The town of Natural Bridge (population 37) is located in Winston County and is the least populated incorporated town in Alabama; except Gantts Quarry, which is a ghost town but still legally incorporated.
In 1862, Winston County residents were called "Torries" because they opposed secession and voted to remain neutral during the Civil War. Thus, the County became known as the "Free State of Winston." Although the County as a whole remained neutral, men from the County served in both the Union and Confederate Armies.
Nearby Natural Bridge Park contains "the longest rock arch east of the Rockies." The "arch" was formed 200 million years ago when the sea washed away surrounding sandstone, leaving iron-ore veins that formed a natural bridge. From the visitor center, it was only a short hike to the double-span bridge that is 148-feet long and 60-feet high. .
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
In the town of Double Springs (population 1,119) there is a statue called "Dual Destiny" that honors both the Winston County Civil War Union and Confederates soldiers. A placard states:
The Civil War was not fought between the North and South, but between the Union and Confederate Armies. Perhaps as many as 300,000 southerners served in the Union Army. The majority of the Appalachian South from West Virginia to Winston County was pro-Union. Winston provided 239 Union and 112 Confederate soldiers, 21 of whom shared last names.
This Civil War soldier [statue], one-half Union and one-half Confederate, symbolizes the War within a War and honors the Winstonians in both armies...
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| Picture by Kolohe |
The Clarkson-Legg Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in Cullman County. Originally built in 1904, the 270-foot long bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1921 and then rebuilt the following year. It is now a pedestrian only bridge.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Also located at Clarkson Covered Bridge Park are a historic log cabin, lake, waterfall (water flowing over the dam), and gristmill.
When we arrived at the park, Kolohe saw the picturesque gristmill and immediately ran down by the stream to start taking pictures. I stopped to read the signs. One important sign said: "Beware of Snakes."
As Kolohe was taking pictures, she happened to look down and noticed a rubber snake close to her foot. She was going to pick it up when it slithered away. She freaked out! Later she learned that it was probably a poisonous Copperhead. For the rest of the trip she always looked down when she was walking around grass and rocks.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
The Ave Maria Grotto at St. Bernard Retreat and Conference Center in Cullman (population: 18,213) is managed by the Benedictine Monks of St. Bernard Abbey.
Brother Joseph Zoetl, O.S.B., a monk of the abbey, during his spare time labored for almost 70 years constructing 125 small stone and cement structures of buildings from around the world. To decorate the structures he used broken plates, costume jewelry, ceramic tile, beads, marbles seashells, and any other discarded materials he could find.
He built the first display in 1912 and the last one in 1958 when he was 80-years old. Of all the replicas he built, he had only visited six of the places. The remainder were built from extensive readings and from photographs or printed descriptions about the properties.
As a bonus, when we were leaving the Retreat we passed through a gift shop and purchased a loaf of fresh cinnamon bread that the monks bake fresh daily.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
There are three remaining historic covered bridges in Blount County, so we decided to stop by all three to take pictures.
Swan Covered Bridge was constructed in 1933 and is now the longest existing historic covered bridge in Alabama. It is a 324-foot long Town Lattice truss constructed bridge that contains three spans. The bridge is currently closed because on November 15, 2021, a truck that was too large for the bridge damaged some structural components while trying to pass through it.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
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| Picture by Kolohe |
Easley Covered Bridge is a wood and metal combination style bridge that was built in 1927. The 95-foot single span bridge is the oldest of the historic bridges in Blount County.
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| Picture by Kolohe |
The 220-foot long Horton Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1934 and was the first covered bridge in the southeastern United States to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. It also has the distinction of being the highest covered bridge above any U.S. waterway. Just a few days before we arrived, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic.
Noccalula Falls Park contains an aboriginal fort, abandoned dam, pioneer homestead, Civil War carvings, petting zoo, botanical gardens, covered bridge, replica of a 1863 Huntington train, hiking trails, and more; but the park's main feature is the 90-foot tall waterfall.
Above the fall is a nine-foot tall bronze statue of a young Cherokee woman. According to a legend, the young Cherokee woman jumped to her death at this location after being ordered to marry a man that she did not love.
BONUS PICTURES BY KOLOHE
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