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Auchumpkee Creek Bridge

Auchumpkee Creek Bridge

Bridge NavigatorThe Auchumpkee Creek bridge was destroyed in the floods of 1994, after it's 100th birthday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided $166,000, and Upson County Historic Preservation Commission chairman Bobby C. Smith, a Thomaston real estate agent, helped raise over $42,000 for retrieving the leftover bridge members and restoring the bridge.

Construction LinkSee a new page with some great pictures taken July 3, 1997 when a team of horses pulled the bridge into place. The page documents a type of event not seen in Georgia since the beginning of the century (if then).

The photos below show progress of construction of the bridge (click for larger version). The framework of the bridge was rebuilt on the banks of the creek by Arnold Graton of New Hampshire using traditional construction techniques including wooden pegs ("trunnels") to hold the bridge together. After being pulled across the creek the bridge was placed on temporary dunnage until the stone abutments supporting the ends of the bridge can be built up higher than future floods. The roof was then put on, weatherboarding put in place, and the approaches were built.

Side View, Summer 1997 Side View, Fall 1997

After frame was dragged into place, Summer 1997

Working on the roof, Fall 1997

The dedication for this bridge took place during the nearby city of Thomaston's Covered Bridge Arts Festival October 9-11, 1998. For archival photos of this bridge, check out the Thomaston-Upson County archives. Also, see an article from the Atlanta Journal and Constitution about the bridge.

Abutment Detail
 Bearing Detail Roof Structure, Spring 1998 Old Bridge
Pier Detail Bearing Detail Roof Members Old Bridge

  • County: Upson
  • Other names: Hootenville Bridge
  • Length: 96 ft.
  • Width: ft.
  • Built: 1892, rebuilt 1997
  • Builder: W. Alford/Dr. J. Herring
  • Truss: Town lattice
  • Stream: Auchumpkee Creek
  • Road name: Adjacent to Allen Road
  • Traffic: No
  • WGCB Number: 10-145-02#2
  • Parking: Yes
  • Picnic area: Yes
  • Historic marker: No
  • Owner: Upson County
Washed Out Bridge, Summer, 1994

Washed out bridge, Summer 1994

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Updated September 19, 2002. 15:44

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