Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge, Hilton Georgia
The. Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge was constructed in 1883 by J. W. Baughman under orders of the Early County Board of Commissioners. On September 3rd, 1957, the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenue of Early County made the Peter Early Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, custodians of the bridge and they have carried out a program of protection for this bridge.
In 1958, the Georgia Historical Commission erected a marker for this bridge on Georgia Highway No. 62 at the intersection with the Old River Road. (Marker Number 049-8)
The Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge is one of 22 covered bridges remaining in Georgia and one of only 14 still in use. Four of Georgia's remaining covered bridges are built of the Kingpost design. The Kingpost truss is the oldest and simplest truss and is usually found on spans of lesser length. In the case of the Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge, the truss has been modified with additional reinforcing timbers and iron rods to make the spans of 54 feet.
The Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge has the distinction of being the southernmost covered bridge on a public highway in the United States.
Bridge Description
The Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge spans Coheelee Creek in Early County, Georgia, about two miles north of Hilton on Old River Road, an unpaved dirt road. The bridge is completely covered and extends 140 feet in length with two spans including approaches. The bridge is 14 feet wide and 15 feet high from the deck to the roof at the center of the bridge. The bridge rests on three concrete piers and two abutments.
The two spans are of a modified Kingpost type in that the apex of the triangle is surmounted by 6" x 12" timbers from which the compression timbers of like size slant downward and outward and two iron rods one and a half inches in diameter slant downward and inward. Each span is 54 feet long, hence the need for the center pier. All wood is rough-sawn heart pine. The bottom timbers supporting the deck are 8" x 12" in size. The deck is covered by 3" x 6" planks laid crosswise and longitudinal runners of the same material are laid on top to provide a smooth roadway for traffic. The sides are covered with vertical pine boards extending the full height of the bridge. The portals are of the plain barn type and do not provide any overhang. There is a concrete abutment on each side of Coheelee Creek and the bridge extends some 16 feet on each end from the pier to the abutment. These abutments of concrete were poured in 1958 to reinforce the approaches and entrance to the bridge. This work did not alter the appearance of the bridge. The roof is of corrugated metal and is in fair condition. The bridge is in good condition structurally but needs some repairs to the siding.
In April 1971, the upper part of the bridge was damaged by a produce truck whose height was too great to clear the bridge. Repairs were made soon after and the bridge continues in daily use.
The Coheelee Creek Covered Bridge is listed as No. 10-49-02 in the "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., 1965 edition.
Three-quarter side view looking southeast (1974)
