Locals respond to Young Street Bridge plan

By Matthew N. Wells • February 1, 2023 4:00 pm
This message, from a person named “Maggie,” describes the tight bond with music that people have. In this case, the message shows how music has comforted them in hard times. The message was written underneath the Young Street Bridge, which is anticipated to be replaced in the coming years. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)
This message, from a person named “Maggie,” describes the tight bond with music that people have. In this case, the message shows how music has comforted them in hard times. The message was written underneath the Young Street Bridge, which is anticipated to be replaced in the coming years. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

There’s a message scribed on the bottom of the Young Street Bridge that encapsulates its importance to some in Aberdeen.

“I Survived Being a Teen Because of Your Art,” the message states, in reference to the late-Kurt Cobain and the band Nirvana. The message also contains a drawn heart and the name “Maggie.”

The bad news for people like Maggie and the other people who have penned, marked and spray painted underneath the bridge, is the Young Street Bridge will come down in the next few years because it needs replacing.

The city’s anticipated replacement of the bridge has an estimated cost of $23.2 million. A few months ago, the city received $25 million in grant funding from the Washington state Joint Transportation Committee.

While the bridge’s replacement is needed — its “sufficiency rating” is at 14.71 on a scale of 0 to 100 — its anticipated replacement is not a popular one. Note, the bridge is still safe for transit.

Randy Beerbower, among others, wants input in how the bridge replacement happens. He loves the bridge and he knows the cultural significance of it. It’s one of the places Cobain, founding member of Nirvana who helped start the Grunge Rock genre, hung out as a teenager when he grew up in Aberdeen.

“As a historian from this area, I doubt anyone from Aberdeen or Grays Harbor for that matter has done more to get their hometown on the global map than Kurt Cobain,” Beerbower said. “You could show someone on any continent a photo of Kurt and they will know who he is. He almost seems more famous today than before he passed nearly 30 years ago. They will be talking about the impact Kurt and Nirvana had on the world of music when I am long gone. Locals need to accept that fact.”

Beerbower recently reached out to Ruth Clemens, Aberdeen’s city administrator, to let the city know what he thinks. He shared his letter with The Daily World. Part of his concern was from how the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, which sits at the base of the bridge, might be affected. The park, dedicated April 5, 2011, includes a guitar statue covered with personal messages from fans, a sign bearing Cobain’s face on one side and a bit about him on the other side. There are also a few benches and a short trail that leads people underneath the bridge. There are countless messages and signatures from fans who adore Cobain and Nirvana with messages such as “Kurt Rocks Forever.” There is also a sign that reads “From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah,” which is also the name of a live album Nirvana released in 1996 — two years after Cobain’s death.

“I am curious if it is possible, as a citizen of Aberdeen, to be involved with the redesign phase of the project as it impacts the park,” Beerbower wrote on Jan. 18. In the letter, he references Tori Kovach, who helped develop the park. “Tori and I have talked and we are assuming that the park may be completely displaced during the construction of the new bridge and we are hoping that we can somehow help the planning of what will replace the current park.”

According to Beerbower, Clemens responded to him on Jan. 19.

“Thank you for reaching out,” Clemens wrote, according to Beerbower. “We’ve been anticipating that this project will be of much interest to those who are Kurt Cobain fans and those who have dedicated a lot of time to the park. Right now, we are working with the state to get the funds allocated.”

The letter to which Beerbower referred, also touches on future engagement the city intends on making with the public about the bridge and the park.

“We will begin a city-wide newsletter in March that will go out with our utility bill,” Clemens wrote to Beerbower. “That will be one of the ways we communicate to those who may be interested.”

The Daily World reached out to Clemens for comment, but did not receive one.

While Beerbower’s letter refers to the redesign, others in town have voiced strong opinions about the bridge remaining, since it is a draw for fans from out of town. There are other signs of Cobain’s influence around town.

Part of Nirvana’s history hangs off the bottom of the city’s welcome sign off of U.S. Highway 12. The sign reads, “Come As You Are,” which is the title of the third track off of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album. Cobain’s childhood home is at 1210 E. 1st St. Upon searching the address, “Cobain’s home,” shows up on Google Maps. The house is a two-minute walk from the bridge. The Washington Department of Transportation mileage sign on U.S. Highway 8 that used to sit about 26 miles from Aberdeen, 16 miles from Montesano and 6 miles to Elma — the “666” sign that Cobain and former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic made famous — awaits display within the city by Wil Russoul, a prominent music fan in town. And there’s even a coffee shop named Nirvana Coffee Company in downtown Aberdeen.

All of this history, and the love from fans make this not just any old bridge replacement. In the last few weeks, a couple people who want to keep the bridge have been vocal.

Lee Bacon, owner of a two-story building at South K and West Wishkah streets, spoke about the draw the bridge has for international fans.

“The bridge is talked about around the world,” Bacon said. “There’s a lot of pictures of it. There’s a lot of stories about it. We see a lot of traffic from the bridge, since the proximity to the house is so close. I think the common theme that we hear is people are coming to the town and wanting to see, hear, and experience the story, because it’s one of the first places they go.”

Michael Dickerson, who has helped commission every one of the historic murals in downtown Aberdeen, was frustrated by the news that the bridge would be torn down in the next few years. It wasn’t just that it would be torn down, but because of how many people come to see it. He even called the discussions about tearing it down and replacing it were “probably a very evil thing.”

He called replacing the bridge, instead of strengthening it “irresponsible.”

It sounds as though he’ll ardently defend the bridge — which influenced the song “Something in the Way,” — once the city starts engaging the public.

“I think it is a crusade that is well worth taking on,” Dickerson said. “This is not a bridge that should be torn down. It’s like tearing down a cathedral.”

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com for future story ideas.

One of many messages that wish the late-Kurt Cobain, who was born in Aberdeen and was the founder of Nirvana, peace since his death in 1994. Cobain, whose influence is seen throughout the city, is credited with founding the Grunge rock genre. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

One of many messages that wish the late-Kurt Cobain, who was born in Aberdeen and was the founder of Nirvana, peace since his death in 1994. Cobain, whose influence is seen throughout the city, is credited with founding the Grunge rock genre. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World ”Grateful for your art,” leads a sentimental message from an unknown fan. The message is on the underside of the Young Street Bridge, which is supposed to be replaced in the next few years. Another message, “KURT IS THE GOAT,” a reference to Nirvana founder Kurt Cobain as being the “Greatest of All Time,” is below.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World ”Grateful for your art,” leads a sentimental message from an unknown fan. The message is on the underside of the Young Street Bridge, which is supposed to be replaced in the next few years. Another message, “KURT IS THE GOAT,” a reference to Nirvana founder Kurt Cobain as being the “Greatest of All Time,” is below.

”RIP Kurt,” is among a large collection of inscriptions that are penned, marked, or spray painted, on the guitar statue at Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, in North Aberdeen. The park, with the bridge seen behind the guitar, sits at the base of the Young Street Bridge. The bridge is slated to come down in the next few years after the city of Aberdeen received $25 million to replace it. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

”RIP Kurt,” is among a large collection of inscriptions that are penned, marked, or spray painted, on the guitar statue at Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, in North Aberdeen. The park, with the bridge seen behind the guitar, sits at the base of the Young Street Bridge. The bridge is slated to come down in the next few years after the city of Aberdeen received $25 million to replace it. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, seen from the Young Street Bridge, in North Aberdeen. The park sits about a two-minute walk from the childhood home of Cobain, the founder of Nirvana who is credited with starting the Grunge rock genre. The house that sits behind the sign is not part of the park. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, seen from the Young Street Bridge, in North Aberdeen. The park sits about a two-minute walk from the childhood home of Cobain, the founder of Nirvana who is credited with starting the Grunge rock genre. The house that sits behind the sign is not part of the park. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

The plaque, which is posted on the guitar statue at Kurt Cobain Memorial Park shows the date the park was dedicated — April 5, 2011 — in North Aberdeen. The park sits at the base of the Young Street Bridge, which is slated to be replaced in the next few years. Recently, a local historian reached out to the city to air his concerns about the bridge and the park. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, seen from the Young Street Bridge, in North Aberdeen. The park sits about a two-minute walk from the childhood home of Cobain, the founder of Nirvana who is credited with starting the Grunge rock genre. The house that sits behind the sign is not part of the park. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

The two-sided sign, which shows Kurt Cobain’s face and his birth and death dates, explains how the Young Street Bridge and the “Muddy Banks of the Wishkah,” over which the bridge flows, are “home and inspiration to one of the world’s greatest musical icons.” The ownership of the park, dedicated April 5, 2011, was turned over to the city of Aberdeen in 2015. Black markings from this side of the sign have recently been washed off of the sign to the chagrin of some fans. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

The two-sided sign, which shows Kurt Cobain’s face and his birth and death dates, explains how the Young Street Bridge and the “Muddy Banks of the Wishkah,” over which the bridge flows, are “home and inspiration to one of the world’s greatest musical icons.” The ownership of the park, dedicated April 5, 2011, was turned over to the city of Aberdeen in 2015. Black markings from this side of the sign have recently been washed off of the sign to the chagrin of some fans. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

”Love you Kurt! July from Ukraine,” is an inscription on the guitar statue at Kurt Cobain Memorial Park. The message shows the love for the founding member of Nirvana is worldwide. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

”Love you Kurt! July from Ukraine,” is an inscription on the guitar statue at Kurt Cobain Memorial Park. The message shows the love for the founding member of Nirvana is worldwide. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)