Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salem-Shotwell CB |
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The reconstructed Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge in Opelika, Alabama.
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| Coordinates | 32°39′33.46″N 85°22′52.94″W / 32.6592944°N 85.3813722°W |
| Carries | pedestrian traffic |
| Crosses | Rocky Brook |
| Locale | Opelika, Alabama |
| Maintained by | City of Opelika |
| ID number | 01-41-B (WGCB) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Town Lattice truss |
| Total length | 43 ft (13 m) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1900 (rebuilt 2007) |
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Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
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| Designated: | January 25, 1997 |
The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge is a special wooden bridge in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It's also known as the Pea Ridge Covered Bridge. This bridge crosses over Rocky Brook and is found in Opelika. You can find it at Opelika Municipal Park, which is off North 5th Street.
This bridge was first built in 1900. It's 43 feet (13 meters) long and uses a special design called a Town Lattice truss. This design helps the bridge be very strong. The bridge was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1977. Sadly, a tree fell on it in 2005, destroying it at its first location near Salem. But don't worry, it was rebuilt in 2007 in Opelika Municipal Park! Today, the Opelika Kiwanis Club and the City of Opelika help take care of it.
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Bridge History
The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge was first built by a person named Otto Puls. Its original home was over Wacoochee Creek, near the community of Salem. This was about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of where it stands today.
Original Construction and Purpose
When it was first built, the bridge was much longer, at 76 feet (23 meters). It was made from strong longleaf pine wood. The roof was covered with cedar shakes, and the parts were held together with hand-carved white oak pegs. This bridge was very important because it made travel much faster between the towns of Salem and Shotwell.
Over the years, the bridge needed some repairs. The Lee County Commission even restored it in 1973. However, strong storms and high water kept damaging the bridge's supports. Because of this, the Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge was closed to cars in 1994. It was left to face the weather on its own.
Bridge Destruction and Recovery
In the early morning of June 4, 2005, a big thunderstorm hit the area. Strong winds caused a large tree to fall right onto the Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge. This caused a lot of damage. Later that day, the bridge completely fell into Wacoochee Creek.
This was very sad because it was the only historic covered bridge left in southeastern Alabama. But people didn't give up! Over the next few weeks, most of the bridge's pieces were found and saved. They were stored in a building in Opelika while people made plans for the bridge's future.
Moving and Rebuilding the Bridge
After many talks, the Lee County Commission decided to give the bridge pieces to the City of Opelika in October 2005. The Lee County Historical Society and the Opelika Kiwanis Club agreed to rebuild the bridge. They chose a new spot over Rocky Brook in Opelika Municipal Park.
The Opelika City Council also agreed to help with moving and fixing the bridge. The Opelika Kiwanis Club led the project. They started asking for donations to raise money for the big move. Many people, businesses, and groups gave money because they cared about saving this important piece of history.
Reconstruction Details
Work to rebuild the Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge began on February 2, 2007. The new spot over Rocky Brook was prepared first. Because of how many original pieces could be used and to fit the new location, the bridge was made shorter. It went from 76 feet to 43 feet long.
The builders kept the special Town Lattice truss design, using many of the original parts found in Wacoochee Creek. They made one change to the outside wooden sides. Now, the sides only cover the bottom part of the bridge. This lets people inside the bridge look out at the brook and the park. On the original bridge, most of the sides were covered to protect it from high water. Two lights were also put inside the bridge so it can be seen at night. The rebuilding project took about six months and cost around $60,000.
Reopening the Bridge
On August 14, 2007, a special ceremony was held at Opelika Municipal Park. The Salem-Shotwell Covered Bridge was officially opened to the public again. This meant that a piece of history was standing tall in Lee County once more!
