Metallica Bridge: An iconic source of folklore for Ferndale

Continued from A1

Which of course is a crime,” said Riley Sweeney, communications o cer for the city of Ferndale.

“It’s just a dangerous situation. e trains go by at up to 50 miles an hour. It’s windy, it’s slippery. We really don’t want to have to save you from the river.” e bridge has been around well before Metallica was ever around to inspire an adrenaline junkie to climb up on the bridge, risking their life to adorn the bridge with the band’s logo.

Sweeney is lled with stories about the bridge’s storied past, beyond the logo.

“It’s perhaps the most iconic piece of architecture in the city of Ferndale,” Sweeney said.

While he’s not sure the exact date it was constructed, he does know that the road bridge was built back around 1931. e ribbon-cutting ceremony reminds us it was a very di erent time.

“ e opening ceremony included a performance by the high school band. ey passed out

Ferndale Council

Continued from A1 is program began pre-pandemic. ree developer applicants want to take advantage of the break on fees, but it has taken longer than expected for plans to come to reality. chocolate and cigars to the public and the mayor,” Sweeney said. “ ey dangled a mannequin o the edge of the bridge with a sign on it that said, ‘old man gloom’. And then, with a double barreled shotgun, blasted the mannequin into the river.”

However, even votes to raise the pay $150 and $100 failed to pass.

By state law, no increase in salary can take e ect until after an election for the o ce. So rises now would be e ective in 2024 and 2026.

Porter said it would be best to have the whole seven-person body voting on this issue.

• With the council verbally indicating support, sta will bring forward an ordinance that extends deadlines for the Downtown Catalyst Program yet again.

“It just makes sense to give them more time,” said Porter, who claimed forces of the last few years have been beyond any developer’s control.

• A public open house of the new Ferndale High School will be from 6-8 p.m. ursday, March 16, it was announced.

• Also, two positions are open on the Ferndale Community Services board of directors.

Sweeney joked he’s inspired by the story and would like to do something “absolutely ridiculous” at the city’s next ribboncutting event.

And in between the extreme events of the past, and the logopainting today, Jensen grew up in

Ferndale and has lots of memories with the bridge.

“It used to be a rite of passage,” Jensen said. “Where kids would jump o the pedestrian bridge.”

He said that he once got in trouble for doing that, and added the disclaimer that it was a different time and they “didn’t have much entertainment.” e bridge lives on to hover over another generation, one that did not grow up in the ‘80s rocking out to Metallica, yet they know the name and the band nevertheless.

Both Sweeney and Jensen share the wish that probably a lot of metal fans in the community do: that somehow the band members of Metallica will hear about this little town’s obsession with them and grace Ferndale with a concert.

“I think that Metallica should come perform here sometime,” Jensen said.

James Het eld, what do you say?

-- Contact Sarah McCauley at sarah@lyndentribune.com.

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