Bridge House - Albany, GA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Here, at the site of an early ferry over the Flint River, Col Nelson Tift, owner of bridge and ferry rights and the founder of Albany, had a toll bridge constructed by a well known bridge builder, a freed slave named Horace of Columbus. At the same time, in 1857, Col. Tift built this "Bridge House" with the archway serving as entrance to the bridge. The bridge keeper occupied one side of the ground floor; Col. Tift´s office, the other. The second floor was a theatre, known as "Tift´s Hall ". Decorated by New York artists, it was considered the most beautiful in the state. Many leading actors - Laura Keen, Sothern, Mrs. Oates, Sol Smith Russell, Harry McCarthy, the Crisp family, the Templetons - appeared on its stage. At this social center of Albany, dances, masked balls, public social events were held.

During the War Between the States, the great cellars of this building were converted into packing houses and the back yard became a slaughter pen. Thousands of cattle, hogs, and sheep were barreled in pickle for the use of the Confederate Navy.

GHM 047-2 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1958

Source: Geogia Historic marker located in front of The Bridge House.

The Bridge House originally held the office of Albany founder Col. Nelson Tift and the office of the bridge toll taker. The Bridge House is now the Albany Welcome Center.

Street address: 112 N. Front St. Albany, GA USA 31701 County / Borough / Parish: Dougherty Year listed: 1974 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event Periods of significance: 1850-1874, 1875-1899 Historic function: Recreation And Culture, Transportation Current function: Visitors Center Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 1: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/15/2010 Lat34North visited it