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Record #:
23712
Author(s):
Abstract:
The new high Grimesland Bridge takes motorists above the old bridge and over one of the most historic spots on the Tar River. The site of the bridge is where the English settled as early as 1714 known as “Mount Calvert.” It was here in the 1750’s that Edward Salter established a ferry across the Tar River and in 1764 that the Royal Post Road between Williamsburg, VA and Charleston, SC passed through Pitt County and crossed the river on Salter’s Ferry. Salter’s Ferry afterwards was known as “Watkin’s Ferry” and much later as “Boyd’s Ferry.” In 1892, there was a push to put a ferry at Yankee Hall. In 1914, a wooden drawbridge was built across the Tar River at Boyd’s Ferry. The draw was the former draw at Beaufort, NC and was brought up the river by barge. The wooden bridge was rebuilt in 1926. A new concrete bridge was built in 1953/54 about 1200 feet from the old wooden bridge. The new high bridge over the river was dedicated on March 30, 2011 in honor of L. Elmore Hodges and opened for traffic on Monday, May 14, 2011.
Record #:
23720
Author(s):
Abstract:
Bridging the Tar River has been a long and arduous process in Pitt County. A free ferry was established over the Tar River at Greenville in 1787 and the first bridge was built over the river about 1823. The next bridge was built in 1848 by Samuel Marshburn. During the Civil War there were several attempts by the Yankees to burn the bridge at Greenville. The bridge was washed away or damaged in the Great Flood of June 1867. In 1879, a new bridge with a drawbridge was constructed and proclaimed the largest wooden bridge in North Carolina, being a few feet of six hundred yards. In 1907, a new steel bridge was built on Pitt Street across the river. In 1927/28, a new steel bridge was built on Greene Street to replace the older one on Pitt Street. With great foresight and a hard fought battle this last steel bridge, one of the very few left in North Carolina, was preserved and now graces the Town Common.