September 11

One of the lessons to be learned from the events of September 11 is the value of persevering in the face of outrageous misfortune. We must straighten our backs and, to coin a phrase, stay the course. The construction of a bridge connecting Quebec City, Quebec with Levis, Quebec, Canada, cities which are across from each other on the Saint Lawrence River, has been discussed for a very long time. Discussions of building this span go as far back as 1852. The usual squabbles over the sources of funding for the construction broke out in 1852, 1867, 1882, and 1884. These arguments shadowed the bridge in to the 20th century. The construction of the bridge finally began in 1904 and it was completed in 1907. On August 29, 1907, the bridge gave a prolonged shudder and collapsed. Of the 86 people on the bridge 75 died and the remainder suffered life-threatening injuries. Not wanting to abandon the quest for a bridge, construction of yet another span began almost immediately. Do you need an illustration of the sound advice of ‘don’t count your chickens before they are hatched? Not wanting to cut and run the builders soldiered on and Quebec Bridge: the sequel, was completed in August 1916. On September 11, 1916, the Quebec Bridge collapsed again! It would take another 3 years for someone to build a bridge that could remain standing.