Construction of Alvin C. York Bridge

Alvin C. York Bridge contruction

The Alvin C. York Bridge across the Tennessee River at Perryville built so travelers, business men, and the general public might have an easier, more convenient, and safer way of crossing the Tennessee River. This bridge was built in 1930, being opened on July 4, 1930. This bridge cost $665,000.00. It was operated as a toll bridge to defray the cost of construction.  This bridge was named in honor of Alvin C. York, Tennessee’s famous World War hero.

This picture is scanned from a postcard from the time. Thanks to Bart Taylor for providing this image.  The picture is made facing Perry County with only the first span over the river channel under construction.  The bridge was completed prior to the flooding of Kentucky Lake in 1944. The completed bridge is also viewed from another post card scan.

A close up of the barge shows two working men and details of the construction scaffolding.

15 Replies to “Construction of Alvin C. York Bridge”

  1. Thanks. Would love to see a discussion of the role of the bridge– along with roads and motor transportation– on the Landings in Decatur and Perry Counties.

    1. Gayle,

      Sorry but I just noticed your comment on the Alvin C. York Bridge. My wife is also a Riggs and was born a couple of miles from the bridge. Are you related to that Riggs family?

      Jerry

      1. My Riggs ancestors lived in Decatur Co starting after 1850. Several lived around the Sardis Ridge area. Give me some info on the Riggs line of your wife and I will see if she connects with mine. My g grandfather was Henry Calvin Riggs, born abt 1857 and buried in Sardis Ridge Cemetery.

        1. My wife’s line is Isaiah Calvin>Samuel Walter>Walter Herbert>Sybern>Linda. Is your Calvin the son of Isaiah Calvin and married to Eliza Lofton?

          1. Yes, Isaiah Calvin was my gg grandfather. I have Henry Calvin and Samuel Walter as half brothers. Small world afterall. I have the Riggs tree on Ancestry.com. Perhaps you and/or your wife can help fill in some of the blanks. The stone wall for many of us is the father of Isaiah; many posit a Jesse Riggs but there is no info on him. The mother of Isaiah was Melinda and she with the kids except for William George are in the 1850 Census of Tishomingo Co, MS. William George is in Decatur Co in the 1850 C. My grandfather Ezra, son of Henry Calvin, and family moved from Decatur Co aft 1920, ending up in SE MO. There are still a bunch of Riggs relatives in that part of the country.

        2. Ezra Riggs was my great grandfathers half brother. I was told as a child that they left Decatur County in 1928 with his brother Eafs family. My grandad remembered them coming by the farm in Parsons on their way through. His name was Arthur Riggs who married Annie Steed Riggs.

          1. Hi Kevin,

            Thanks for the info. Ezra was my grandfather. His date of birth has been hard to pin down. As kids, we were told he was born in 1879 and his dau (my aunt) insists it was 1879 or 1880. Yet, the early census info and his draft registration suggest he was born in 1889. I see you refer to Ezra and Arthur as half brothers– this would place Ezra’s dob in the earlier period. Makes a difference as to Ezra’s mother since Henry Calvin married twice, in 1876 and 1886. Your input appreciated.

          2. Oh, wondering what info you have on Ellen Conder, second wife of Henry Calvin. I have spent considerable time on her and find her ancestry a big puzzle.

          3. Morning Kevin,

            I still have Isiah Riggs’ (our common ancestor) father as a brick wall. Wondering if there has been a break through from your end. My aunt (Grace Helen dau of Ezra Riggs) and I visited your mom, Pat, in Parsons in about 2000. She took us around to some of the cemeteries. Aunt Grace deceased in 2013.

  2. Mr Mother was born about a mile from the East end of the bridge. She was 7 when it was built. Her Daddy had a farm on the river just west of the bridge. My grandparents are buried in Weems Cemetary on spring creek 2 miles up river from the bridge. M<y cousin jumped off the bridge on a dare in the 50's and survived.

  3. Raised in Perryville all my life until a few years ago. This bridge has lots of memories-good & bad, but a big part of my youth. Dies anyone know who the men are in the cover picture on this site?

  4. I am the Son of Martha and Thomas Parsons. I have heard my Mother and Father both tell me about an old Indian man who lived somewhere on the banks of the Tennessee River at the AC York Bridge, on the western side. I am not sure if it was under he bridge or in a cave. Has anyone else ever hear of this?

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