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Coheelee Creek Bridge - Phone: 229-723-3741 - In Blakely, GA (Early Co.)
Bridge Description: This bridge was built in 1891 by J. W. Baughman and is 96 feet long. The truss style is Modified Queen Post. It is at the Coheelee Creek. Thee is a historic marker, picnic area and parking area. It has also been know as Bridge at McDonald's Ford.
This bridge is the southernmost (historic/authentic) covered bridge in the United States. The late Dr. John H. Goff, University of Georgia, studied unique Georgia placenames for many years and wrote a series of articles on them. He explains the variation in many Indian names come from the switching back and forth from the Indian dialects to English and then back to the dialects again. And so the name COHEELEE is a good example of this practice. In the 1820's this narrow rambling creek, that rises about "a half mile" west of Blakely, was labeled "BIG CREEK" on surveyor Robert Kennedy's map but according to Mary Grist Whitehead, "somehow the Indian name survived and was preferred by the early settlers." -From "Covered Bridges of Georgia" by Thomas L. French, Jr. & Edward L. French.
Built in 1891, this bridge uses steel rods as tension members in it's truss design. The result is similar to a queen post or Warren truss. The angled rods make the bridge unique, certainly in Georgia if not the entire US. The use of steel rods was fairly common for the late 19th century and can also be seen on the Concord Road Bridge and the Lula Bridge.
Directions: From Columbus, go 89 miles south to Blakely and then 9 miles southwest off Hwy. 62. In the Plantation Trace tourist region. |
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