A Bridge of Oconee County

It’s impossible for me to see a covered bridge without being reminded of “The Bridges of Madison County”.  Remember that 1992 classic?  Robert James Waller’s book and the subsequent movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood?  “The film is about an Italian war bride, Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep), who lives with her husband and two children on their Iowa farm. In 1965, she meets National Geographic photojournalist, Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) who arrives in Madison County to photograph its historic covered bridges. They have a four-day love affair that forever changes them.” (from Wikipedia).
The Elder Mill Covered Bridge in Oconee County, Georgia isn’t nearly that dramatic.  It is, however, charmingly picturesque, over 120 years old and still operational.  It crosses Rose Creek on a quiet country road.

The historical marker tells the story of how the bridge was built in a different location, by Nathaniel Richardson in 1897, and then moved to the current location in 1924.
The Town lattice design, mentioned on the historical marker, comes into view as you walk into the bridge.  A network of closely spaced diagonal elements forms the “lattice”.
The lattice is clearly visible in the below photo.  Interestingly, there is a series of sequential numbers “16, 19, 18, 21, 20, 23, 22, 25, 24…” marked on the diagonal planks.  The Georgia Department of Transportation provides this explanation “The wooden members of the bridge were often cut off-site, including boring of the holes for trunnels, and assembled in place. Builders used a numbering system to allow easy onsite assembly of the bridge pieces in a “pre-fab” fashion; the numbers are still visible on lattice members in many bridges.”
Here’s a closer look at the trunnels, also called wooden pegs or tree-nails, used to connect the lattice planks.
According to Wikipedia, the wooden lattice bridge design was patented in 1820 by architect Ithiel Town. “The design was of great importance because it could be built quickly by relatively unskilled workers from readily available material. The design also avoided the need for the heavy piers needed for stone arches. The design was widely known throughout the world and made Town wealthy.”
The Elder Mill Covered Bridge is “one of the few covered bridges in Georgia continuing to carry traffic without underlying steel beams.”  It is a one-lane bridge which can accommodate average-sized vehicles.  Motorists are required to drive through a metal frame to ensure their vehicle can enter the bridge safely.  The small car seen in the below photo had plenty of clearance.
Some covered bridges have openings, or windows, along the sides but the Elder Mill Covered Bridge is completely closed in.  Wooden siding, as shown in the below photo, covers the sides of the bridge.
A short path takes the visitor down to Rose Creek.  There are large, smooth rocks and a gently flowing, shallow stream.  It’s a pleasant area for wading and exploring.  The area is somewhat restricted, however, as it is surrounded by private property.  No Trespassing and Private Property signs provide clear instruction.



The Elder Mill Covered Bridge is an interesting site yet it is off the beaten path and has few visitors.  I’ll be adding this historic site to my list of a “safe excursions”.  I’ll wrap up with one last look back at this gem from the past.

More Info

The Elder Mill Covered Bridge is featured on the Visit Oconee website and included in A Guide to Georgia’s Covered Bridges on the Explore Georgia website.

Today’s Takeaways

1. When it’s safe to venture out, consider short visits to out-of-the-way locations.
2. Get to know your local historical sites.
3. Consider the stories behind the landmarks from the past.