This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The town of Rockville has been trying to save and restore its historic bridge that spans the Virgin River. The bridge, constructed in 1924, is the only surviving Parker Through Truss bridge in Utah.
It was built to help bring people to Zion National Park and, according to the town of Rockville, provided the primary automobile route for visitors to Utah's national parks between 1924 and 1930. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
Sixteen prominent plein air artists will join the town's fundraising preservation efforts Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The artists will capture Rockville's landscape as well as that of nearby Grafton and the historic bridge. The public can observe the artistic process as the artists paint with oil, watercolor and pastel.
An artist and collector reception is scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday and will include live entertainment, drinks and food. Many Springdale restaurants will participate. The event will be at the Historic Rockville Schoolhouse at 38 Main St., currently the home of Larry McKown. The paint sale will be across the street at the Rockville Community Center starting at 7 p.m.
Attending either the reception or the sale requires a minimum $20 donation to the bridge fund.
Reservations can be made at http://www.bridgepleinair.eventbrite.com. Admission is $25 on the day of the event.
Participating artists are Doug Braithwaite, Ellen Guernsey Brown, Royden Card, Bruce Gomez, Ken Harris, Brad Holt, Lisa Huber, Mary Jabens, Rick Kinateder, Roland Lee, Nancy Lewis, Bonnie McGee, Valerie Orlemann, Rachel Pettit, Stephen Stauffer and Gregory Stocks.
The state Legislature approved Rockville's request for $100,000 for the bridge project. The town has also been receiving donations and grants.