Turner Bridge, Suwannee River –Ken Sulak 2025-07-01

Ken Sulak sent this in preparation for Turner Bridge to Cone Bridge Paddle, Suwannee River, 2025-07-05.
https://wwals.net/?p=67557

Turner Bridge, Suwannee River –Ken Sulak 2025-07-01, History and what bridge artifacts reveal or conceal

Over to Ken:

Looking back at the history of Turner Bridge, and what bridge artifacts reveal or conceal.

Ken Sulak, Suwannee River –jsq for WWALS, 2021-12-16, 12:06:59, 30.5424003, -82.7195039

I have visited the Turner Bridge site by land and by kayak four times since 1913 at different river levels. The site holds some historical secrets yet to be revealed if and when the Suwannee River drops to a very low level. The Florida Legislature passed an act around 1880 licensing the construction of a toll bridge across the Suwannee River north of Benton. It was probably built by and licensed to Civil War veteran Lt. Jesse Robert Turner II (Sr.), who died in 1898. His father Jesse Turner I was born in Appling County in 1797, and settled his family near Jasper, FL, some time in the early 1800s. Lt. Jesse Turner III, age 24 married Wealthy Olivia Sandlin, age 14. Their son Nathaniel Elonzo Cone married Mary Catherine Cone Smith, linking the Turner and Cone clans, both early bridge and road builders in Columbia County. Frederick Cone became governor of Florida.

Map: Turner Bridge site –Ken Sulak
Red dot in river 110 ft from west side Lally column, 22ft from bottom of boat ramp, marks the location (GPS) of a submerged steel object that may emerge at low water – possible remains of in-river pair of Lally columns for a two-span steel bridge.

This first version of what came to be called Turner Bridge was almost certainly a timber span supported by parallel rows of vertical pilings. This was replaced by a steel through strut span some time after 1898, since it was supported upon vertical pairs of concrete filled steel Lally columns, patented in 1898.

Turner Bridge Ramp, right bank, Hamilton County –jsq fo r WWALS 2021-12-16, 13:48:02, 30.5245197, -82.7280316

Left bank (Columbia County), concrete in steel tubes –jsq for WWALS, 2021-12-16, 13:49:54, 30.5244430, -82.7278720

Such single lane, wooden plank decked early bridges pinned to the supporting columns could only span 150 ft, otherwise requiring additional support mid-river. Both the precursor timber bridge and its steel replacement were back then called the ‘County Bridge” connecting the main south-north thoroughfare Woodpecker Road (now NW 180 Blvd) along the west side of the Suwannee River with the old Fargo Road (aka River Road) the main south-north commercial highway of the past on the east side (replaced further east by US 441 — Frederick Cone Memorial Road). They should have kept that Woodpecker Road name — it goes was back to the 1830s. That 911 format replacement name is both inglorious and ostentatious (Boulevard!) for a not so well-maintained sand road through pine scrub. The Turner Bridge and another early 1900s bridge over the Suwannee a few miles upstream of the Georgia border put the old Blount Ferry and the Hewitt Ferry (below Big Shoals) out of business.

Lt. Jesse Turner

I have found scant information regarding the building of, or the demise of, this bridge. Lt. Jesse Turner’s son Jesse Turner IV had died in 1874, so I am guessing that the first timber bridge was built by and dedicated to his father by his other son, Nathaniel Elonzo Turner. The second steel bridge was probably contracted by either Hamilton or Columbia County since no toll bridge license seems to have been issued. I have visited the steel bridge site and obtained GPS positions for the standing columns, and measurements of distance between the columns. Two odd things. The riverbank on the west side (Hamilton County) is low and swampy, but the land on the east side (Columbia County) is high and dry. There would need to have been a very long timber-supported slanting approach to the span, starting a considerable distance to the west. The distance across the river between the two still-standing opposite river bank pairs of steel columns is 220 ft, about 70 ft longer than a single span steel strut bridge could support.

Map: Turner Bridge Span Length –Ken Sulak

So, this was either a two-span bridge, with a mid-river pier, or an unusually long single-span bridge with an additional pair of Lally columns planted in the riverbed. USDA aerial images from 1946 and earlier seem to show a single span.

Map: Turner Bridge 1946 Aerial –Ken Sulak

Also, very odd is that the east riverbank columns are 12 ft apart (the standard width for single lane steel bridges back then), but the pair on the west bank are double that in width between. This suggests that the west approach ramp may have been two lanes — very odd. Perhaps there was a wider entrance platform at the top of that long west side ramp, or a space there for a toll house. The Turner Bridge is shown on the US Army Engineers November 1911 survey map and labeled ‘County Bridge, Steel’. That same survey up to Fargo, also marked. This name tends to confirm that one or both counties funded its construction, probably contracted out to the Turners, and/or their Cone kin. William Haddock Cone 1825-1886 & his nephew Daniel Newnan Cone Jr. built Cone Bridge, of a similar Lally column single steel strut design. It was licensed as a private toll bridge in 1881, named in honor of William Henry Cone III, William Haddock Cone's stepfather. USDA aerials show the Turner Bridge in good shape in 1946, but apparently collapsed into the river in 1954, possibly intentionally so when replaced in 1951 by the State Road 6 Sandlin-Lindler Bridge. Apparently, the intention was to build this modern open deck reinforced concrete bridge replacement much earlier. Approach roads were cleared already in 1936, but construction was delayed by WW2 and thereafter when steel was scarce. I am seeking any additional photos of Turner Bridge, and any newspaper articles, etc. regarding its contract, completion, christening, or its demise. Local Hamilton County historian in White Springs, Gary Erixton has a photo of an unknown 2-span Suwannee River bridge — I think most likely the Turner Bridge.

I have a few Small clan photos, Sunday dressed up outing on the bridge, Model time. But those photos do not show much of the bridge.

Small family on Turner Bridge –Ken Sulak

When the WWALS group launches at the Turner Bridge ramp on 5 July, heading for Cone Bridge takeout, the Suwannee should be rather low. I would welcome any photographs, particularly if any artifacts are exposed at low water. I would be particularly interested in an image of that normally submerged steel object directly off the Turner Bridge ramp, 22 ft from the ramp end. I am hoping that will provide evidence that this exceptionally long steel strut bridge had two spans, requiring a third pair of Lally columns set in the riverbed.

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