1997 City of Albany, "Broad Avenue Bridge"

Broad Avenue Bridge

The Broad Avenue Bridge, through its arched portals, passed East and West wagon traffic crossing the Flint River. Before that time, the primary mode of transportation was a ferry operated manually. The hardships and difficulties encountered by both teams and drivers as they ascended the steep banks on either side were something to be dreaded. Col. Nelson Tift, who owned the bridge and ferry rights, appealed to the city and county to build a bridge. Meeting no encouragement, he decided to perform the work himself.

At that time, Col. Tift was representing Dougherty Co. in the State Legislature. There, he met a black man named Horace, from Columbus, who was a renowned bridge builder and had purchased his freedom from slavery. Horace had just cut the timbers for a bridge for the Oconee River, but, disagreeing with the contracting parties, sold the material to Col. Tift. The timbers were shipped to Albany, and Horace erected a substantial bridge over the Flint in 1857.