Tallahatchee Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tallahatchee CB |
|
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°53′16.13″N 85°37′33.70″W / 33.8878139°N 85.6260278°W |
| Carries | pedestrian traffic |
| Crosses | Nances Creek |
| Locale | Piedmont, Alabama |
| Maintained by | PRIVATE USE |
| ID number | 01-08-03 (WGCB) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Multiple King-post truss with Town Lattice combination |
| Total length | 61 ft (19 m) |
| History | |
| Construction end | ca. 1900 |
| Closed | Current status unknown. |
The Tallahatchee Covered Bridge, also known as the Prickett Covered Bridge, was a special kind of bridge. It was made of wood and metal and had a roof, like many old bridges. This bridge crossed a pond near Nances Creek in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. You could find it close to State Route 9, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) south of Piedmont.
The bridge was built around 1900. It was 61 feet (19 meters) long. It had a very rare design, combining two types of trusses: the Multiple King-post truss and the Town Lattice. Another bridge in Calhoun County, the Coldwater Covered Bridge, looks similar. The Tallahatchee Bridge was originally located near Wellington, Alabama. It was moved to its spot near Piedmont in 1975. We don't have much information about the bridge after it was moved. It might still be in private use today.
Contents
History of the Tallahatchee Bridge
Building the Bridge
The Tallahatchee Covered Bridge was first built over Tallasseehatchee Creek. A county bridge builder named Jim P. Nunnally, with help from Mose A. Prickett, built it. This was on what is now Old Sulphur Springs Road, southeast of Wellington. This first spot was about 23 miles (37 kilometers) southwest of where it was later moved. In 1908, strong concrete supports were added to the bridge.
From Road to Relic
The covered bridge was used by cars and trucks, mostly for local farms. But in 1954, a new, modern steel bridge was built nearby. This new bridge took over the traffic. The Tallahatchee Covered Bridge was then less used. People thought it could be a good tourist spot because of its unique design. The Calhoun County Commission tried to protect it. However, because it was in a faraway spot and not many people cared, it slowly started to fall apart.
A New Home for the Bridge
Years later, in 1974, two brothers, Larry K. Martin and Stanley M. Martin, became interested in the bridge. They bought it for their Nances Creek Restoration Project. This project was creating a reconstructed pioneer village and Appalachian crafts center. The brothers planned for the bridge to cross a pond near Nances Creek as part of this new village.
Moving the bridge was a big job. They started getting ready in late 1974. But bad weather delayed the move until the next year. In September 1975, the Tallahatchee Covered Bridge was carefully moved by a large truck. It traveled from Wellington to Piedmont. It was then placed in a field near Nances Creek. The Martin brothers had already been saving other old items for their project. They said the Nances Creek Restoration Project would take many years to finish.
Today, there is no new information about the Tallahatchee Covered Bridge after it was moved. We don't know if it still exists. The land where it was moved is private property, so it's important to respect that.
Other Bridges with Similar Names
There is another bridge called the Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge near Mentone, Alabama. Sometimes, people have also called this one the Tallahatchee Covered Bridge. But it is a different bridge. That bridge was originally near Lincoln, Alabama. It was moved to Lookout Mountain in 1972.
