Pentecostal Bridge Traditional Geocache

Westphalia MO is the friendship city of Oelde Germany. It's the oldest German Catholic community west of the Mississippi and the Westphalia Historical Society formed to keep that German heritage alive. Visit the Museum Sundays 1-3 p.m. from May-Oct. To learn more check out the website at www.whs65085.org.

This series of geocaches is designed to show you a few historical highlights of our small town and surrounding area.  We hope you enjoy your “cache tour”!

This bridge, known to locals as the "Pentecostal Bridge", contains markers dating it back as far as 1893 (Kansas City Bridge Company) and 1902 (Interstate Bridge Company), both located in Kansas City, MO.  

Believe it or not, this bridge is still in use!  (When you see it, you might wonder how!)  

Local historians could probably tell you loads about this bridge, but I will share some things remembered from my childhood.

First of all, every summer, people of the Pentecostal faith would gather here (in the land to the left of the bridge) for a weeklong retreat.  The enormous pavilion they worshipped under is still standing, although frequent flooding destroyed the bunkhouse (similar to an army barracks) long ago. The land is now privately owned and the pavilion now houses tractors and other large equipment. I have no idea how they came to worship here, as in the 1970's, Westphalia was about 98% German Catholic.  You can imagine the wide-eyed wonder of this little girl listening to the music, praising, and shouting in tongues of the Pentecostals that floated up to the bedroom windows in my house on the hill. During this retreat week, local kids were not allowed by their parents to go far from their own front yards, whether to keep their children from snooping, or to keep us safe from "strangers", or maybe to keep us from converting.  Who knows for sure?!

Also, back in the 80's, I know of several "brave" (I prefer "crazy!) souls who jumped off the old, rickety bridge into the Maries River below.  I wouldn't recommend it today, as the water is not nearly as deep now as it was then!

Up until the early 80's, the floor of the bridge consisted simply of 2 x 4's stacked up side by side on the metal girders.  Over the years, the railings were hit by vehicles, perhaps farm equipment, and bent or broken; several boards were cracked or broken and became detached from the bridge itself.  Many local residents became fearful of crossing the bridge due to safety concerns.  When complaints were not answered in a timely manner, some unknown person/people went onto the bridge during the night (more than once as I recall) and dumped the loose boards into the water, leaving several feet of open space.  Because the bridge could not be used, the county was forced to patch, and then ultimately, repair it.  The result is what you see now, starting with the original girders, reinforced with "new" steel, 2 x 4's stacked up side by side and covered with black top.  Some locals may tell you that the bridge is stronger than it was 20-30 years ago, but that doesn't keep visitors from shaking in fear when they have to cross it!