City Directories and History: The first known bridge, over the Catawba River, between Fort Mill and Rock Hill was constructed just below Sand Island / Fewell Island and the newly constructed Wylie Hydroelectric dam, at India Hook. The Herald reported on Dec. 12, 1900 – “Lands of the estate of the late S.M. Fewell located near the Catawba Power Co plant and the new bridge over the Catawba, will be sold at public auction on Main Street.”
The Herald on Feb. 9, 1901 reported, “Mr. Harry Wylie of the Catawba Water and Power Co., has requested the county commission to construct a new road which will connect the new river bridge to Rock Hill. The project will straighten the old route and save three miles travel.”
BRIDGE AT SUTTON’S FERRY ON THE CATAWBA RIVER by Paul Gettys for R&R.com 2020
One of the first vehicular bridges over the Catawba River in York County was constructed by the county government in 1900. The site of the old Sutton’s Ferry was selected because it could be accessed by existing roads, although it was not the most direct route between Rock Hill and Fort Mill. Research in the Rock Hill Herald has identified the following articles related to the bridge.
March 24, 1900: Two gentlemen representing a Chattanooga firm of bridge builders were at Sutton’s Ferry last Tuesday surveying the Catawba River at that point, with the expectation of submitting a bid for the erection of the highway bridge to be built by the county during the coming summer.
March 24, 1900: The Commercial Club has discussed the need for building a direct road from Rock Hill to Sutton’s Ferry for access to the new bridge.
April 7, 1900: The proposed new river bridge was discussed. Three bridge building companies are bidding on the project: Mr. George Crafts of Atlanta who did a survey on the river a year ago, Mr. Curtis from Hickory, N. C., representing a company from St. Louis, and another unidentified company. The bridge will be a single-track structure 412 yards long and 26 to 30 feet above the water. The approach on the west side will be of wood, and a land approach on the east side. Proposed roads need to be built from Rock Hill and Fort Mill.
April 14, 1900: The new bridge contract is to be issued on April 24. There will be three spans totaling 363 feet. The bridge will have stone piers, a steel frame, and white oak or heart pine floor.
April 15,1900: The contract for the new Catawba River Bridge was let by the County Commissioners to George W. Crafts of Atlanta for a cost of $7,750. The contract for the approach to the bridge was awarded to J. M. King of Greenwood for $595. The work is to be completed by October 15.
May 2, 1900: Mr. C. K. Chreitzberg of Mr. Whitner’s corps of engineers will today commence the survey of the proposed highway from Rock Hill to Sutton’s Ferry. There are two possible routes, one from the base ball grounds to the ferry and the other from a point opposite the state farm to the ferry. The survey is being paid for by the Commercial Club.
July 7, 1900: The County Commissioners have decided on a surety bond of $10,000 for the contract with George W. Crafts for the erection of the bridge across the Catawba River.
July 28, 1900: We understand that the contractors are on the ground and have commenced the erection of the proposed highway bridge across the Catawba at Sutton’s old ferry.
August 11, 1900: Mr. George W. Crafts appeared before the County Commission Wednesday and asked them to approve the $15,000 bond already filed by him for the contract on the Catawba River bridge. This will be secured by a mortgage on the iron material already on the ground at Sutton’s Ferry. The County has secured a note from the National Union Bank for $8,000 needed to build the bridge, payable in four annual installments.
October 27, 1900: Mr. J. N. King, the contractor, completed the trestle approaches to the Sutton’s Ferry bridge over the Catawba River on Wednesday of this week, and as soon as it can be accepted by the County Commissioners, the bridge will be thrown open for public use. Work on the proposed new highway from Rock Hill to the bridge will begin at an early date.
November 7, 1900: The bridge over the Catawba River is now open to public travel.
February 9, 1901: Mr. Harry Wylie of the Catawba Water Power Company has requested the County Commission to construct a new road which will connect the new river bridge to Rock Hill. This will straighten the old road and save three miles in travel.
May 25, 1901: The Catawba River is reported to be higher than it has been since the “Sherman Flood” of February 1865. The river lacked only about four feet of reaching the flooring of the new bridge. (This article discussed damage to several rail trestles across the river and to the Garrison’s Mill building.) “The county bridge at Sutton’s Ferry has been very materially damaged. The approach from the north side [Fort Mill] has been washed away, occasioning heavy loss, and a gentleman who saw it Thursday thinks the middle span of the bridge is swayed.”
May 29, 1901: Damage to the Catawba River bridge. Mr. George H. Crafts, the contractor who erected the county bridge over the Catawba River, came to Rock Hill Thursday and in the company of Supervisor Gordon, went out to the river the inspect the bridge. He was of the opinion that the bridge has sustained damage amounting to perhaps $2,000. There are four sets or pairs of steel cylinders in the river, upon which the bridge rests. The second set, coming from Fort Mill, is out of plumb. Mr. Crafts is of the opinion that it will be cheaper to take out the upper cylinder of that pair entirely and supply a new one, rather than to attempt to move it back into place. It is safest not to reopen the bridge at this time. It will take about three months to order a new cylinder, and the county will need to rebuild the approaches to the bridge using the chain gang, which will take some time. Mr. Crafts thinks that the bridge not having been carried away last week, it has withstood a test and ought to allay any apprehension the public may have that it is not a safe structure at all times. The bridge will be closed at least until the end of the summer.
June 12, 1901: Supervisor Gordon and Commissioner Wilkinson went to the Catawba River bridge to investigate the damage. They have an offer from Mr. Craft for $1,425 to make repairs.
July 27, 1901: The county commissioners have advertised for bids for the repair of the bridge at Sutton’s Ferry.
Nov. 9, 1901: The Yorkville Enquirer reported the repair work on the bridge has been completed. It has been readjusted in a good alignment and the cylindrical piers have been incased in concrete.”
July 16, 1902: The County commission will meet to determine the route of the proposed road from Rock Hill to the County bridge over the Catawba River. Mr. W. W. Miller has completed surveys of two proposed routes. The upper route would begin at a point near Matthews Mill, leaving town near the home of Dr. Carothers. It will cross Dutchman’s Creek below the Neely’s Ferry road bridge. Then there would be a fork, one prong going to the bridge, the other to intersect with Neely’s Ferry Road about 200 yards southwest of the India Hook School House. The lower route would begin near the state farm.
On July 15 and 16, 1916, a flood of historic proportions devastated the Catawba River valley. Every highway and railroad bridge on the Catawba River in South Carolina was swept away, and as many as 50 people lost their lives. The Sutton’s Ferry Bridge was among those destroyed. An excellent resource on the flood is The Floods of July 1916: How the Southern Railway Met an Emergency, published 1917 by the Southern Railway Company. The Rock Hill Herald reported on July 17, 1916, “The county bridges over the Catawba River washed away yesterday afternoon. It is now impossible to travel by vehicle to Fort Mill. The bridge at Sutton’s Ferry was erected some years ago at a cost of around $11,000.”
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
Share Your Comments & Feedback: