Until a week or so ago, a casual look south as one crossed the railroad track in downtown, the old wooden overhead bridge could be seen sitting majestically across what some say is the highest point between New Orleans and Memphis.

That old wooden bridge with its Norman Rockwell view of the long straight railroad tracks surrounded by trees with the bridge spanning across — is a picture taken thousands of times by visitors to the Home Seekers Paradise. It’s a picture featured in countless publications over the years and more recently published across the Internet via Facebook and Instagram posts.

To us baby boomers who grew up here, the overhead bridge was a place of folklore – a mystical place where memorable stories from each generation grew.  Stories that range from stolen first date kisses to exciting joy rides, with a multitude of tales in between.

You see, the bridge was a narrow lane and a half-wide and with a steep enough ramp that you had no idea when climbing if another vehicle was coming the other way! The solution was a horn honk as one started to cross. But the problem with that was that some folks would fail to honk, resulting in a chance meeting at the top.

Back in the days when the old railroad depot was used as a passenger terminal and when loaded freight trains slowly passed through downtown for what at times seemed hours on end —there would be a mad rush down South Jackson Street or South Railroad Avenue — depending which side of the tracks you happened to be at the time, as drivers rushed to get to the overhead bridge. The resulting traffic jams at the bridge were part of the day in the life of a community, which straddles a mainline railroad. For those who remember the Andy Griffith Show, think Barney Fife and his whistle.

Then again, the steepness of the ramps and height of the bridge posed an opportunity for daring teenagers on motorcycles or souped-up cars. All it took was a running start and air flight could be accomplished — or so legends have it.

For those a bit younger and still on bicycles, opportunities were also available. What was more fun than sitting on top of the bridge as a train passed underneath? More than a few train cars gained additional cargo as items were dropped from above.

The Brookhaven police frowned on that youthful entertainment.

When my girls were youngsters I enjoyed their screams as we climbed the ramp with the car horn blaring. Blood curdling screams, ended with boundless laughter!

Sometime in the early ’90s the structural safety of the bridge was questioned and it was closed. Despite a few efforts to restore the landmark (with no support from railroad officials who wanted it removed) a local champion was never found to rally public support for fund raising efforts. There was an effort at that time by the city to replace it with a concrete bridge – plans were drawn and right-of-way procurement begun. Outrage from the community stopped the project.

So with little fanfare or advance notice and with the necessary approval in hand last week, it took only a few hours for a piece of Brookhaven history to vanish — replaced only with memories.

Driving up to the safety barriers that blocked the path earlier this week, I had to lay on my car horn for old times sake. I could almost hear the screams and then the laughter coming from the back seat.

Bill Jacobs is the former owner of The Daily Leader.