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College Avenue or Effie's, Clarke County

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Inventory Number: GA/10-29-01
County: Clarke County
Township:
Town/Village: Athens
Bridge Name: College Avenue or Effie's
Crosses: Oconee River
Truss type: Town
Spans: 1+
Length: 162'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1893
Builder: Washington W. King
When Lost: Mar 1965
Cause: Moved
Latitude: N33 58.186
Longitude: W083 22.650
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: Off 441.

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Comments:
Washington W. King contracted to build this bridge on March 26, 1891 for $2,470. Construction began in 1892. According to Gary L. Doster, local Athens Historian, the bridge was rebuilt in 1908 after flood took out the earlier covered bridge. An April 30, 1909 Grand Jury report summary in The Banner states that the bridge had to be recovered after the August 1908 freshet and piers were added. After being threatened by flood waters in 1911 it was raised 8 feetThe bridge was also known as Elm Street bridge. It received the name Effie's bridge due to a nearby row of brothel houses run by Miss Effie T. Matthews. . The bridge was closed in June 1963 after being damaged by floodwaters. In 1965 this bridge was moved to Stone Mountain where it is GA/10-44-01. Its length was reduced from 162' to 151' at that time. Although it was one continuous truss, the bridge has two support piers. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 22, 2022.

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