Howard's Covered Bridge, Smithsonia Georgia

Date added: February 10, 2024

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Big Clouds Creek Covered Bridge was constructed in 1904-05 under the supervision of Mr. Hunt using county convict labor. Hunt had learned how to construct a Town Lattice bridge from Washington King, the builder of several covered bridges in Georgia and the son of Horace King, a former slave, who also built many covered bridges in Georgia. Rudolph T. Tucker, who lived within 200 yards of this bridge for some 88 years, recalled vividly the day it was completed March 5^th, 1905. This was four days after his 20^th birthday. All of the lumber used in constructing this bridge is heart pine and was obtained in South Georgia. It was shipped by rail to Smithsonia and from there carried by wagon to the bridge site.

This bridge is located in an historic section of Oglethorpe County which was created in 1793 and is one of Georgia's early counties. The Howard family settled in the area south of Big Clouds Creek in the early 1800s, and over the years the bridge has been known by the family name. On the north side of Big Clouds Creek, James Monroe Smith (1839-1915) came into the area after the Civil War to build up a large plantation and "acquire all the land next to his." His success is attested to by the fact that at the time of his death in 1915, he had over 20,000 acres of land under cultivation and had accumulated an estate valued at over two and a half million dollars by investments and farming. He created the town of Smithonia (changed to Smithsonia by the U. S. Postal Department) and had his own standard gauge steam railroad connecting his farm complex with the Georgia Railroad at Dunlap near Crawford, Georgia. The lumber for this covered bridge was shipped in over his railroad, the Smithonia and Dunlap Railroad.

Big Clouds Creek Covered Bridge is one of 21 covered bridges remaining in Georgia and one of only 13 still in use. Thirteen of Georgia's remaining covered bridges are built of the Town Lattice design and the Big Clouds Creek Covered Bridge is one of these. The Town Truss was designed and patented in 1820 by Ithiel Town, an architect of New Haven, Connecticut. Town realized the need for a covered bridge truss that could be quickly built by a carpenter and his was the first truly American design. The design consists of a web of light planks crisscrossed at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees, like a lattice, and fastened together with wooden pins or trunnels at each intersection. It is the most popular design for covered bridges. The Town Lattice design could be "built by the mile and cut off by the yard."

Bridge Description

Big Clouds Creek Covered Bridge spans Big Clouds Creek in Oglethorpe County, about three miles southeast of Smithsonia, Georgia, on State Route S2164, an unpaved road. The bridge is completely covered and extends 161 feet in length with one span. Each end of the bridge has an uncovered approach, constructed of wood, 15 feet long. The bridge is 16 feet wide and the full height of the bridge at center is 16½ feet. Vehicle clearance is 11 feet.

Construction is of the Town Lattice design made of rough-sawn heart pine. The diagonals are made of 3 x 10-inch timbers and the truss on each side is 14½ feet high. There are two pins at each intersection. There are two lower chords and one upper chord each made of 3 x 10-inch timbers and doubled. The lower chord on the west side, about 60 feet from the north end, is broken and a temporary crib of timbers has been placed underneath to support this side of the bridge. There is a list at this point and the bridge is somewhat weakened because of this. Originally, this bridge had a board or wooden shingle roof. The present roof is of metal and in good condition. This is the only change that has been made to its original appearance.

Each end of this bridge rests on a local stone pier held together with cement.

The sides are covered with pine boards and batten. The floor is decked with 3 x 10-inch timbers and there are longitudinal runners of random width 3-inch boards of oak with some as wide as 20 inches. The portals are plain and there is a one-foot overhang at the end and along the sides of this bridge. The floor sills are 4 x 10-inch timbers with joists of 3 x 6-inch timbers laid on top to support the floor.

This bridge is in fair condition and needs some repairs to the lower chord on the west side to make it structurally sound. The bridge is in use and sustains a moderate amount of traffic.

Big Clouds Creek Covered Bridge is listed as No. 10-109-01 in the "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., 1972 edition.