Walkway Talks: Fire On The Bridge – 50 Years Later

Presented by Shirley Rinaldi and Bill Ringwood at Walkway East Gate Plaza in Poughkeepsie from 2:30-3:30 p.m.  The event is open to all and appropriate for guests of all ages.

This “Fire on the Bridge” presentation looks at the origins of the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge and continues exploring its history until the fire of May 8th, 1974. We will venture to share the “Fire on the Bridge” experience through the eyes of some of the firefighters who attended the fire and locals who were at the scene. Without these historical events, perhaps we would not have our beautiful Walkway Over the Hudson.  

Shirley Rinaldi is a retired English and Social Studies teacher who taught at Poughkeepsie Day School for 23 years. She is a Walkway ambassador, docent and mentor and loves volunteering for all things Walkway. Shirley is the chair of the Walkway Talk series, which are monthly in-person presentations about topics relevant to the Walkway over the Hudson and surrounding local areas.  

Bill Ringwwod is a Poughkeepsie native whose family grew up and worked in the shadow of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge. In 1974, Bill joined the City of Poughkeepsie Fire department about four months before the bridge fire. His grandfather was a firefighter for Cataract Steamer Company. Bill’s father William and Uncle Thomas were also both firefighters in the City of Poughkeepsie. His mother Eleanor was secretary in the Dutton Lumber company during World War II. The Dutton company was located right under the bridge.