Horton Mill Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Horton Mill Covered Bridge is a state owned wooden covered bridge
that spans the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River
in Blount County, Alabama
, United States
. It is located on a river crossover (Horton Mill Road) to Ebell Road and Covered Bridge Circle off State Route 75 about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of the city of Oneonta
. Coordinates are 34°00′27.52"N 86°26′55.05"W (34.007644, -86.448625).
Built in 1934, the 220-foot (67-meter) bridge is a Town Lattice truss construction over two spans. Its WGCB
number is 01-05-07. The Horton Mill Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on December 29, 1970, the first covered bridge in the southeastern United States to be added. At 70 feet (21 m), it is the highest covered bridge above any U.S. waterway. It was reopened as of late 2009 after being closed in 2007 due to vandalism. Safety concerns remain an issue though, so the bridge can be closed again at any time (see section below). The bridge is currently not open to motor vehicle traffic. The Horton Mill Covered Bridge is maintained by the Alabama Historical Commission
, Blount County Commission and the Alabama Department of Transportation
.
Construction of the current Horton Mill Covered Bridge began in 1934 over a deep gorge cut by the river, led by Talmedge Horton...a family descendent of Thurman Horton. It took a 15-man crew 1½ years to complete the project. This crew included Zelmer C. Tidwell and his uncle, Forrest Tidwell, who helped in building three other prominent covered bridges in Blount County (Easley
, Nectar
, Swann
). The bridge was fully restored in 1974 by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Blount County Commission. It is one of three historic covered bridges remaining in Blount County.
The Horton Mill Covered Bridge was reported closed to motor traffic on September 27, 2007 due to unsafe conditions. According to a member on the photo website Flickr
as well as a report from the The Blount Countian, vandals attempted to remove some of the roof supports on the west side of the bridge by tying a cable or chain around them and attached the other end to either a tow hitch or hook...using a vehicle to try to pull them out, causing significant damage. A photo showing the damaged end of the Horton Mill Covered Bridge can be seen by clicking the reference link to Flickr below. The bridge was reopened to motor vehicle traffic in 2009 although significant maintenance is still needed and the bridge can be closed again at any time. It is unknown as to when the bridge will undergo necessary repairs.
The Blount County Commission is currently working to secure funds for structural analysis and conservation of its three remaining covered bridges. The other two covered bridges in Blount County were closed to motor vehicle traffic in 2009 due to safety concerns. According to signs posted on the nearby Easley Covered Bridge
, the Blount County Commission is being criticized for lack of maintenance to its covered bridges over recent years.
Total Span Length: 208.0 ft (63.4 m)
Deck Width: 11.2 ft (3.4 m)
Vertical Clearance: 8.5 ft (2.6 m)
Underclearance: 70.0 ft (21.3 m)
Above measurements are approximate and unofficial. Total span length is not always the same as total bridge length.
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...
that spans the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River
Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River
The Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River is a tributary of the Little Warrior River in the U.S. state of Alabama....
in Blount County, Alabama
Blount County, Alabama
Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 57,322. Its county seat is Oneonta.Blount County is a dry county.-History:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located on a river crossover (Horton Mill Road) to Ebell Road and Covered Bridge Circle off State Route 75 about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of the city of Oneonta
Oneonta, Alabama
Oneonta is a city in Blount County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 5,576. The city is the county seat of Blount County...
. Coordinates are 34°00′27.52"N 86°26′55.05"W (34.007644, -86.448625).
Built in 1934, the 220-foot (67-meter) bridge is a Town Lattice truss construction over two spans. Its WGCB
World Guide to Covered Bridges
The World Guide to Covered Bridges is a covered bridge numbering system. The system was invented by John Diehl, the chairman of the Ohio Covered Bridge Committee. The committee first used the numbering system in 1953 to publish a list of covered bridges in Ohio....
number is 01-05-07. The Horton Mill Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 29, 1970, the first covered bridge in the southeastern United States to be added. At 70 feet (21 m), it is the highest covered bridge above any U.S. waterway. It was reopened as of late 2009 after being closed in 2007 due to vandalism. Safety concerns remain an issue though, so the bridge can be closed again at any time (see section below). The bridge is currently not open to motor vehicle traffic. The Horton Mill Covered Bridge is maintained by the Alabama Historical Commission
Alabama Historical Commission
The Alabama Historical Commission is the historic preservation agency for the U. S. state of Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission of safeguarding Alabama’s historic buildings and sites. It consists of twenty members appointed by the state...
, Blount County Commission and the Alabama Department of Transportation
Alabama Department of Transportation
The Alabama Department of Transportation is the government agency responsible for transportation infrastructure in Alabama. The department is divided into nine geographical divisions, with a central office located in Montgomery.-External links:...
.
History
The original Horton Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1894 at the foot of Sand Mountain, about 3/4 mile (1 kilometer) downstream from the current bridge. It was named for a local business owned by Thurman M. Horton, who helped construct the first bridge. This bridge allowed residents of Sand Mountain a better means of access to nearby Oneonta as well as to Horton's mill and general store which were located along the east side of the Calvert Prong.Construction of the current Horton Mill Covered Bridge began in 1934 over a deep gorge cut by the river, led by Talmedge Horton...a family descendent of Thurman Horton. It took a 15-man crew 1½ years to complete the project. This crew included Zelmer C. Tidwell and his uncle, Forrest Tidwell, who helped in building three other prominent covered bridges in Blount County (Easley
Easley Covered Bridge
The Easley Covered Bridge, also known as the Old Easley Covered Bridge or Rosa Covered Bridge, is a county-owned wood and metal combination style covered bridge that spans Dub Branch of the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River in Blount County, Alabama, United States. It is located on Easley...
, Nectar
Nectar Covered Bridge
The Nectar Covered Bridge was a county owned wood & metal combination style covered bridge which spanned the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River in Blount County, Alabama, United States. It was located on Nectar Bridge Road off State Route 160 just east of the town of Nectar, about 14 miles ...
, Swann
Swann Covered Bridge
-History:The Swann Covered Bridge was built by a crew led by Zelmer C. Tidwelland his uncle Forrest Tidwell over a scenic gorge of the Locust Fork on property owned by the Swann Farm. It was originally dubbed the 'Joy Covered Bridge', as the bridge connected Cleveland with the nearby community of...
). The bridge was fully restored in 1974 by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Blount County Commission. It is one of three historic covered bridges remaining in Blount County.
The Horton Mill Covered Bridge was reported closed to motor traffic on September 27, 2007 due to unsafe conditions. According to a member on the photo website Flickr
Flickr
Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
as well as a report from the The Blount Countian, vandals attempted to remove some of the roof supports on the west side of the bridge by tying a cable or chain around them and attached the other end to either a tow hitch or hook...using a vehicle to try to pull them out, causing significant damage. A photo showing the damaged end of the Horton Mill Covered Bridge can be seen by clicking the reference link to Flickr below. The bridge was reopened to motor vehicle traffic in 2009 although significant maintenance is still needed and the bridge can be closed again at any time. It is unknown as to when the bridge will undergo necessary repairs.
The Blount County Commission is currently working to secure funds for structural analysis and conservation of its three remaining covered bridges. The other two covered bridges in Blount County were closed to motor vehicle traffic in 2009 due to safety concerns. According to signs posted on the nearby Easley Covered Bridge
Easley Covered Bridge
The Easley Covered Bridge, also known as the Old Easley Covered Bridge or Rosa Covered Bridge, is a county-owned wood and metal combination style covered bridge that spans Dub Branch of the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River in Blount County, Alabama, United States. It is located on Easley...
, the Blount County Commission is being criticized for lack of maintenance to its covered bridges over recent years.
Dimensions
Main Span Length: 80.1 ft (24.4 m)Total Span Length: 208.0 ft (63.4 m)
Deck Width: 11.2 ft (3.4 m)
Vertical Clearance: 8.5 ft (2.6 m)
Underclearance: 70.0 ft (21.3 m)
Above measurements are approximate and unofficial. Total span length is not always the same as total bridge length.