The Longest “S”
In the World
llorlforil's unique bridge may also be
**niosl romantic**' and *‘inost historic
S-Shape."
By Flt.\i\K IN. KOIIFRTS
Since Ibc Hertford Bypon wot built, moil Irovcl-
en on US. 17 min Ihc "S"-ihoped bridge over
Ibe Perquimoni River.
One of North Carolina's lesser
known distinctions is that the longest
S-shaped bridge in the world is located
within its boundaries.
In Hertford, to be exact. The bridge
crosses the river for which the county
was named (or vice-versa) — The Per¬
quimans. although most travellers these
days miss it by going over a new bridge
on U. S. 17 Bypass.
Hither way. the site of the town and
its reflection in the water is a beautiful
one.
But the older the bridge, the more
history. And the S-shaped construction
on U.S. 17 Business has some of that.
It was built in 1928. the third struc¬
ture to cross the river at that site.
Its immediate predecessor was
said to have inspired the writing
of “Carolina Moon." Our neigh¬
bors to the south are now weakly
claiming they inspired the New
York to Florida-bound travelling
songwriters who. unfortunately,
never mentioned whether it was a
North or South Carolina moon.
But we know the truth.
Before any of the structures were
built, travellers relied on ferry service
between Phelps and Newby points.
In 1758 a bridge, of sorts, was con¬
structed. The pontoon-type creation
floated on the water with the help of.
of all things, whiskey barrels. Empty,
of course.
There is no record as to who did the
emptying, probably because of an in¬
ability to keep clear records after per¬
forming such a noble public service.
The firct bridge -01 0 pontoon. type, Mooted on the river with whiikey borreli. It olio ployed
о
role
in Confederote delenie ol the fo-n -hen Union lorcci ottockcd in 1863,— (M. Ainiley Bre»in.
"Hiifonc Scene!," Hertford, N. C.)
Much pointed, photographed and romontieixed,
Hertford's bridge is said to hove inspired the
writing of "Corolina Moon."
That structure survived destruction
by Union forces in 1863, and with the
help of a local patriot even aided the
Rebel cause.
A detachment of Yankee soldiers,
and their horses, found themselves in
the drink because someone had quietly
removed the pegs from the draw’s
hinges. When the northerners and their
animals tried to swoop into town, they
swooped, instead, into the Perquimans
River.
In spite of that, the Civil War was
lost by the South. In 1897 the bridge
was lost, because of a heavy storm.
A year later it was replaced by some¬
thing more modern, a steel and wood
structure with a hinged draw.
The present structure was put up in
1928. Instead of going straight across
it curves, twice, making it the longest
S-shaped bridge in the world.
No one seems sure why it was built
that way. But if it wasn't, it would
have been just another bridge.
i s
THE STATE. August 1974
