Waldo Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Waldo Covered Bridge, also known as the Riddle Mill Covered Bridge, is a privately owned wood & metal combination style covered bridge
that spans Talladega Creek in Talladega County, Alabama
, United States
. It is located off State Route 77
just south of the town of Waldo
, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southeast of Talladega
. Coordinates are 33°22′44.78"N 86°01′43.87"W (33.379106, -86.028853).
Built in 1858, the 115-foot (35 m) bridge is a combination of Howe truss and Queen-post truss
construction over a single span. Its WGCB
number is 01-61-02. The Waldo Covered Bridge is one of five existing covered bridges in Alabama built before 1950 not listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and the only one left unmaintained. It is the second oldest surviving covered bridge in the state.
. The bridge was used as an access route in April 1865 by Wilson's Raid
ers during the American Civil War
, a cavalry
group led by Union Army
General
James H. Wilson
. The bridge was open to traffic in later years, possibly for mine access during its operation, but condemned by the state in the 1960s and the approaches removed as overall maintenance remained minimal. Even though there was extensive restoration work done to the Waldo Covered Bridge in recent years as part of establishing a recreational park, the project was soon scrapped. As a result, the structure was left to sit on its two stone piers "as is." The Waldo Covered Bridge is currently inaccessible to the public but people can walk the grounds with permission from the Old Mill Restaurant. There were plans by the owners to once again restore the bridge, but time and money have been major issues.
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 Talladega Creek in Talladega County, Alabama
Talladega 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located off State Route 77
Alabama State Route 77
State Route 77 or SR-77 is a north–south highway in eastern Alabama that runs from U.S. Highway 431 near Lafayette and ends at U.S. Highway 431 just north of Attalla...
just south of the town of Waldo
Waldo, Alabama
Waldo is a town in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 281.-Geography:Waldo is located at .According to the U.S...
, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southeast of Talladega
Talladega
Talladega can have multiple uses:*Talladega, Alabama, a city in northern Alabama, USA*Talladega County, Alabama, which has the city of Talladega as its seat*Talladega National Forest in Alabama...
. Coordinates are 33°22′44.78"N 86°01′43.87"W (33.379106, -86.028853).
Built in 1858, the 115-foot (35 m) bridge is a combination of Howe truss and Queen-post truss
Queen post
A queen post is a supporting post designed to span longer openings than a king post. A king post uses one central supporting post, whereas the queen post uses two.-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 01-61-02. The Waldo 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...
and the only one left unmaintained. It is the second oldest surviving covered bridge in the state.
History
The Waldo Covered Bridge was built on an old Socopatoy Indian trail behind Riddle's Mill, a grist mill which was later converted into the Waldo Town Hall and then a restaurant. Nearby is the Riddle's Hole gold mine, which operated from 1840 through World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The bridge was used as an access route in April 1865 by Wilson's Raid
Wilson's Raid
Wilson's Raid was a cavalry operation through Alabama and Georgia in March–April 1865, late in the American Civil War. Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson led his Union Army Cavalry Corps to destroy Southern manufacturing facilities and was opposed unsuccessfully by a much smaller force under ...
ers during 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...
, a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
group led by Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
James H. Wilson
James H. Wilson
James Harrison Wilson was a United States Army topographic engineer, a Union Army Major General in the American Civil War and later wars, a railroad executive, and author.-Early life and engineering:...
. The bridge was open to traffic in later years, possibly for mine access during its operation, but condemned by the state in the 1960s and the approaches removed as overall maintenance remained minimal. Even though there was extensive restoration work done to the Waldo Covered Bridge in recent years as part of establishing a recreational park, the project was soon scrapped. As a result, the structure was left to sit on its two stone piers "as is." The Waldo Covered Bridge is currently inaccessible to the public but people can walk the grounds with permission from the Old Mill Restaurant. There were plans by the owners to once again restore the bridge, but time and money have been major issues.