The Cable Piano Factory, built in 1901, is nothing more than a few paragraphs and photographs in the history of St. Charles. It is no more, but at one time it provided jobs for 500 people and made 35 pianos a day. It used to be situated to the right of the camera's position in this photograph; at the west end of the foot bridge.

So accommodating to the workers, most of whom lived on the opposite side of the Fox River, was their employer that this bridge was built to facilitate their daily journey to and from the factory. It was probably constructed shortly after the factory was built in 1901.

There is a tiny, man-made island a few feet to the south of the bridge. It was built possibly for recreational purposes and named after Thure A. Johanson, the General Superintendent of the Cable Company. In the 1980's the island was renamed Charlemagne Island, thus obscuring the historical significance of the little landmark.

People still use the bridge. It's connected with the Kane County Forest Preserve bike path system, so it sees its share of joggers and bicyclists. It seems there are always ducks and geese here as well. Some of the black objects in the foreground are resting ducks. There's a heron in the river under the right side of the bridge. He moved his head slightly during this time exposure. The ducks are especially difficult to recognize in this web image, but are more easily seen in the prints.

Printed on Watercolor Paper