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Bingo planned to benefit Oakland Mills Bridge
Locals plan rescue and refurbishment of 1870s truss bridge
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MT. PLEASANT - Preserve Oakland Mills will host a Bingo tournament at 7 p.m. on Jan. 17 at the Mt. Pleasant Veterans’ Hall on Monroe Street.
It will be a ten-round affair, with bonus rounds. There will be a cash prize. The event is for the benefit of the historic Oakland Mills truss bridge, which requires maintenance before it can be reopened.
Approximately 150 years old, the bridge has been closed since 2023, due to the findings of an engineering report. The report stated that wood pilings on the north end of the bridge, added in the 1940s after a car accident damaged the pony trusses, have degraded enough as to limit the amount of people on the structure. Unable to monitor the numbers, the Henry County Conservation District elected to close the bridge indefinitely, until repairs could be made.
Steve Davis founded Preserve Oakland Mills with the express goal of funding these repairs. Davis, whose family runs the Lulu’s Landing food truck and Oakland Bait & Tackle, considers the bridge central to the area’s identity.
They also hope to fund a second engineering assessment of the bridge, to get a clearer picture of what is needed.
“Part of what we're doing is a game plan for ten, twenty years from now,” he said. “What it will take to keep the bridge open.”
This Bingo event is the latest in a series of events planned by the group. Last September, they hosted the Skunk River Fishing Tournament and a Disc Golf championship, both taking advantage of facilities at the Mills. September 2025 brought an Oakland Mills Fun Day, featuring a horseshoe tournament, bounce house, and guided tours of the bridge, the first time since 2023 that members of the public were allowed on the structure.
“We can always use more volunteers,” said Davis.
The only requirement is a willingness to devote time.
In addition to Bingo, the group will hold a “Pizza and Puzzles” night at the Moose Lodge on Feb. 1. Each table will get a large pizza and a 300-piece puzzle to complete. March 21 will bring a Trivia Night, also at the Moose Lodge. June 6 will bring this year’s Skunk River Fishing Tournament.
Call Marilyn Higgins at 319-368-8895 or email her at marilyn.higgins@southeastiowaunion.com
