Prather's Covered Bridge, Westminister South Carolina
The Prather's Bridge, located ten miles southwest of Westminister was constructed prior to the Civil War and was one of three remaining covered bridges in South Carolina maintained by State Highway Department, Noteworthy construction using cross-timbers and wooden pegs.
The bridge spanned the Tugaloo River and connected South Carolina to Georgia. The Bridge consisted of two spans, 158 feet long with town lattice truss, over river. There were two uncovered approach ramps, the South Carolina ramp was 90 feet long, and the other was 48 feet long.
In 1950 a fifteen foot center section of the bridge was destroyed by fire. It was painstakingly replaced so that the structure lost none of its original charm and appeal.
At some point it was by-passed with a concrete bridge.
In 1964 the South Carolina Highway Department was authorized by an act of the General Assembly to maintain and preserve three covered bridges in the state: Long Cane Covered Bridge, Prathers Bridge, and Chapman Bridge. All three have now been destroyed by fire
On April 8th, 1978 the Prather's Bridge was completely destroyed by a fire.
