The Coldwater Covered Bridge, also known as the Hughes Mill Covered Bridge, is a locally owned wooden
covered bridge
A covered bridge is a timber-truss bridge with a roof, decking, and siding, which in most covered bridges create an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. Uncovered woo ...
that spans the outflow from Oxford Lake (marble springs) in
Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County is a county in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 116,441. Its county seat is Anniston. It was named in honor of John C. Calhoun, noted politician and US Senator from S ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It is located at Oxford Lake Park off
State Route 21 in the city of
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, about south of
Anniston.
Built circa 1850, the bridge is a rare construction of
Multiple King-post truss with
Town Lattice
A lattice bridge is a form of truss bridge that uses many small, closely spaced diagonal elements forming a lattice. The lattice Truss Bridge was patented in 1820 by architect Ithiel Town.
Originally a design to allow a substantial bridge to be ma ...
over a single span. The
Tallahatchee Covered Bridge, which was also located in Calhoun County, had a similar resemblance. Its
WGCB number is 01-08-01. As ''Coldwater Creek Covered Bridge'', it was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
on April 11, 1973.
[ It is currently the oldest existing covered bridge in Alabama. The bridge is maintained by the City of Oxford.
]
History
The Coldwater Covered Bridge was built by a former slave around 1850 (although some sources say it was built as early as 1839), originally located over Coldwater Creek on what is now Airport Road along the border of Calhoun and Talladega counties near the community of Coldwater (Coordinates (33.585914, -85.913)). This is about west of its current location. Nearby was Coldwater Mill, also known as Hughes Mill, a local saw and lumber mill owned by Peter N. Hughes and Humphrey Hughes. The bridge partially burned in the early morning hours of August 11, 1920 but was able to be repaired and remain open to motor vehicle traffic. A concrete and steel bridge eventually replaced the aging Coldwater Covered Bridge in 1974, which was soon left to temporarily survive the elements. In 1990, the bridge was fully restored and moved to Oxford Lake Park. The tin roof which was originally on the covered bridge has been replaced with a shingled roof. It is now one of many visited tourist attractions within the Anniston area.
See also
*List of Alabama covered bridges
Below is a present list of Alabama covered bridges. There are currently eleven historic covered bridges remaining in the U.S. state of Alabama. Of those, six remain at their original locations.
The comparison between authentic and non-authentic c ...
References
* Dale J. Travis Covered Bridges
Coldwater CB: Credits
Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* Bridges to the Past: Alabama's Covered Bridges
Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel
Coldwater CB: Credits
Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* ''The Decatur Daily''
Coldwater CB: Credits
Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* Alabamiana: A Guide to Alabama
Retrieved Aug. 15, 2007.
* UglyBridges.com
Coldwater CB: Credits
Retrieved Aug. 12, 2013.
* ''The Anniston Star'' (August 11, 1920), page 5. Retrieved Aug. 12, 2013.
* LostBridges.org
Coldwater CB: Credits
Retrieved Aug. 12, 2013.
* Bridgehunter.com
Coldwater CB: Credits
Retrieved Aug. 13, 2013.
* The Southern Reporter
Coldwater CB: Credits
Retrieved Jun. 3, 2014.
External links
Bridges to the Past: Alabama's Covered Bridges
{{Registered Historic Places
Bridges completed in 1850
National Register of Historic Places in Calhoun County, Alabama
Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Alabama
Wooden bridges in Alabama
Transportation buildings and structures in Calhoun County, Alabama
Tourist attractions in Calhoun County, Alabama
Oxford, Alabama
Relocated buildings and structures in Alabama
Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Alabama
Lattice truss bridges in the United States