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| After the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay Area, it was clear that the eastern span of the Bay Bridge would need to be reconstructed. The western span, the suspension bridge, needs only a major retro-fitting. Failure of Pier E-9 was one of the most devastating images that was released during that time. My recollection of that image, while traveling in Italy, was the photograph showing the unimaginable destruction and collapse of the bridge roadway. That photograph was seen on the front pages of every international newspaper. The role of CalTrans to rebuild that section of bridge within a one month period was phenomenal. Ironically, during the depression of the 1930s it was also a phenomenal achievement by Bay Area citizens and their governments, both local and federal, to fast track the Bay Bridge in another impossible amount of time. The entire bridge was built in just 3 years. My role as one of the documentary
photographers in the nineteen hundreds, was an honor and joy. Recording this mammoth structure for history was a unique opportunity.
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| This project has been the largest HABS/HAER (Historical American Building Survey/Historical American Engineering Record) documentary project mandated since the office was officially established as a permanent program with the National Park Service in 1934. That same year, the Bay Bridge was well under construction. This project began in July 1997 after an extensive talent search throughout the United States by the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) which oversaw the actual implementation. The Oakland based architectural firm of Murakami/Nelson and Principal, John S. Nelson, A.I.A., were positioned as primary consultants. The firms role was critical in presenting and coordinating complex logistics to CalTrans, the National Park Service and HABS/HAER. Eventually, this entire project will be part of the permanent collections of these institutions, and in the public domain through the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
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| Consultants of vast historical, architectural, and engineering backgrounds were chosen for the task of accumulating decades of information on the Bay Bridge and the entire bay area. A complete historical narrative was written by architectural historian Steven Mikesell of JRP Historical Consulting Services of Davis, California. with assistance from Dan Peterson and Geraldine Peterson. John Nelson and Lisa Sullivan of Hansen, Murikami, Eshima, Inc. coordinated production of the narrative and served as editors. The task of engineering consultant was the responsibility of Mark A. Ketchum,
Ph.D.,P.E., V.P. of OPAC Consulting Engineers of San Francisco. As the consultants sorted through the vast historical facts and technical details, fascinating original drawings from the archives at Caltrans in the California capitol city of Sacramento, CA. were documented and separately enhanced by modern C.A.D. drawings to better illustrate the complexities of this bridge. These drawings were created by Hansen, Murakami, Eshima, Inc.
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| When the photographic portion of this project began to materialize, the realities of producing large format 4X5 B&W negatives, especially from the air and sea was a unique challenge given that 1997 and 1998 were the years of the infamous El Niņo phenomenon. All of these photographs were mandated to be archivally processed and printed to strict HABS/HAER guidelines, which meant all negatives and prints were to be hand processed and not machine processed for speed as most commercial work requires. Gamma B&W Laboratory of San Francisco made this possible. In addition to this methodical process, the negatives, all 600, had to be hand labeled on the actual film base. This task was executed by Tak Eshima, Principal of HME because of his rare talent in both photography and calligraphy. Documenting the complicated roadway systems including the San Francisco Bus Terminal were photographed by Dennis Hill, of Pasadena, California.
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| For this photographer who's usually more at home fussing with a still life, it is the love I have for documentary photography that keeps me interested in this ever changing world. This enthusiasm was a special gift given to me early in my life during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s by a special mom who lovingly documented our family's life with wonderful snap shots and home movies. Documentary photography to me represents the sole visual record for what is, and for what was. It is the recording of someplace, something, or someone that people and societies deem worth remembering.
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| Frank Deras, Photographer |