Elizabethton Covered Bridge, Tennessee by tennesseecowgirl
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Description
Built in 1882. The Elizabethton Covered Bridge is located in downtown Elizabethton, the county seat of Carter County. Connecting 3rd Street and Hattie Avenue, the bridge is adjacent to a city park and spans the Doe River. As the county seat, Elizabethton grew throughout the 1800s. However, Lynn Mountain hemmed it in to the east and the Watuaga River lay to the north. The Doe River flooded often and limited growth to the south. To span westward, to the site of the current downtown, the city would need a bridge over the Doe River. After extensive debate, in 1882 the County Court approved $3,000 for the bridge and $300 for approaches. The court appointed a committee to select a site for the bridge. However, the committee encountered an unexpected problem - the men could not find a qualified contractor to erect the bridge. After county officials were unable to find a bridge contractor, a local doctor, E.E. Hunter, accepted the contract and hired experienced people to work on the bridge. Hunter selected Thomas Matson, who had been an engineer for the Narrow Gauge (Tweetsie) Railroad as an engineer and architect. Hunter referred to the bridge as his "$5 bridge" since he made a profit of $5 as contractor. Although logs from a lumber operation and a barn were thrown against the bridge and its supports during a disastrous flood in 1901, this was the only major bridge in the area to survive. Most of Elizabethton's downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historical and architectural merits. The Elizabethton Historic District contains a variety of properties ranging in age from the late 1700s through the 1930s. However, the Elizabethton Covered Bridge is a focal point and a well-known landmark in the state. In addition to this bridge, the district also contains a significant 1926 concrete arch bridge over the Doe River, rehabilitated in 2004. Structurally, the bridge contains one span, a covered wooden Howe Truss that is 137 feet long. The total length is 154.3 feet. The bridge contains one traffic lane and a single walkway. The curb-to-curb width is 16.4 feet and the out-to-out width is 20.4 feet. The substructure is masonry stone and concrete. Each end of the bridge features a projecting truncated gabled roofline.
Thanks to all for your support and comments and views on my last upload. The one below is another covered bridge in the area.
Emerts Cove Covered Bridge, Tennessee
Comments (41)
tallpindo
The story of this is very enterprising. The organization of that era far differs from today. Quite an exhibit.
ElizaB
interesting captures...great results
kbatty
Beautiful!
morganahope
OH... YOUR PHOTO ARE BEAUTIFUL HISTORY !! TANKS TO SHARING TO US !!!
emmecielle
Wonderful capture and interesting informations!!! :)
magnus073
What a truly amazing covered bridge, one of the most beautiful I've ever seen Lynell
PD154
Wonderful shot :)
Vik9740
I prefer the old time look of the Emeret's Cove type bridge but this one is a beauty too! We'll have to ride over and see those. I love those bridges!! I aim to make it to Vermont and see theirs some day!
ShadowsNTime
Holy cow! $5 profit, lol, how strange that sounds today. But then I have a copy of the hospital bill when I was born, $10 and then a note attached said there was a 'gift' of so many chickens and vegetables for the balance for medicines. Great history and a wonderful shot Lynell!
flora-crassella
beautiful photo of this for me “unreal” bridge! This kind of bridges does not give it with us.
GBCalls
The one rod width was typical of older travel bridges. Excellent side capture!
MrsLubner
Those are some wonderful straight lines - nice shot!
CavalierLady
What a unique design, not like the ones we see from the Northeast. Interesting history and a nice shot.
fredster66
Amazing shot! I had to take a double take for this amazing architecture to sink in...
kimariehere
what a wonderful old covered wooden bridge must be so wonderful to live in a place like this~!
jocko500
wow this is something to see
Mad-Mike
Very interesting design really!!! cool capture :-)
bluedarkmoon
WOW!!! This is absolutely stunning and gorgeous, never saw a bridge like this 5++++
goodoleboy
Elizabethton Covered Bridge, Tennessee? Now, that is a real mouthful, young lady! And I also have never seen a structure like this, which you masterfully captured. Stellar textures and stratification of the elements in this shot, Lynell!
blondeblurr
I had to do a double-take on this, ('cause we don't have covered bridges like that) and the POV with those added side-bits made th over-all shape look strange. Never-the-less, interesting shot. Cheers BB
Loves61
Oh what a lovely covered bridge! And wonderful history as well. Definitely a great photo shot!
Iceshark39
Spectacular capture and facinating information! Great work!
West_coaster07
Nicely captured and great post work!!
rainbows
Beautiful bridge and weir. A wonderful shot, Lynell. Hugs. Di. xx
ledwolorz
beautiful capture.
anahata.c
some of your photographs have magic, tthey seem like they were dropped out of the heavens...this bridge, beautiful in itself, seems 'thought' into the scene, placed there by a spirit. It's wholly physical but it's so present, it seems to make the rest of its surroundings subservient. And those surroundings are these sumptuous layers, of beautiful blue hills and deep sky, beautiful deep-green trees, your water which is like a sheet of glass, and the exquisite falls in front which fall into a truly luminous blue. Then one keeps going back to the bridge: It couldn't have been given a better setting. And it reminds one that in the out of the way places of almost anywhere, one can find jewels sitting there as if nothing else mattered, and happy to sing their song if someone merely comes along and asks. You asked, it sang, and it's beautiful.
LudyMelltSekher
Hello my dear friend, Precious and brilliant photography, Impressive!! Congratulations!! All you artwork is Very Beautiful!! It is a real pleasure to visit your gallery. A million stars from me.**Thanks you very much for you comments. Hug and kiss in Your heart.Luminous Blessings.Ludy (Sorry by signing so late)
hipps13
cool capture warm hug, Linda
pjd1961
Nice Photo and history of this wonderful bridge. Great job :)
DMWVCS
You live in one of the most beautiful areas on earth, judging by your pics!!! Thanks for posting all your LOVELY images!!! David