...The death of Dorothy Bailey...
The song The Lone Ranger (I guess I'm Finished) on her final album Bringing home goodies (1979) refers to a locally well known story about a bridge tender who died while working on the very same bridge.
The story goes like...
Joshua Kammerling was the son of a German immigrant. In 1910 he had an opportunity to be a bridge tender on the Jackson Street Bridge. He jumped at the chance and took the job. But while the job was steady, it only paid $10.00 per week. Joshua would therefore use his former trade as an ironworker. At times he would hang from a boson's chair to do maintenance and repair work to the bridge. Joshua loved to listen to the Lone Ranger on the radio. One evening in 1939 he was working on the bridge with his partner Bonnie Ionsdale. They were both listening to the Lone Ranger when Joshua had problems breathing.
Bonnie took him out of the tower to get fresh air.
With that Joshua said "I guess I'm finished" and collapsed.
That was a very profound way to say good bye to life on the Jackson Street Bridge.
"I guess I'm finished."
But the Lone Ranger went on..."A fiery horse with the speed of light! A cloud of dust and a hearty Hi-Yo, Silver! The Lone Ranger!" > back to Dorothy Bailey...