easyrider003
Contributor
If anyone ever wants to dive lake martin maybe in may or june shoot me a line, myself and coworker would love to dive there.I have dove the bridge several times but thats all.
Alabama lake diving? Wedowee, Smith, Martin?
- Thread starter BNow0707
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OP
BNow0707
Guest
I'm up for a may lake martin dive.
How far is the bridge from Wind Creek? Are there any closer campgrounds?
How far is the bridge from Wind Creek? Are there any closer campgrounds?
You live in Oxford which is not that far from Lineville and Wedowee.
If you go to Google Maps and type in Wedowee Alabama and follow State Highway 48 west until it crosses R.L. Harris Reservoir (Lake Wedowee) you will see that the old road bed on either side of the lake will connect with a ruler.
I remember there was a sort of swayback bridge across the Tallapoosa and I hear that the bridge is still there.
It would be nice for someone from nearby to go over and check that out. The old roadbed and bridge will be north of the new bridge.
Wind Creek Park is about 8 miles from Kowaliga and is the closest campground.
If you go to Google Maps and type in Wedowee Alabama and follow State Highway 48 west until it crosses R.L. Harris Reservoir (Lake Wedowee) you will see that the old road bed on either side of the lake will connect with a ruler.
I remember there was a sort of swayback bridge across the Tallapoosa and I hear that the bridge is still there.
It would be nice for someone from nearby to go over and check that out. The old roadbed and bridge will be north of the new bridge.
Wind Creek Park is about 8 miles from Kowaliga and is the closest campground.
OP
BNow0707
Guest
This is new information to me. I know where the current 48 bridge and boat launch is. That will be worth checking out. I guess the best way would be to follow the old road bed if possible. I know the depth is pretty deep there up to 100ft in some areas nearby.
Here is a favorite source of mine for Old Aerial Photos
I found a bridge that is actually above the 48 bridge the that is in the upper right corners of the randolph county Ofelia 1950 and 1964 pics but appears to be gone in the 1973 pic but i cant really tell. Wedowee/R.L. Harris wasn't finished until 1983 so they might have removed that bridge.
Thanks for the map link - I enjoyed looking at the land clearing progression at my farm in Kellyton.
I think that highway 48 is the horizantal road in the Ofelia pictures and that the river crossing is just to the east of those photos. I was told about the bridge by a co-worker who grew up in Wedowee. He said that they used to boil peanuts and drink beer there as the water rose. I asked a retired State Trooper who used to have Clay and Randolph as his territory and he described the bridge as concrete with low concrete guard rails. That's what my coworker and I remember.
It would be great to have a side-scan to check this stuff out. If you got in the main channel you should be able to see the structure profile on a regular fish finder.
If you look on old Tallapoosa County maps you will see that the railroad crossed the river to the south of the new trestle. Someone who grew up in the Sturdivant area told me that there is a railroad bridge in a slough there too. My great grandmother in her memoirs talks of a train that went into the river one night. Gosh I wish these folks could live forever or I wish my intense interest in history developed while they were still alive.
My aunt used to cross Kowaliga Creek at Irma while it was still a bustling metropolis. Some guy told me that he found a mailbox with some mail still in it at the Irma site. I told him that was nothing I found a well with water still in it. Seriously though what has been found at the Irma site is rock fences, the old bridge, and a chimney. When they cleared for the rising waters they used what lumber they needed to build the dam and tied the rest to the lake bottom with steel cables.
If you go to Wind Creek you will find chimneys in the camp ground and near the swimming area. These were houses where my grandparents lived. When they dammed the river they lost all their bottomland and could not make a living farming so they moved to the city. My Aunt Elizabeth told of seeing smoke from burning houses and my Uncle Joel showed me where an indian graveyard is in the Wind Creek Camping area. I remember lots of stories but they mostly died with their originators.
I think that highway 48 is the horizantal road in the Ofelia pictures and that the river crossing is just to the east of those photos. I was told about the bridge by a co-worker who grew up in Wedowee. He said that they used to boil peanuts and drink beer there as the water rose. I asked a retired State Trooper who used to have Clay and Randolph as his territory and he described the bridge as concrete with low concrete guard rails. That's what my coworker and I remember.
It would be great to have a side-scan to check this stuff out. If you got in the main channel you should be able to see the structure profile on a regular fish finder.
If you look on old Tallapoosa County maps you will see that the railroad crossed the river to the south of the new trestle. Someone who grew up in the Sturdivant area told me that there is a railroad bridge in a slough there too. My great grandmother in her memoirs talks of a train that went into the river one night. Gosh I wish these folks could live forever or I wish my intense interest in history developed while they were still alive.
My aunt used to cross Kowaliga Creek at Irma while it was still a bustling metropolis. Some guy told me that he found a mailbox with some mail still in it at the Irma site. I told him that was nothing I found a well with water still in it. Seriously though what has been found at the Irma site is rock fences, the old bridge, and a chimney. When they cleared for the rising waters they used what lumber they needed to build the dam and tied the rest to the lake bottom with steel cables.
If you go to Wind Creek you will find chimneys in the camp ground and near the swimming area. These were houses where my grandparents lived. When they dammed the river they lost all their bottomland and could not make a living farming so they moved to the city. My Aunt Elizabeth told of seeing smoke from burning houses and my Uncle Joel showed me where an indian graveyard is in the Wind Creek Camping area. I remember lots of stories but they mostly died with their originators.
Makes no difference to me... as long as there's someone there to zip up my drysuit...
But if we change the meeting place now, someone may not get the word and confusion may reign
Rick
But if we change the meeting place now, someone may not get the word and confusion may reign
Rick
steve_jones
Registered
Don't look for me in the morning. I'm heading to Vortex and Morrisons tonight and tomorrow. Gotta practice for class and figure that warm spring water will get me more time in the water. I will miss the company!
Of course, you guys could change your minds and come on south!
Of course, you guys could change your minds and come on south!
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