高考◆英语◆山东省題庫下載題庫

San Francisco has its cable cars. Seattle has its Space Needle. And, Longview has its squirrel

bridge. The bridge, which has attracted international attention, is now a local landmark.

The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels

a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars.

The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds.

Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office

building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels. Many times, Peters and others

who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over.

One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day‟s coffee break

discussion turned into squirrel safety. The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge

idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council(市政会).The Council

approved, and Councilwoman Bess LaRiviere named the bridge “Nutty Narrows.”

After architects designed the bridge, Amos Peters and Bill Hutch started Construction, They

built the 60-foot bridge from aluminum and lengths of fire hose(消防水带). It cost 1,000.

It didn‟t take long before reports of squirrels using the bridge started. Squirrels were even

seen guiding their young and teaching them the ropes. The story was picked up by the media, and

Nutty Narrows became know in newspapers all over the world.

In 1983, after 20 years of use, Peters took down the worn-out bridge. Repairs were made and

crosspieces were replaced. The faded sign was repainted and in July 1983, hundreds of animal

lovers attended the completion ceremony of the new bridge.

Peters died in 1984, and a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in

memory of its builder and his devotion to the project.