The Bremer Avenue Bridge over the Cedar River

The Bremer Avenue Bridge over the Cedar River. . , Soon after the town was originally surveyed in 1853, Waverly’s settlers had timber cleared, a dam in place and buildings constructed. In 1856, citizens constructed a foot bridge across the river, along with a ferry to accommodate teams of horses. During low water the river could be forded using a Native American trail that crossed the riverbed a block south of the present bridge. , In 1857 a bridge was built for heavier traffic. This bridge was one of the first of its kind over the Cedar River and the citizens of the young community were proud to accomplish such a feat. However, the bridge was no match for Mother Nature and was swept away by the freshet (Spring thaw) of 1858. A second bridge was built across the Cedar River in 1860, only to be swept away again by ice and high water in 1871. Undeterred, the resilient citizens built a third bridge. This bridge lasted until 1899 when it was replaced by a more substantial structure. , In the late 1920s an arch was added to the bridge in celebration of the Fall Corn Carnival. Throughout the 1930s this structure was often decorated for the holidays. The arch promoted Waverly as the “Dairy Spot of Iowa.” It was taken down prior to construction of the present bridge which began in 1949.