How Many Covered Bridges are There
in Georgia?
As straightforward a question as this might seem, there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. Also, depending on how the question is asked, the number will vary. If you ask how many historic bridges the answer might be 12: Coheelee, Concord, Cromer's Mill, Elder's Mill, Euharlee Creek, Howard's Bridge, Lula, Poole's Mill, Big Red Oak Creek, Stone Mountain Bridge, Stovall Mill, and Watson Mill. Even so, at least two of these (Concord and Stone Mountain) are now supported on steel beams so that they can safely carry automobile traffic. Could such a major upgrade disqualify these bridges as historic?
The bridge at Callaway Gardens could probably be included in the total, but it's condition is unknown and I have no recent pictures of it. It was moved from its original location in Troup County, disassembled, shortened, and reconstructed in Callaway Gardens before being moved again to its present location which is inaccessible to the public.
The other Watson's Mill Bridge, in George L. Smith State Park, is historic, but the primary purpose is as a mill, not a bridge. Therefore the World Guide to Covered Bridges gives it an M designation in it's I.D. number. Should it be included with the other bridges nonetheless?
The bridge at Auchumpkee Creek was washed out in 1994 and was rebuilt only recently. Though it used traditional construction techniques and some of the original wood, it would be a stretch to call it a historic structure.
Rockdale County's bridge, certainly not historic, has a wooden cover and a wooden deck but it is otherwise a thoroughly modern bridge, the load being carried by prestressed concrete beams on top of a reinforced concrete foundation supported by steel h-piling.
The World Guide shows another bridge in Forsyth County on private property of the Mashburn Estate, but I have no other information on this bridge and the World Guide shows some bridges that have been destroyed.
There are a number of other bridges in Georgia that are covered, but are not counted here. Mostly these are on golf courses or are privately held and some are even made to look like authentic covered bridges although most do not use traditional construction techniques. I have not counted any of these.
So perhaps the correct answer to "How many covered bridges in Georgia?" might be: 13 (but maybe 12 or 14), as well as one mill, one reconstruction, and one modern bridge that is covered.
On these pages you will often see references to the 12 bridges mentioned in the group above, but I have pages for 16.
Updated September 18, 2002. 11:36
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