DARLINGTON - When Darlington businessman Joey Wiegel approached teacher Dick Anderson last year about having Anderson's Woods Technology class construct a covered bridge, Anderson envisioned a decorative garden footbridge, maybe something 10 feet long.
He had no idea Wiegel had something a little grander in mind - like 28 feet long by 10 feet wide.
Anderson and his students accepted the challenge, constructing the bridge on school property. The 14-ton bridge was transported by semi, and lowered by a crane onto concrete abutments on Wiegel's property.
Anderson also had no idea that Wiegel's initial proposal would build a bridge, as it were, to the future for the class.
Riding on the success of last year's project for Wiegel, students are constructing a slightly smaller covered bridge, this one 22 feet long with an opening that's 7 feet high and wide. It will be placed on a walking trail in the city's Industrial Park near where a 50-room motel is planned, Anderson said.
"It's bringing the school, community and businesses together for a common good," Anderson said.
The project initially was proposed to span the Pecatonica River in downtown Darlington.
"It took the whole semester trying to jump hurdles," Anderson said. But after meeting with the school board, city officials and committees, and the Department of Natural Resources, the project ran into trouble at that location.
Funding has been another issue. Wiegel footed the $15,000 bill last semester. But because the project has no "buyer" this year, Anderson is fronting the $9,000 for the project himself.
"I believe so strongly in the project, I'm funding it," he said.
He's hoping the community and business people will come together to raise money to purchase the bridge so it will be a truly community project.
Four students - Jerred Jacobsen, Tim Houtakker, Tordy Torstenson and Josh Singer form the core of the bridge projects, Anderson said. These four have taken on the responsibility of seeing the bridges through to completion.
"They built the first for the experience and challenge," Anderson said. "They did the first one as sophomores, then came back as juniors" to take on the next bridge project.
Built into the cost of both bridges is a $3,000 student apprentice award to be shared among students. Anderson said this amounts to $12.50 per hour, if the students are able to finish the project in the expected 240 hours. The students can decide how to use the money, whether it be to buy tools or go to college or vocational training, Anderson said.
Anderson said a few people were critical of the project, wondering why the class would bother with bridges.
But the students have learned plenty. Building the bridges, which slant out at 11 degrees unlike most covered bridges, actually is pretty complicated, he said. And unlike some building trades classes, students do everything themselves, with no professional help other than engineering expertise from Westbrook Engineering in Spring Green and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's senior design team.
"They do all the construction, masonry work, rough framing," Anderson said. "Nothing is contracted out."
And Anderson is willing to do future bridge projects: It's proven to be a great hands-on experience for the students.
"They learn a ton," he said.
He had no idea Wiegel had something a little grander in mind - like 28 feet long by 10 feet wide.
Anderson and his students accepted the challenge, constructing the bridge on school property. The 14-ton bridge was transported by semi, and lowered by a crane onto concrete abutments on Wiegel's property.
Anderson also had no idea that Wiegel's initial proposal would build a bridge, as it were, to the future for the class.
Riding on the success of last year's project for Wiegel, students are constructing a slightly smaller covered bridge, this one 22 feet long with an opening that's 7 feet high and wide. It will be placed on a walking trail in the city's Industrial Park near where a 50-room motel is planned, Anderson said.
"It's bringing the school, community and businesses together for a common good," Anderson said.
The project initially was proposed to span the Pecatonica River in downtown Darlington.
"It took the whole semester trying to jump hurdles," Anderson said. But after meeting with the school board, city officials and committees, and the Department of Natural Resources, the project ran into trouble at that location.
Funding has been another issue. Wiegel footed the $15,000 bill last semester. But because the project has no "buyer" this year, Anderson is fronting the $9,000 for the project himself.
"I believe so strongly in the project, I'm funding it," he said.
He's hoping the community and business people will come together to raise money to purchase the bridge so it will be a truly community project.
Four students - Jerred Jacobsen, Tim Houtakker, Tordy Torstenson and Josh Singer form the core of the bridge projects, Anderson said. These four have taken on the responsibility of seeing the bridges through to completion.
"They built the first for the experience and challenge," Anderson said. "They did the first one as sophomores, then came back as juniors" to take on the next bridge project.
Built into the cost of both bridges is a $3,000 student apprentice award to be shared among students. Anderson said this amounts to $12.50 per hour, if the students are able to finish the project in the expected 240 hours. The students can decide how to use the money, whether it be to buy tools or go to college or vocational training, Anderson said.
Anderson said a few people were critical of the project, wondering why the class would bother with bridges.
But the students have learned plenty. Building the bridges, which slant out at 11 degrees unlike most covered bridges, actually is pretty complicated, he said. And unlike some building trades classes, students do everything themselves, with no professional help other than engineering expertise from Westbrook Engineering in Spring Green and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's senior design team.
"They do all the construction, masonry work, rough framing," Anderson said. "Nothing is contracted out."
And Anderson is willing to do future bridge projects: It's proven to be a great hands-on experience for the students.
"They learn a ton," he said.