Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge, more simply known as Gilliland's Covered Bridge, is a locally owned wooden covered bridge
that spans a small pond near Black Creek in Etowah County, Alabama
, United States
. It is located at Noccalula Falls Park
off Noccalula Road (State Route 211
) in the city of Gadsden
. Coordinates are 34°02′21.79"N 86°01′26.93"W (34.039386, -86.024147). Noccalula Falls Park is also home to the 90-foot (27 m) Noccalula Falls, part of Black Creek as it cascades down into a ravine from a ledge off Lookout Mountain. There are a couple of sources which state the bridge spans Clayton Fish Pond, but that is over a mile (2 kilometers) west of the park along a rural section of Hinds Road.
Built in 1899, the 85-foot (26 m) bridge is a Stringer truss construction over a single span. Its current WGCB
number is 01-28-C, formerly 01-28-02. The Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge is one of five existing covered bridges in Alabama built before 1950 not listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Although most sources spell the second part of the name as "Reese," it is actually named after the town of Reece City
where the bridge was originally located. There is an admission charge to visit Noccalula Falls Park (Noccalula Falls itself is excluded), which also includes a pioneer village along with a botanical garden
. The bridge is maintained by the City of Gadsden.
. No other structures of the Gilliland Plantation are known to remain. The bridge was fully restored and moved to Noccalula Falls Park in 1967. Most of the Town Lattice truss setup was removed during restoration, making it more of a Stringer truss construction. Another piece of history added to an already historic setting.
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 a small pond near Black Creek in Etowah County, Alabama
Etowah County, Alabama
Etowah County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is from the Cherokee language, which means "edible tree". It is the center of the Gadsden Metropolitan Area which includes Etowah and Cherokee Counties. As of 2010 the population was 104,430. Its county seat is Gadsden...
, 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 Noccalula Falls Park
Noccalula Falls Park
Noccalula Falls Park[p] is a 250-acre public park located in Gadsden, Alabama .The falls are located on land once owned by R.A. Mitchell, who gave the site to the city of Gadsden, so that the area could be improved, and everyone could enjoy the majestic falls. Across the street from the falls you...
off Noccalula Road (State Route 211
Alabama State Route 211
State Route 211 or SR-211 is a state highway that serves as a connection between Gadsden and Interstate 59 in Reece City in central Etowah County. SR-211 intersects US-278 at its southern terminus and US-11 at its northern terminus.-Route description:...
) in the city of Gadsden
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
. Coordinates are 34°02′21.79"N 86°01′26.93"W (34.039386, -86.024147). Noccalula Falls Park is also home to the 90-foot (27 m) Noccalula Falls, part of Black Creek as it cascades down into a ravine from a ledge off Lookout Mountain. There are a couple of sources which state the bridge spans Clayton Fish Pond, but that is over a mile (2 kilometers) west of the park along a rural section of Hinds Road.
Built in 1899, the 85-foot (26 m) bridge is a Stringer truss construction over a single span. Its current 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 01-28-C, formerly 01-28-02. The Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge is one of five existing covered bridges in Alabama built before 1950 not 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...
. Although most sources spell the second part of the name as "Reese," it is actually named after the town of Reece City
Reece City, Alabama
Reece City is a town in Etowah County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 634.-Geography:Reece City is located at .According to the U.S...
where the bridge was originally located. There is an admission charge to visit Noccalula Falls Park (Noccalula Falls itself is excluded), which also includes a pioneer village along with a botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
. The bridge is maintained by the City of Gadsden.
History
The Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge was constructed in 1899 by a crew under the direction of Etowah County Commissioner Jesse Gilliland...a Town Lattice truss made of rough-hewn lumber and covered with weathered shingles, originally located over Little Wills Creek at Gilliland Plantation in the vicinity of present-day Bethany Sitz Gap Road near Reece City (Coordinates 34°04′17.66"N 86°01′50.67"W (34.071572, -86.030742)). The bridge provided a crossing over the creek, thus improving area transportation, and also was a favorite meeting place. Eventually, the Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge was replaced in the 1920s by the new Reeceville Road. In 1966, the bridge was donated to the City of Gadsden by the family of Judge H. Ross Gilliland as it was threatened by the construction of Interstate 59Interstate 59
Interstate 59 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is near Slidell, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, at an intersection with Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, its northern terminus is at Wildwood, Georgia, at an intersection with Interstate 24.The road's...
. No other structures of the Gilliland Plantation are known to remain. The bridge was fully restored and moved to Noccalula Falls Park in 1967. Most of the Town Lattice truss setup was removed during restoration, making it more of a Stringer truss construction. Another piece of history added to an already historic setting.