Oakachoy Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Oakachoy Covered Bridge (sometimes spelled 'Okachoy'), also known as the Thomas Covered Bridge, was a county owned wooden covered bridge
which spanned Oakachoy Creek in Coosa County, Alabama
, United States
. It was located in a remote area on the dirt portion of Newman Road off State Route 259
northeast of the community of Nixburg, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Alexander City
. Coordinates are 32°50′56.58"N 86°02′48.31"W (32.84905, -86.046753).
Built in 1916, the 56-foot (17-meter) bridge was a modified Queen-post truss
construction over a single span. Its WGCB
number is 01-19-01. The Oakachoy Covered Bridge was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
on October 28, 1977.
It was then listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on September 23, 2001, but removed a few days later after finding out the bridge had been destroyed. It was one of the shortest covered bridges built in Alabama. The Oakachoy Covered Bridge was burned down by vandals on June 2, 2001, ending the existence of the only remaining historic covered bridge in Coosa County. It was maintained by the Coosa County Commission.
in Coosa County and Dadeville
in Tallapoosa County. It is unknown when the bridge was closed to motor traffic in later years or when it was restored. Nearby are ruts which were forded in Oakachoy Creek by pioneer wagons over 150 years ago. All that remains of the Oakachoy Covered Bridge site are the stone foundations and a wooden post on the east side of the creek which shows obvious charring. Even though the bridge is gone, it is said the site is still haunted by a slave who was lynched and eventually hung inside the bridge many years ago. A major downplay to this legend though is that slavery was abolished throughout the United States with the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution
in 1865 and the Oakachoy Covered Bridge was known to be the only covered bridge bridge built at the site which wasn't until 1916...well after the end of the American Civil War
. There were other bridges constructed in the vicinity before the Oakachoy Covered Bridge which were short lived.
Photos of the Oakachoy Covered Bridge can be found on a covered bridge website created by Dale J. Travis (linked below).
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...
which spanned Oakachoy Creek in Coosa County, Alabama
Coosa County, Alabama
Coosa County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name derives from a town of the Creek tribe. As of 2010 the population was 11,539, but since that time it has lost the most population by percentage of any Alabama county...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was located in a remote area on the dirt portion of Newman Road off State Route 259
Alabama State Route 259
State Route 259 or SR-259 is a route serving as a connection between State Route 9 at Equality with State Route 22 in southwest Alexander City.-Route description:The southern terminus of the route is at its intersection with State Route 9 in Equality...
northeast of the community of Nixburg, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Alexander City
Alexander City, Alabama
Alexander City is the principal city of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and had a combined population of 53,677 at the 2000 census....
. Coordinates are 32°50′56.58"N 86°02′48.31"W (32.84905, -86.046753).
Built in 1916, the 56-foot (17-meter) bridge was a modified Queen-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 01-19-01. The Oakachoy Covered Bridge was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, commonly referred to as the Alabama Register, is an official listing of buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts deemed worthy of preservation in the U.S. state of Alabama. These properties, which may be of national, state, and local...
on October 28, 1977.
It was then 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 September 23, 2001, but removed a few days later after finding out the bridge had been destroyed. It was one of the shortest covered bridges built in Alabama. The Oakachoy Covered Bridge was burned down by vandals on June 2, 2001, ending the existence of the only remaining historic covered bridge in Coosa County. It was maintained by the Coosa County Commission.
History
The Oakachoy Covered Bridge was built by Melton Harris of homemade timber at a cost of $400.00 for connecting two county seats, RockfordRockford, Alabama
Rockford is a town in Coosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 477. The town is the county seat of Coosa County and is part of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Coosa County and Dadeville
Dadeville, Alabama
Dadeville is a city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,212. The city is the county seat of Tallapoosa County.Dadeville is part of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Tallapoosa County. It is unknown when the bridge was closed to motor traffic in later years or when it was restored. Nearby are ruts which were forded in Oakachoy Creek by pioneer wagons over 150 years ago. All that remains of the Oakachoy Covered Bridge site are the stone foundations and a wooden post on the east side of the creek which shows obvious charring. Even though the bridge is gone, it is said the site is still haunted by a slave who was lynched and eventually hung inside the bridge many years ago. A major downplay to this legend though is that slavery was abolished throughout the United States with the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
in 1865 and the Oakachoy Covered Bridge was known to be the only covered bridge bridge built at the site which wasn't until 1916...well after the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. There were other bridges constructed in the vicinity before the Oakachoy Covered Bridge which were short lived.
Photos of the Oakachoy Covered Bridge can be found on a covered bridge website created by Dale J. Travis (linked below).