"A Look Back"

The Stories presented here are about people and events during the early days when this corner of Colorado was first settled.

Rev. J. N. Bridges
By Shannan Koucherik, for the Museum of NW CO

When we think of missionaries, we usually envision someone traveling to Africa or China – living among the natives in primitive housing and enduring numerous dangers and challenges to spread one religious message or another.

It’s often hard to realize that not too long ago Northwest Colorado and Moffat County were considered mission fields and the people who homesteaded here were considered sheep in need of shepherding.

John Norvel Bridges was born in Nebraska on April 1, 1890 into the rather large family of Marshal and Josie Bridges. The family lived in Greta Village, where the senior Bridges worked as a night watchman.

At age 19, Jack, as he was commonly called, was working as a merchant, but the slender, fair-haired young man had yet to enter his life’s calling.

In 1917, Bridges’ WWI draft registration card lists him as a “student minister” with the ME Church in Hickman, Neb. After his graduation, he began the work that would consume the rest of his life – and contribute to the growth of Moffat County.

He and his wife Beth came to Craig in 1925 to pastor the Craig Congregational Church. The couple adopted two girls and quickly became an integral part of the community. He soon encouraged the congregation to step out in faith to erect a building that could be used not only for religious services, but community gatherings as well.

Bridges loved the town of Craig and the congregation of his church, but he was also drawn to the remote corners of the county and spent much time exploring the country and sharing the Gospel with the homesteaders he met. He established more than 18 small churches from Craig to Lodore, Youghal and Skull Creek. Sometimes he was accompanied by a student missionary, but often he traveled alone on horseback. He was often called a “Sky Pilot” – a term referring to his evangelistic work to lead people to the heavenly path.

In 1931 The Rocky Mountain News profiled his work in the remote parts of Moffat County: “He doesn’t just preach. He’ll get up in the dead of a winter’s night to ride 40 miles thr(ough) a gale-harried snow storm to help a rancher’s sick wife. That’s what it means to be a ‘sky pilot.’”

He thought nothing of putting 10,000 rough miles on his car during the summer months, changing to a bob-sled when winter snows blocked the roads.

“I try to teach those people applied Christianity,” Bridges said in the article, “I try to give them something that will be of practical help to them.” (ibid)

He frequently took his family on camping trips so that they could enjoy the wonders of Moffat County. A talented writer, Bridges wrote of some of his favorite spots in the Lions’ Club Special Edition of the Craig-Empire Courier dated May 9, 1934:

“For the past eight years I have been making excursions into this area (western Moffat County) until I have been privileged to see the greater part. Each time I am impressed with a growing appreciation of this portion of ‘God’s Out-of-Doors.’”

The article goes on to describe the Gates of Lodore, Pat’s Hole and other scenic locations that few residents of Moffat County ever see even today.

John Bridges saw the fledgling Congregational Church grow and reach out to the people of Craig and Moffat County before he and his family decided to move farther west to Washington State. He resigned his Craig pastorate in January 1935 and soon took a congregation in Ferndale, Wash. They kept in contact with their many friends in Craig, even when they moved again in 1945 – this time to Rio Vista, Calif where he accepted what would be his final pastorate.

On June 20, 1952, John Bridges, his wife Beth, and their granddaughter picked up their friend Alma Barrows of Denver from a train station and were traveling by car back to Rio Vista when they were hit head-on in an horrific crash. Bridges was killed instantly and Mrs. Barrrows died soon afterward. Beth Bridges sustained major injuries as did their granddaughter.

Several fellow ministers took on the sad task of officiating at John Bridges’ funeral. They spoke of his dedication to missionary work and his wonderful gift as a pastor. News of his death quickly reached Craig and many tears were shed in Moffat County for the man who embraced the people and the land of Northwest Colorado. Even though his time in Craig was short, he left a lasting imprint on the lives of the people here.