Eldred's board of supervisors surprised resident Helen Mackes on Wednesday night by unveiling a touch-up on the painting of the Arch Bridge featured in the municipal building, one that Mackes has wanted since the painting first appeared.

"I would tell people, I don't like the supports showing in the picture," Mackes said, referencing the structural supports that were holding the bridge together.Featured within Eldred's township seal, the bridge was constructed in 1893. Years of traffic had rendered the 115-foot-long, double-arch bridge unusable, and it closed in 1991. In 1994, artist Frank Lovewell made a painting of the structure for the township's municipal building. However, it featured the supports. Since Mackes' birthday was Oct. 7, the board wanted to surprise her with a special adjustment to the piece of art."She has, over the years, said to a number of us that she wished that the painting showed the bridge in its original state without the supports. So we knew that her birthday was coming up, and we thought it would be a nice thing to do. … The fun part was trying to be sure that Helen wouldn't know about it ahead of time, which was something of challenge," supervisor Mary Anne Clausen said.A cloth was draped over the picture before the meeting to prevent spoiling the surprise. When Clausen called Mackes up to the front of the room and had two attendees remove the cloth, she was awe-struck."Well, I cried. I was so grateful when they took the sheet off there. … It was just such a wonderful feeling to see the bridge now looking as it did in my younger years," Mackes said.Mackes has been fighting to preserve the treasured bridge for years, and she was fundamental in securing a grant to repair the coping - the capping and covering stones - on the bridge about 10 years ago."It's a beautiful birthday gift for me," Mackes said with a smile.