We are fortunate in northern Georgia to have several covered bridges in the vicinity. Danita and I checked out one only a few miles away from Athens.

The Elder Mill Covered Bridge is located off of Georgia Route 15, (the Greensboro Highway), south of the city of Watkinsville.

The bridge dates from 1897 and is one of 13 covered bridges remaining in Georgia that still carries traffic.

The 99-foot long bridge was built in 1897 by Nathaniel Richardson.

The Town lattice design uses tightly spaced diagonal beams that are anchored at each intersection with wooden pegs.

The bridge's name is a reference to the mill owned by the Elder family to which this bridge provided access.

The bridge originally carried traffic across Calls Creek in Watkinsville, but was moved to this location in 1924.

This is one of the few covered bridges in Georgia that carries traffic even though it does not have steel beams supporting the deck.

This bridge is called a "Town" lattice bridge because it was built using architect Ithiel Town’s lattice truss method that he patented in 1820.

The support beams are arranged in a closely spaced diagonal pattern and anchored at each intersection.

Currently, the bridge carries traffic across Rose Creek south of Watkinsville.

Originally, the bridge crossed over Calls Creek roughly 6 miles north of this location.

The bridge was moved to this location, (crossing over Rose Creek), in 1924.

Rose Creek south of Watkinsville, Georgia.

Rose Creek south of Watkinsville, Georgia.

This is one of several covered bridges in northern Georgia that are relatively close to Athens.