Smithonia in Oglethorpe County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Howard's Covered Bridge

Photographed By Marty Pickett, September 12, 2019

1. Howard's Covered Bridge Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1904-05 to replace an earlier structure, this bridge bears the name of a pioneer family who settled near Big Cloud’s Creek in the late 1700s. Constructed in the Town lattice design using convict labor, the 164-foot bridge’s web of planks crisscrosses at 45-to 60-degree angles and are fastened with wooden pegs, or trunnels, at each intersection. The south Georgia timber used in the bridge was transported to Smithonia via the Smith and Dunlap Railroad, a standard gauge steam railroad connecting the farm complex of James Monroe Smith with the Georgia Railroad at Dunlap.

Erected 2000 by Georgia Historical Society, Georgia Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration. (Marker Number 109-2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the Covered Bridges, and the Georgia Historical Society series lists.

Location. 33° 59.19′ N, 83° 8.004′ W. Marker is in Smithonia, Georgia, in Oglethorpe County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Chandler Silver Road (County Route 311) and Smithonia Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Colbert GA 30628, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

as the crow flies. Cloud's Creek Baptist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Watson Mill Bridge (approx. 4.3 miles away); Morris Marion Bryan (approx. 4.4 miles away); Grove Hill Militia District Courthouse (approx. 5.7 miles away); Hart Mercantile Company (approx. 5.7 miles away); Madison County Confederates (approx. 5.8 miles away); William Harris Crawford (approx. 7.3 miles away); A Memorial to William Harris Crawford (approx. 7.3 miles away); Wm H Crawford (approx. 7.3 miles away); Veterans of Oglethorpe County (approx. 7.3 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Howard's Covered Bridge. This bridge goes over the Red Oak Creek. It was build in 1840 and is 252.5 feet long. It's truss is town lattice style. It is not open for traffic. It has a historic marker and there is parking on the side of the road. It is also known as the Imlac Bridge. (Submitted on October 23, 2014, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

2. Howard's Covered Bridge. Howard's Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge outside of Smithonia, Georgia in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1975. (Submitted on October 23, 2014, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

3. Smithonia & Dunlap Railroad. This seven-mile Oglethorpe County line

Photographed By David Seibert, September 3, 2011

2. Howard's Covered Bridge Marker

had the distinction of being built by a farmer to serve his farm. James Monroe Smith needed to haul the products of his plantation, the state's largest at thirty square miles, to market, so after lay-by time in 1888 he put his workers to the task of constructing a railroad. The line was finished in February of the following year. It connected Smithonia, the center of Smith's agricultural enterprises, to the Georgia Railroad at Dunlap, a couple of miles southeast of Winterville. (Submitted on October 23, 2014, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

Photographed By David Seibert, September 3, 2011

3. Howard's Covered Bridge Marker

Howard's Covered Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David Seibert, April 21, 2001

4. Howard's Covered Bridge

Photographed By David Seibert, April 21, 2001

5. Howard's Covered Bridge

Photographed By David Seibert, September 3, 2011

6. Howard's Covered Bridge

Photographed By Marty Pickett

7. Howard's Covered Bridge Marker

Photographed By Brian Scott, October 4, 2014

8. Howard's Covered Bridge Marker

Photographed By Brian Scott, October 4, 2014

9. Howard's Covered Bridge

James Monroe Smith Sitting on His Veranda image. Click for full size.

James Monroe Smith: Georgia Planter, Before Death and After by E. Merton Coulter

10. James Monroe Smith Sitting on His Veranda

Private Train on Smith's Property image. Click for full size.

James Monroe Smith: Georgia Planter, Before Death and After by E. Merton Coulter, circa 1905

11. Private Train on Smith's Property

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 2,480 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 16, 2021, by Marty Pickett of Lillian, Alabama. 2, 3. submitted on March 10, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 4, 5. submitted on July 8, 2008, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 6. submitted on March 10, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 7. submitted on April 16, 2021, by Marty Pickett of Lillian, Alabama. 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on October 23, 2014, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.