Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Union Crossing CB |
|
|---|---|
The Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge near Mentone, Alabama.
|
|
| Coordinates | 34°32′3.51″N 85°35′56.47″W / 34.5343083°N 85.5990194°W |
| Carries | single lane motor traffic |
| Crosses | West Fork of the Little River |
| Locale | Mentone, Alabama |
| Maintained by | PRIVATE USE |
| ID number | 01-25-A (WGCB) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Stringer construction |
| Total length | 90 ft (27 m) |
| History | |
| Construction end | circa 1863 (rebuilt 1980) |
The Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge is a special bridge in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. It's a privately owned bridge that mixes wood and metal in its design. This bridge crosses the West Fork of the Little River. You can find it on Lookout Mountain, close to the town of Mentone. It's on a road that connects Shady Grove Dude Ranch and Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort.
This bridge is about 90 feet (27 meters) long. It was first built around 1863. The bridge uses a building style called Stringer construction, which means it has strong beams supporting it. It was rebuilt in 1980 over an older cable bridge. Because of how it was rebuilt, the Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge is now considered a "non-authentic" covered bridge. This means it's not exactly like it was when first built.
Sometimes, this bridge was mistakenly called the Tallahatchee Covered Bridge. However, these are actually two different bridges. The Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge was moved from Lincoln, Alabama in 1972 to where it is now near Mentone. The Tallahatchee Covered Bridge was moved in 1975 from Wellington, Alabama to Piedmont, Alabama. It was planned to be part of a pioneer village.
Contents
History of the Old Union Crossing Bridge
Building During the Civil War
The Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge has a long history, going back to the American Civil War. It was likely built between 1863 and 1864. Union Army troops built it over Otter Creek. This creek is now a dry riverbed near Lincoln, Alabama. The bridge was important for Union forces to move around during the war. We don't know if cars used the bridge in later years.
Moving and Rebuilding the Bridge
In 1972, Jack E. Jones bought the Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge. He was the first owner of Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort. He had the bridge moved north to Lookout Mountain, near Mentone. The covered part of the bridge was built in 1980. It was placed over an existing steel cable bridge that had been there since 1969.
When it was first covered, the bridge had slanted support beams. Later, these were changed to vertical beams with lower sides. The covered part of the bridge was originally about 42 feet (13 meters) long. Today, only the middle part of the 90-foot bridge is covered.
Bridge Damage and Current Use
In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused damage to the Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge. The main damage was to the bridge's deck. It was closed for repairs until late 2006, but it is now fixed and open again.
Today, the bridge is mostly used by horseback riders. They use it to cross the river when riding trails to and from Shady Grove Dude Ranch. It also attracts people who love history and other visitors who want to see this unique bridge.
