Trestle on R.E.M. Album Will Stand

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) â€” City officials are trying to decide what to do with an old trestle pictured on R.E.M.'s first album. <br><br>Fans of the rock band deluged the mayor's office with e-mail after

Wednesday, December 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) â€” City officials are trying to decide what to do with an old trestle pictured on R.E.M.'s first album.

Fans of the rock band deluged the mayor's office with e-mail after they heard the trestle was to be torn down. The structure spans a creek near downtown Athens, the band's hometown, and is depicted on the back cover of ``Murmur,'' the influential 1983 rock album.

Athens-Clarke County commissioners responded by voting in October to buy the trestle for $25,000.

Though several uses were proposed for the trestle, no plans have been approved. Possibilities include a bike trail, interpretive railroad history site and a landmark for the band.

Several groups have worked to raise money â€” so far, a little more than $2,500 â€” to help restore the trestle.

An R.E.M. fan in San Diego raised most of the money by selling shirts and other R.E.M. paraphernalia on his Web site, www.murmurs.com.