High Bridge (Appomattox River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High Bridge |
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Aerial view of High Bridge, after its 2012 renovation. The original masonry piers are visible beneath the bridge.
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| Carries | Pedestrians (2012-Present) Rail (1854-2005) |
| Crosses | Appomattox River valley |
| Locale | Prince Edward and Cumberland Counties, Virginia |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 2,418 feet (737 m) |
| Height | 125 feet (38 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1854 |
| Rebuilt | 1914 |
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High Bridge
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Farmville, Virginia |
| Built | 1854; 1914 |
| Built by | Virginia Bridge & Iron Co. (1914) |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000875 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 2008 |
The High Bridge is a very old and important bridge in Virginia. It crosses the Appomattox River valley, about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Farmville. This bridge was once used by trains. Today, it is a popular park called High Bridge Trail State Park. People can go hiking, biking, and horseback riding there.
The bridge was first built in the 1850s. It was a key part of the Southside Railroad that connected Petersburg and Lynchburg. The High Bridge played a big role in the American Civil War. A battle happened there in April 1865, which was important in the final days of the war.
After the war, the bridge was rebuilt. It was 2,400 feet (730 m) long and 125 feet (38 m) high. In 1914, the bridge was completely rebuilt again. Many of the original stone supports (piers) are still there next to the newer structure.
In 2005, the railroad company, Norfolk Southern, stopped using the bridge. They gave 33 miles (53 km) of the old rail line to the state of Virginia. The High Bridge opened to the public as a park on April 6, 2012. This was 147 years after the Battle of High Bridge.
Contents
History of the High Bridge
Building the Bridge
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In the 1850s, the Southside Railroad wanted to build a train line. This line would connect Petersburg and Lynchburg. It would pass through Farmville. The town of Farmville helped pay for the project.
Building the line meant crossing the wide Appomattox River valley. This was a very expensive part of the project. C.O. Sanford was the engineer who designed the bridge. He said that while there might be taller bridges or longer bridges, the High Bridge was probably the biggest in the world when you considered both its length and height.
The High Bridge had twenty stone supports, called piers. These piers used almost four million bricks! On top of the piers was a wooden structure for the train tracks. There was also a walkway for people. Next to it was another bridge for wagons. The bridge was finished in 1852, and the full train line opened in 1854.
The Civil War and the Bridge
The American Civil War caused a lot of damage to the Southside Railroad. The High Bridge became very important during the war. In April 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was retreating from Petersburg. His army used the High Bridge to cross the river.
After crossing, the Confederates tried to burn the bridge to stop the Union troops. But they did not destroy it completely. Union soldiers were able to put out the fires and use the bridge. This allowed them to continue chasing Lee's army. Just a few days later, Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. The High Bridge played a key role in these final days of the war.
After the War: Rebuilding and New Owners
After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee told the Confederate engineers who tried to burn the bridge to rebuild it. Under the leadership of former Confederate General William "Billy" Mahone, the bridge was rebuilt. In 1869, 21 new sections (called Fink deck trusses) were put in place.
In 1870, the Southside Railroad joined with other railroads. They formed a new company called the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad (AM&O). This railroad stretched 400 miles (640 km) across Virginia. After a financial crisis in 1873, the AM&O had problems. In the early 1880s, new owners bought it and renamed it the Norfolk and Western (N&W).
N&W replaced the bridge's sections again in 1886. They did this one section at a time, so trains could still use the bridge. The bridge was completely rebuilt for a third time in 1914. In 1982, N&W became part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system that we know today.
High Bridge Trail State Park Today
It was very expensive to keep the High Bridge in good condition. Because of this, Norfolk Southern decided to stop using the train line through Farmville. They preferred another route that was easier for trains.
After 2006, there were talks about turning the High Bridge into a park. The railroad land and the bridge were given to the state of Virginia. Now, they are part of the High Bridge Trail State Park. The newly renovated bridge opened on April 6, 2012. It is now a popular spot for people to enjoy nature and history.
