The Sandy Hook Five Arch Bridge Group is a grassroots effort working to save one of only five remaining five arch bridges in the United States. Located in the southern part of Maury County in the village of Sandy Hook just three miles south of Mt. Pleasant, the bridge is both functional and historical. It is an excellent study in the use of Roman arch design, as well as being used daily by local residents.
Americans are not known for preserving their past as well as other parts of the world, like Europe or Japan or China. Much more willing to tear the old down and build something new, the excuse is usually cost-effectiveness. But as Pitts Hinson, one of the members of the Sandy Hook Five Arch Bridge Group, says, “History cannot be reproduced; there will not be another bridge with this architectural design built for future generations to enjoy.”
Initially Getting No Help to Save the Bridge
Members of the committee have been doing extensive research in order to save the bridge. Phillip Crews, who started the Sandy Hook Five Arch Bridge Facebook Group stated that in late December 2021 he began to get information the bridge would be demolished in early Summer 2022. He immediately began working to save the bridge.
“Everywhere I turned, I was told, ‘it is just too late’,” Crews said on the Facebook page. “I turned to our state Representative and State Senator, but I received no help, but pretty much was told it was over. We were able to get a rescind resolution on the County Safety Committee February agenda. On the night of February 8, the Safety Committee would not put it up for a vote, so basically it was dead.”
Hinson said that at a meeting of the Maury County Commission Road Superintendent Van Boshears stated that he “was tired of cleaning up around it.” The County also alleges that it is a safety hazard. However, recently an engineer working with the Bridge Group reviewed its foundations and found them to be stable. Also, it has been in its current condition for 20-years and continues to be used, but the county has done no repairs.
The bridge connects two sides of a one-mile-long road with residents on both ends of the road. If the bridge is removed, residents on one end stand the chance of being trapped due to the rising waters blocking their remaining way out. Also, in the case of flooding, emergency vehicles and personnel would not be able to get to this area.
Part of the History of the Automobile in the Area
It has an interesting history. “In April 1916, the Maury County Court let a contract to Maury County native W. B. King for this bridge at a cost of about $1,869,” according to “Survey Report for Historic Highway Bridges” an article in “Historic Bridges”, TDOT: Social & Cultural Office, Historic Preservation Section. “…King worked for the Luten Bridge Company in East Tennessee in 1913 and 1914 before returning to Maury County about 1915. Like many concrete arch bridges of that period, King’s bridges are similar to those designed by Luten. From 1915 to 1917, Maury County awarded most of its bridge contracts to King, but the Sandy Hook Bridge is the only extant concrete arch bridge that the survey could clearly attribute to him. King and his wife lived in a tent at each bridge site… Maury County took a giant step in opening the doorway to the South when they engaged W.B. King to build [the] bridge in Sandy Hook. Once the Sandy Hook Five Arch Bridge was completed, the road from Middle Tennessee to North Alabama was now complete. Commerce and travel could now start making areas like Sandy Hook, Mt. Pleasant, and Columbia thrive and open to many.” It marked the beginning of the era of the automobile.
Social Media Begins to Connect a Network of Preservationists
In January 2020, when Crews started the Facebook group, things began to change. He came in contact with Brian Paddock, an 83-year-old retired attorney and a former college professor of environmental law. Paddock joined the cause stating that to save the bridge a Federal Agency needed to be involved. Crews remembered reading in the TDOT history of the project that the Army Corp of Engineers was the permitting agency for eligibility for a bridge to be put on the Nation Historic Register. So, the bridge fell under the prevue of the Army Corp of Engineers. At the same time reports that the county had been digging gravel at the bridge, which is considered an unauthorized activity by the Corp, came to light.
“The next two days [were] wild,” said Crews on Facebook. “I was notified by Brian Paddock and the head of the National Historic Bridge Preservation Group that what we had discovered would trigger [a] Section 106 Review.”
According to usda.gov, “Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties, and give the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) a reasonable opportunity to comment.”
A few days later, Will Worrall of the Army Corp of Engineers contacted Crews about a meeting. He was in the area about the bridge and the Corps being a part of the 106 Review. Then the Tennessee Historic Commission began its work on the review.
“We formed a Steering Committee and began to raise money for the expert witnesses that we will need at the 106 hearing,” explained Crews.
The effort has since that time gained additional support from the Organization National Bridge Hunters and also Calvin Sneed, a former TV News anchor and investigative reporter for a Chattanooga News Station who has helped in saving several bridges. They have received coverage from Channels 4 and 5 in Nashville, The Daily Herald did several articles, WKOM, and the podcast Morning Joe.
“No one now says we don’t have a chance,” said Crews, “we have as much a chance of saving the bridge and perhaps even more than the ones seeking it to be demolished.” But they still need donations to hire their expert witnesses for the 106 hearing to save the bridge.
The Fight is Not Over
“I remember when my great Latin teacher, Olivia Hardin, taught us about the use of the arch in… Roman road and viaduct designs,” said Hinson. “We certainly don’t need to lose this piece of history. Our bridge is a closed spandrel five arch bridge and made of concrete. It is our hope that this bridge will not be demolished. We are blessed to have over 1100 people join our cause and offer support. Support at this time is so important.”
Adds Crews, “Please help. What a shame it would be to have overcome so much just to fail for lack of funds. Whether the bridge is here a year from now, may depend on you.”
Donations can be made by going to one of the Heritage Bank locations in Maury or Lawrence Counties, mailing a check to Sandy Hook 5 Arch Bridge c/o of Philip Crews 8372 Lawrenceburg Highway, Mount Pleasant, Tennessee 38474 or you can email to [email protected] and Crews will send an invoice from Square and you just click pay invoice.
