Christmas 2010 Road Trip
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This is Mineral Springs Covered Bridge in Iuka, Mississippi. The construction date is unknown. It spans a creek beside Mineral Springs Park which is home to gazebos, a log cabin, playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, walking track, picnic tables and peaceful, beauty.
The town of Iuka was named in honor of an Indian Chief of that name who, so tradition says, lived at what is now known as the Brinkley place. Long before the foot of a white man had trodden the primeval wilderness, the mineral springs, which still constitute the greatest attraction here, were patronized by the aborigines. The sick were brought here from many, long weary miles so they might drink of the life-giving waters, which have given Iuka a world-wide reputation. Wigwams, occupied by Indians in search of health, were scattered over the adjoining hills.
An important Civil War battle was fought two miles southwest of town on September 19, 1862, between the Confederates under General Price and the Federals under General Rosecrans. Situated on the border line between the contending forces, it was in the possession of each side alternately until the close of the war.
As there had been considerable trouble over water privileges, or rather the water tax imposed by the different parties into whose hands the property had passed, a sentiment was created among the property owners of the town that the springs and the park should be the property of the corporation and should always be free to the world. This sentiment grew and finally crystallized in the purchase of the park by the town in 1901.
This is Coldwater Covered Bridge. It is located at Oxford Lake Park in Oxford, Alabama. The 63-foot bridge was built in 1850, and is currently the oldest surviving covered bridge in the state.
Built as early as 1839 according to some accounts, the beautiful Coldwater Covered Bridge is noted landmark. Sometimes called "kissing bridges" because they offered courting lovers a brief moment of privacy as they passed through, covered bridges are important parts of the history and heritage of the South. Tradition holds that the bridge was built by a former slave, possibly a forerunner of the famed bridge-builder Horace King, another freed slave who would build wooden bridges throughout the Deep South. As such, it is a landmark of black history in the South.
The bridge originally spanned Coldwater Creek about 8 miles east of its present location. It was moved to Oxford to save it from loss in 1990. From the earliest days of settlement in this part of Alabama, Coldwater Creek was a major obstacle to travelers. A beautiful rushing stream, it could rise rapidly and was all but impossible to cross after heavy rains or during times of high water. The solution was a bridge. Covered bridges held important advantages over traditional open spans. They were stronger due to their design and the roof protected the flooring and beams from rotting away in the elements.
The Coldwater Covered Bridge was built using the Multiple Open King Post through Truss design, a architectural method used in many kinds of construction and even in some types of aircraft. Basically, this means that heavy posts were raised on the cross beams of the bridge to support the apex or top of triangles formed by the trusses. The bridge was used by local residents until around 1920 when it was partially damaged by fire. A careful check found that it was still sound and could be repaired. Once those repairs were done, the bridge returned to service until it was eventually replaced by a modern concrete bridge. After its replacement, the old covered bridge was not maintained and eventually fell into a bad state of disrepair. Community minded citizens intervened to save the historic structure, however, and it was moved to its present location in 1990. Beautifully restored, it now bridges the creek that flows out of Oxford Lake. It is a key feature of Oxford Lake Park.
