Coral Springs Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Coral Springs Covered Bridge is a 40 ft covered bridge
located in Coral Springs, Florida
and was the first permanent structure built in the city. It has also been honored with a Florida Heritage Site Marker
.
Originally painted barn red, James S. Hunt, president of Coral Ridge Properties
, wanted to convey a sense of the Old South
on the otherwise barren landscape. Hunt's vision for Coral Springs was of a totally planned "City in the Country" with brick colonial-style public buildings, boulevards planted with flowers and the Covered Bridge as its centerpiece.
, for chewing tobacco
designs to make the bridge appear more "seasoned". The company supplied two designs plus an artist to paint the murals. The Bull of the Woods logo on the east side of the bridge was first used in 1876. The Peach Snuff logo on the west side was created in 1950 to appeal to females.
When the eye wall of Hurricane Cleo
passed over Coral Springs in August 1964, the bridge was left relatively undamaged. In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma
passed over the city, and again the structure sustained little damage.
The bridge has the distinction of a Florida Heritage Site Marker
in recognition of its architecture and historical significance to the state. The Covered Bridge is depicted in Coral Springs' city seal.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
located in Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, officially chartered July 10, 1963, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, approximately northwest of Fort Lauderdale. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 121,096...
and was the first permanent structure built in the city. It has also been honored with a Florida Heritage Site Marker
Florida Heritage Landmark
A Florida Heritage Landmark is a designation given by the state of Florida that recognizes significant events, places, or people relating to architecture, history, or other Florida specific culture....
.
Structure and design
It was designed by George Hodapp and constructed in early 1964 by Lewie Mullins, and George Porter, all Coral Ridge Properties employees. The 40-foot bridge has a single steel span that crosses N.W. 95th Avenue just south of Wiles Road. Its roof is composed of 25 truss rafters, cross braces and stringers and is covered with shingles.Originally painted barn red, James S. Hunt, president of Coral Ridge Properties
WCI Communities
WCI Communities, Inc. is an American home builder. The company offers single family and condominium homes. WCI also provides design, construction, financing, land purchases, marketing, and community management services. The company operates realty, mortgage, and title businesses. WCI is based in...
, wanted to convey a sense of the Old South
Old South
Geographically, Old South is a subregion of the American South, differentiated from the "Deep South" as being the Southern States represented in the original thirteen American colonies, as well as a way of describing the former lifestyle in the Southern United States. Culturally, the term can be...
on the otherwise barren landscape. Hunt's vision for Coral Springs was of a totally planned "City in the Country" with brick colonial-style public buildings, boulevards planted with flowers and the Covered Bridge as its centerpiece.
History
James S. Hunt contacted the American Snuff Company in Winston-Salem, North CarolinaWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, for chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco (also known colloquially as hoobastank, backy, tobac, doogooos,Hogleg, chewpoos, chits, chewsky, chawsky, dip, flab, chowers, guy, or a wad, as well as referred to as dipsky, snuff, a pinch, a yopper, a Packing a bomb, a tobbackey or packing a...
designs to make the bridge appear more "seasoned". The company supplied two designs plus an artist to paint the murals. The Bull of the Woods logo on the east side of the bridge was first used in 1876. The Peach Snuff logo on the west side was created in 1950 to appeal to females.
When the eye wall of Hurricane Cleo
Hurricane Cleo
Hurricane Cleo was the third named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 1964 Atlantic hurricane season. Cleo was one of the longest-lived storms of the season...
passed over Coral Springs in August 1964, the bridge was left relatively undamaged. In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
passed over the city, and again the structure sustained little damage.
Present day
Over the years, the bridge and murals have been restored but are visibly abstruse as trees, (that were planted since after the opening) have grown along the sides of the road and canal. This directs many people to suspect that the “Bridge Clearance” signs on Wiles Road are misplaced. However, the signs do mark the true location of the only covered bridge in the state of Florida in the public right-of-way.The bridge has the distinction of a Florida Heritage Site Marker
Florida Heritage Landmark
A Florida Heritage Landmark is a designation given by the state of Florida that recognizes significant events, places, or people relating to architecture, history, or other Florida specific culture....
in recognition of its architecture and historical significance to the state. The Covered Bridge is depicted in Coral Springs' city seal.