"Old Iron Bridges n corduroy roads” of Hickman County

GM&O RR Bridge at Columbus

I have no idea how many iron bridges were in Hickman County or when and by who they were built, but I was always fascinated by them.  Like old barns they had a rustic beauty even when not so old.

The one over the GM & O RR at Columbus is the best known.

There was one near Shiloh and Springhill I understand but I never saw it.  Supposedly it was so people could get to Milburn easily and not have to go around and through Arlington.

I remember when Spicer Bridge over Obion creek was still complete but not very passable.  The floor was still there and my uncle and I crossed it hunting squirrels.  This was about 1949.  I really believe it was built on the main road to South Columbus and Columbus from in the 1800s.  I heard my granddaddy talk of a ford in that area that predated the bridge.  I know that hwy 58 W was south of where it now exist. 

On this side of Spicer Bridge the hill coming out of the creek bottom had a corduroy road or hill better describes it.  In wet winters loggers would place slab lumber, with bark up, to give traction climbing the hill.  I remember the slabs ends were alternated. 

Laketon hill and I think Fish lake hill were corduroy but not positive about Fish Lake hill.  There were probably many more but these I remember.   It made a rough ride but passable at least.  After Laketon hill was graveled it would have a little bounce going uphill.  Caused, I am sure, by the slabs underneath.  This bounce caused holes in the loose gravel and made pulling a trailer up hill difficult.

Traveling down Obion creek Hailwell Bridge would be next.  It was very passable when I was young and was well kept.

Photo by Ryan Mullins of Whaynes Bridge.

A bit further down Obion Creek was Whayne`s Corner bridge.  It had remnants until recently.  It was just west of the Indian Canal Bridge.  When it was active the river bottom between Columbus and Hickman was full of tenant houses.  Most were on stilts approximately ten feet off the ground allowing them to escape most floods.  Some had stalls underneath for their horses.  Others were built on mounds of dirt.  Some said they were Indian burial mounds but I think they were historically built.  That allowed them to escape most floods.  I think this bridge was the only way for them to get in and out by road at that time.

The next one that I know of was on Bayou de Chein, (Creek of the Dogs) until a few years ago.  It was just outside of Moscow.  Why I did not get a picture of it I do not know.  Wish I had at least got a rubbing of the data plate that they all had.

I well remember the one over 51 hwy, south of Clinton over Bayou de Chein.  I drove a gas truck over it and I have had people with a death wish meet me on the bridge.  I would not have thought it possible but we made it.

I am sure there are more but I do not know of them.  I bet that hwy 51 over Obion creek was also an Iron bridge, when I was a child, but I just do not remember.  I should as we went to my grandmothers east of Bardwell at least twice a month via 51 hwy.  Back then this was a considerable trip.