Coldwater Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Coldwater Covered Bridge is a locally owned wooden covered bridge
that spans the inlet to Oxford Lake in Calhoun County, Alabama
, United States
. It is located at Oxford Lake Park off State Route 21 in the city of Oxford
, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of Anniston
. As Coldwater Creek Covered Bridge, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
Built in 1850, the 60-foot (18-meter) bridge is a Multiple King-post truss
construction over a single span. Its WGCB
number is 01-08-01. The Coldwater Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on April 11, 1973. It is currently the oldest existing covered bridge in Alabama. The bridge is maintained by the City of Oxford.
counties near the community of Coldwater (Coordinates 33°35′9.29"N 85°54′46.8"W (33.585914, -85.913)). This is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of its current location. The bridge partially burned in 1920 but was able to be repaired and remain open to motor traffic. A concrete bridge eventually replaced the aging Coldwater Covered Bridge, which was soon left to temporarily survive the elements. In 1990, the bridge was fully restored and moved to Oxford Lake Park. It is now one of many visited tourist attractions within the Anniston area.
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 inlet to Oxford Lake in Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located at Oxford Lake Park off State Route 21 in the city of Oxford
Oxford, Alabama
Oxford is a city in Calhoun and Talladega counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 14,592 at the 2000 census. Oxford is one of two principal cities of and included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of Anniston
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
. As Coldwater Creek Covered Bridge, it 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...
in 1973.
Built in 1850, the 60-foot (18-meter) bridge is a Multiple King-post truss
King post
A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:...
construction over a single span. 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 01-08-01. The Coldwater 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 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 in 1850 (although some sources say as early as 1839), originally located over Coldwater Creek on what is now Airport Road along the border of Calhoun and TalladegaTalladega County, Alabama
Talladega County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Talladega is a Muscogee Native American word derived from TVLVTEKE, which means "border town." As of 2010, the population was 82,291...
counties near the community of Coldwater (Coordinates 33°35′9.29"N 85°54′46.8"W (33.585914, -85.913)). This is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of its current location. The bridge partially burned in 1920 but was able to be repaired and remain open to motor traffic. A concrete bridge eventually replaced the aging Coldwater Covered Bridge, which was soon left to temporarily survive the elements. In 1990, the bridge was fully restored and moved to Oxford Lake Park. It is now one of many visited tourist attractions within the Anniston area.