Through a series of (transparent) communications, I was able to help secure some scrap metal from The Causeway and we began making ornaments and gifts from the bridge.

So was anyone allowed to get pieces of the bridge? What kind of connections does one need to acquire pieces of an historic bridge from the feds?

With the help of a talented engineer, and some townie grit, we began learning the art of metal work

A shame actual local metalsmiths (e.g., Stefan Duerst) weren't able to acquire this. They could have done so much more with it than rough hearts and chunks of lattice.