January 25, 2006:
Sparky, Iron Workers and High Adventure
The iron workers that I met during the building of the Ravenel Bridge
and now during the unbuilding of the Grace and Pearman Bridges are just
plain different. Here is where they hang out - with Andrew Miller to
the far left, then Charles Spires and Carlos Perez (boss)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky046.jpg)
Mike Nally (Marine Supervisor on the right) and Scott (foreman on the left).
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky045.jpg)
and Stan Dawson. I met Stan Dawson was working with Nathan Brooks (Speedy)
as part of Bob McCabe's group
when they were
harvesting griders
on the Mt. Pleasant side.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky009.jpg)
The Town Creek worksite
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky011.jpg)
and their elevator
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky007.jpg)
Sparky had the opportunity to use the elevator and catch some
spectacular views of the work - here with Nugget and Chris
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky053.jpg)
The Pearman cantilever truss
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky058.jpg)
and its top
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky059.jpg)
The Grace cantilever truss
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky061.jpg)
The guys on their way up
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky062.jpg)
Getting set up for some burning
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky074.jpg)
Looking down the Pearman roadway toward Meeting St. The only reminder is
the lonely Pearman pier at East Bay St.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky076.jpg)
A closer view of the building or rather, rebuilding between East Bay and Meeting
St.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky077.jpg)
Looking down the top of the Pearman
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky087.jpg)
Going down - Nugget and Chris Dangerfield
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky103.jpg)
The Drum Island site - what a great job these guys have done cleaning up.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky107.jpg)
A closer view
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky113.jpg)
Looking down at the pieces of the girders
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky111.jpg)
Chris and Nugget
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky117.jpg)
a view down the crane boom
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky124.jpg)
and back on earth - Here is Paul Achorn, one of the marine
supervisors - who knows what to do next?
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky135.jpg)
More cutting - disassembly of the box girders
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky137.jpg)
piece by piece
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky139.jpg)
Lots of pieces
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky142.jpg)
and when a section is completed
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky158.jpg)
it is moved
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky159.jpg)
One of the major junctions of girders
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky160.jpg)
Better than the 4th of July
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky179.jpg)
just slice and dice
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky182.jpg)
A small conference
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky183.jpg)
and more cutting
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky189.jpg)
An interesting view of cutting
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky201.jpg)
even more interesting
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky206.jpg)
Looking down the inside of the box girder
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky212.jpg)
Even from far away - its interesting
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky215.jpg)
All the while - more cutting
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky233.jpg)
until its all done.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.oldcooperriverbridge.org/small/jan_25_sparky235.jpg)