Progress
The Perquimans Weekly, June 24,1999 5B
Hertford is home to nationai
treasure in S-shaped Bridge
People who live in
Perquimans County drive
across the “S” bridge often,
so preoccupied with daily
living that they do not gen
erally consider the historic
significance of the bridge
or the beauty of the river.
The unique bridge is not
the first to span the river
that bisects Perquimans
County. In 1798, a floating
bridge was built and soon
became a landmark in the
region.
According to Daniel W.
Barefoot in “Touring the
Backroads of North
Carolina’s Upper Coast,”
almost a century after the
construction of the floating
bridge, a local newspaper
editorialized, “We can just
ly claim the only float
bridge in the world and we
can also remark that we are
the only people in the world
that want one.”
Unfortunately, the safety
of the bridge had already
begun to be questioned.
Structural damaged caused
by high water was appar
ent, and in 1987 the county
commissioners borrowed
funds from the state to
replace the bridge with a
270-foot trestle and a 153-
foot draw span.
The “Eastern Courier”
newspaper lamented the
demolition of the original
bridge. “We hate very much
to give up the only real
curiosity in the State, a
wonder of the nineteenth
century, a bridge floating
on top of the water, sup
ported by empty oil barrels
and held in place with four
guy lines, a relic left here
by great grandsires.”
After 30 years, the second
span was replaced by the
bridge of concrete and
steel that still crosses the
river today. The 1928 struc
ture brought back a unique
landmark to the county
with its remarkable “S”
shape. It is believed to be
the only structure of its
kind in the United States
and the largest S-shaped
bridge in the world.
Years of use, especially
by loaded trucks, has taken
its tool on the bridge. In
1996, the state examined
the structure and deter
mined that significant
work was needed in order
to extend the life of the
bridge. Rotten pilings were
replaced and some of the
underpinning was repaired
or replaced with steel sup
ports. The bottom of the
swing span was refur
bished.
The work meant closing
the bridge for an extended
period of time, and re-rout
ed traffic for weeks.
There are those Hertford
residents who eye the
bridge carefully, fearful
that if it is not cared for,
the treasure will be lost. It
is uncertain if the bridge
does one day have to come
down whether it will be
replaced or simply closed.
With that uncertainty,
there are those like Eldon
Winslow, who lives close to
the bridge, who act as its
guardians, watching and
encouraging government
action that will keep the
bridge safely open to traffic
for many years to come.
9{ezu6o[d-Wfdte is seat of mucft state History
continued from page 4
Groundbreaking for the
visitor’s center, styled after
a 1750 barn in Maryland,
Was held in the spring.
Historic tours, the annu
al jollification and garden
party, and other events con
tinue to raise funds for the
Upkeep of Newbold-White.
It has been the site of
numerous historic educa
tion events over the years.
In 1990, the site was des
ignated a state Regional
Histori Site and was award
ed a site development
grant. An herb garden,
peonies and a rose bush
Were planted behind the
visitor’s center. The
restoration of the Proctor
Smokehouse adjacent to
the Newby Cottage was
Completed with funds from
the Reynolds grant.
In 1991, PCRA with sup
port from the Chamber,
began efforts to organize
historic districts in the
County. Old Neck was the
first to be accepted onto the
National Register of
Historic Places. It is one of
Very few rural historic dis
tricts across the country on
the register. Nominations
are pending for Belvidere
and Hertford.
After many years of ded
icated and determined ser
vice to historic preserva
tion, failing health forced
Lucille S. Winslow to step
down as president of
PCRA. The preservation
dynamo continued to sup
port restoration efforts,
and opened her Front
Street home in May to a
group of visitors from state
and federal agencies assist
ing with heritage tourism
development efforts.
New technology was
used for dendrochronology
studies in late 1993. In feb-
ruary 1994, PCRA board
members were informed
that Newbold-White was
completed in 1730, not circa
1685. The house remained
the oldest existing dwelling
in the state, however.
Stephanie Bandy came
on board as program direc
tor in June 1996.
Last year, the state
Department of Commerce,
Division of Tourism, Film
and Sports Development,
placed LuAnne
Pendergraft at Newbold-
white. Pendergraft serves
as a development officer for
heritage tourism.
PCRA continues to seek
ways to educate the public
about the history of the
county, and the role the
Newbold-White House
played in the development
of the state.
Those who have not
toured the house should
take the time to view this
local treasure. Tour hours
are Tuesday-Saturday, 10
a.m.—4:30 p.m. and Sunday,
2-5 p.m.
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Hertford
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