HISTORIC OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: Prather's Covered Bridge Version 1.0, 12-Jan-2003, H-28.txt **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator Oconee County SC GenWeb Homestead http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Oconee County SC GenWeb Tombstone Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/cemeteries.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/southcarolina/oconee.html **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Jan-2003 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Jan-2003 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Coy Bayne, Keowee Courier Newspaper Nothing bridges the gap between the romantic past and the exciting present as does the living antique, the covered bridge. Why does the old covered bridge hold such a nostalgic place in the hearts and minds of old-timers and create such curiosity among the young in the plastic and steel era? The covered bridge was built for many reasons. It was covered to protect the flooring; to reduce the possibility of icing and being slippery when wet. It also helped to prevent horses and mules from balking. The covered bridge resembled the barn and ol' Dobbin didn't mind entering the barn, right? Also, covered bridges were popular in the old days when a young man with his girl could do a "little sparking" - maybe even steal a kiss - while enjoying the privacy of going through a covered bridge. Sometimes they were called "Kissin' Bridges." Covered bridges were popular in Europe and were known to be in use 159 years before America was discovered by white man. A famous covered bridge in Venice, Italy, was used to take prisoners to their confinement in an island institution. The bridge was called, appropriately, "The Bridge of Sighs." At present, only four covered bridges remain in South Carolina: Prather's over the Tugaloo near Westminster; Long Cane Creek near Troy; Campbell's near Gowensville and what is left of Gassaway near Liberty. In 1964, the State Legislature passed a law requiring the State Highway Department to maintain covered bridges, but somehow Gassaway Covered Bridge has never been maintained. Most states take great interest in their covered bridges and keep them neat, well painted. They are important tourist attractions. The covered bridge in South Carolina seems to have never attained such prestige. One of the most popular covered bridges in South Carolina linked Pickens and Oconee Counties. Chapman's bridge over the Keowee River was moved to the site of the Oconee Nuclear Power Plant to make way for Lake Keowee. Several young boys built a fire on its floor one evening and burned it up. Prather's Bridge over the Tugaloo is well-publicized in Georgia and a one day study revealed that most visitors there had Georgia tags. Prather's is built with huge wooden pegs in the cross trusses. Piers and abutments are stone masonry, adding to the colorful reflections found in the still waters of upper Hartwell. On April 4, 1950. Prather's bridge caught fire but Toccoa. Georgia, firemen were kind enough to respond, saving the bridge. Prather's was used by auto traffic until mid-1966 when Georgia and South Carolina enacted a mutual project to build a steel bridge alongside of it. Motorists wishing to observe this quaint relic of the past may do so without getting out of their car. The trip to the bridge may be an interesting sightseeing experience for those who are aged and can't get around well: the crippled, or just for a family getting together on an afternoon of togetherness. From most Pickens and Oconee areas, one should go west on Highway 123 until they approach the Georgia State line. then turn right to wind around the upper reaches of Lake Hartwell. When you come to the end of that road. turn left onto a paved road which will take you close beside Prather's Bridge. Scenery in the area is delightful