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The Alabama Experience


Alabama covered bridges featured in "Bridges to the Past" include:

Alamuchee BridgeAlamuchee Bridge (1861), relocated to the campus of the University of West Alabama in Livingston, was used by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest to move his troops into Mississippi during the Civil War. In its previous location at Alamuchee Creek, the bridge was where horse thief Steve Renfroe was executed by hanging. Ironically, Renfroe was serving as the county Sheriff when he was apprehended.

Clarkson-Legg BridgeClarkson-Legg Bridge (1908) stretches 250 feet across a gorge cut by Crooked Creek in Cullman County. James Wordlaw Legg donated all materials for the bridge including timber, nails, sand, and rock. Legg was a local mail carrier for the Clarkson Post Office who realized the need to improve transportation in the area.

Coldwater BridgeColdwater Bridge (1850) is located in Oxford City Park just off I20 in Oxford. The bridge was moved from its original location in an effort to save it. Like most Alabama covered bridges it is constructed of pine. The remains of a dam and mill can be seen upstream of where the bridge originally stood over Coldwater Creek.

Easley BridgeEasley Bridge (1927) is the oldest of the three remaining covered bridges in Blount County, all of which are still in use. Located in the Rosa community, the bridge spans the Dub Branch. Members of the Tidwell family built all of the Blount County bridges.

Gilliland BridgeGilliland Bridge (1899), threatened by the construction of Interstate 59, was moved from the Gilliland Plantation in Reece City to Noccalula Falls Park by the city of Gadsden. A wedding took place at the bridge when a couple happened to meet the preacher there after going to Gadsden to get their marriage license.

Horton BridgeHorton Mill Bridge (1935) towers over a deep gorge cut by the Warrior River in Blount County and is the highest covered bridge built over water in the US. Talmedge Horton, a descendant of the family that founded the gristmill for which the bridge is named, helped construct the bridge. He says that it took "fifteen men working from sunup to sundown for a year and a half" to build it.

Kymulga BridgeKymulga Bridge (1861) crosses Talladega Creek in the old Kymulga community near Childersburg. The bridge was built just before the Civil War and a gristmill was constructed there during the war. Both the bridge and the mill have been restored in recent years and are open to the public. Visitors can see corn ground with the original millstones that were imported from France. Turbines turned by water power the mill.

Nectar Bridge (former location)Nectar Bridge (1932) was the seventh longest covered bridge in the world. It burned in 1993 leaving the Nectar community of Blount County with a great sense of loss. The bridge was a community meeting place and the site of large baptism ceremonies. It was also said to have been haunted by the ghost of a mail carrier who had died there.

Oakachoy BridgeOakachoy Bridge (1916) was built to connect two county seats, Rockford in Coosa County and Dadeville in Tallapoosa County. Wagons forded Oakachoy Creek at a location near the bridge before the bridge was built. Ruts worn by wagon wheels can still be seen in the rock. (This bridge burned in June, 2001.)

Salem BridgeSalem-Shotwell Bridge (1900) connected the Lee county communities of Salem and Shotwell, separated by Wacooche Creek. Hand-hewn oak pegs join all the latticework, roof trusses, and substructure. High water and erosion has caused damage to the bridge supports but local citizens hope the bridge can be restored.

Swann-Joy BridgeSwann-Joy Bridge (1933) at 324 feet in length is the longest surviving covered bridge in Alabama. It spans Locust Fork on the Warrior River in Blount County and is frequently visited by tourists and picnickers. It was built on the Swann farm to provide access to the Joy community.

Waldo BridgeWaldo Bridge (1858) spans Talladega Creek in the Waldo community southeast of Talladega. The bridge was built at Riddle’s Mill, a gristmill operated by the Riddle brothers. The mill has been converted into a restaurant. Used by Wilson’s Raiders during the Civil War, the bridge is near Riddle’s Hole, an 1840 gold mine that continued operating until World War II.

The locations of Alabama's covered bridges are marked on the official Alabama State Highway map and directions to each bridge are given.  These maps are available free by calling:

1-800-ALABAMA (1-800-252-2262)

Videotapes of "Bridges to the Past" may be purchased for $21.00 each using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover by calling:
 

1-800-463-8825 
(Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central) 

Mail orders send $21.00 check or money order to:

University of Alabama Center for Public Television & Radio
P. O. Box 870150
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0150

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