Woodward Library receives donation of table built from remains of Port Royal covered bridge
For nearly a century, the Port Royal covered bridge stood as more than just a literal bridge that allowed passage over the Cumberland River鈥檚 Red River stream. Until its destruction in 1998, it served as a bridge between generations of Montgomery County residents. Over the decades, the Burr Truss bridge overlooked children at play, private weddings and countless family gatherings.
For nearly a century, the Port Royal covered bridge stood as more than just a literal bridge that allowed passage over the Cumberland River鈥檚 Red River stream. Until its destruction in 1998, it served as a bridge between generations of Montgomery County residents. Over the decades, the Burr Truss bridge overlooked children at play, private weddings and countless family gatherings.
First built in 1903, the original incarnation collapsed in 1971, before being rebuilt in 1977. That version would ultimately be claimed by a tornado in 1998 and was not rebuilt.
But while the overpass itself no longer stands, the creativity of two Austin Peay State University alums ensured that a small piece of the once-proud bridge can live on in a new form.
鈥淭he Port Royal Bridge was very important to the people of this area,鈥 APSU alumnus Larry Ellis (鈥71) said. 鈥淚t was just a beautiful old bridge that was a part of our lives growing up.鈥
After a flood caused the bridge鈥檚 destruction in 1971, Ellis and friend, and fellow APSU alumnus, Kenny Bishop decided to claim a piece of Port Royal. Trudging into the Red River, the two recovered scraps of wood and iron and set about giving them new purpose.
鈥淲e pulled out what we could before the river sent the debris down stream and threw it into our truck,鈥 Ellis said. 鈥淲hen we got back home, Kenny went to work turning the wood and iron we recovered into a table that I鈥檝e had with me for basically the last 40 years.鈥
Comprised entirely of wood salvaged from the bridge, the planks that form its surface are kept together with iron that once served as its trusses.
Wanting to give back to his alma mater in a unique way, Ellis contacted the APSU Woodward Library鈥檚 Scott Shumate in September to see if the University would have interest in adding the table to its University archives.
鈥淚鈥檓 from Clarksville myself, so I remember and have fond memories of the the bridge in the 1990s,鈥 Shumate, who serves as a digital services assistant at Woodward Library, said. 鈥淲hen Larry contacted us to see if we鈥檇 be interested in the table, we talked about it and decided it would be a great chance to have a piece of local history.鈥
Hand-delivered by Ellis, the table currently sits on display on the second floor of the Woodward Library, with numerous possibilities for display as a part of the library鈥檚 permanent collection.
Due to a lack of funding, the Port Royal Bridge was never reconstructed after its destruction in 1998. What remains of the bridge is closed to foot traffic, with much of the wood that once comprised the pathway hauled off-site to be used as a barn for an area farmer.
As an academic library with a mission to inform, educate and preserve, a rare gift like Ellis鈥檚 salvaged table represents a chance for Woodward Library and APSU to save a piece of Montgomery County history for current and future generations of students and residents.
鈥淚鈥檝e had this table for a long time because it has a lot of significance for me,鈥 Ellis said. 鈥淏ut I honestly can鈥檛 think of a better place for this table made from the Port Royal Bridge to be than at Austin Peay State University.鈥
For more information on APSU鈥檚 Woodward Library, visit library.apsu.edu, or call 931-221-7346.