Eagle Scout candidate completes Cato bridge restoration project

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Eagle Scout candidate Joe Otter, his mom, Cindy, younger brother, Jacob, and father, Jim, pose on the historic Cato bridge, which Joe and fellow Troop 81 members restored. The project lasted from August through October 2011. (Submitted Photo)

Cato bridge will once again serve as a path for visitors to easily walk between the Cato Christian Church and the Cato School thanks to Eagle Scout candidate Joe Otter.

Otter, 17, completed the restoration and rebuilding of the bridge this past Sunday as the project aspect of his candidacy for the recognition. About 30 family members and friends joined him for an informal ceremony and "ribbon cutting."

"It was one of the largest projects we've worked on in our troop," said Otter, of Pittsburg. "The arch of the concrete was completely cracked in half. We demolished the concrete part and basically rebuilt the entire bridge."

Otter's father, Jim, who works for the Pittsburg State University Department of Construction, did a survey of the Cato area and that was how the youngster learned the bridge was in bad shape.

More than 500 work hours, mostly completed on weekends, went into the project that began in August and was thought to be complete in October. Fellow members of Troop 81 and Otter's younger brother Jacob, 13, as well as parents Jim and Cindy helped with construction.

"It's important to retain these historic sites that have started to deteriorate," Jim said.

Most of the original stones washed away and the bridge began to rapidly deteriorate throughout the past 10 years.

Susie Stelle, of Pittsburg, chairman of the Cato Historical Preservation Association and descendant of original Cato settlers, said the idea to restore the bridge was discussed but it's "hard to find someone to take on a project like that, so we are thrilled to say the least."

"It's the beginning of building the little town back," Stelle said.

Cato historic site was originally in Bourbon County until boundaries changed after the Civil War. In 1867, Cato, which then consisted of a store and post office, became part of Crawford County.

Ralph Carlson, of Fort Scott and a member of the Historical Preservation Association, said Cato founder John Rogers mustered out from Fort Scott wanting to start a business with settlers coming west.

"It's closely tied to our fort," Carlson said. "It's really pretty exciting."

Supplies were acquired from a farm located about two and a half miles from the bridge. Rudy Simpson, a third generation owner, let the Otters take stones that were falling out of use from around his farm.

With the hard work behind him and paperwork ahead, Otter looks to the future.

"Hopefully, the bridge is something I can go show my kids and grandkids," he said. "Hopefully, the bridge will last 100 years plus."