the engineers what to do.  The Brooklyn Bridge is a tribute to the triumph of one couple’s persistence, indomitable spirit, and determination not to be defeated by circumstances. 

The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realized with determination and persistence, no matter the odds. And The Roeblings have been able to show us that We can achieve our dreams in spite of whatever Challenges that comes our way.

One of the Biggest Lessons I Got from this Story is that Dreams should be inculcated and imbibed to those around us so that even when we are gone Our Dreams will still Live on and we can have others progress Our Dreams in Life.

Thanks For Reading Today.
GOD Bless.