Feud over bridge leads to unusual landmark over Big Escambia Creek

Peobles Bridge over Big Escambia Creek

One of the most unusual landmarks in Conecuh County is the old Peobles Bridge, which spans Big Escambia Creek on the Old Stage Road, west of Repton.

Peobles (sometimes spelled “Peebles”) Bridge is located about 10 miles south of U.S. Highway 84 on the Old Stage Road, which makes up the border between Conecuh and Monroe counties. This portion of the Old Stage Road follows the route of the Old Federal Road, which was established in the early 1800s as a military and postal road from Georgia to New Orleans.

A few days ago, I found myself traveling down the Old Stage Road and pulled over at the bridge, which many people mistakenly call Hollinger’s Bridge. Those of you who have been there before will know that there is a historical marker at the north end of the bridge. I’d been to this spot many times before, but I couldn’t resist picking my way through the tall roadside grass for a closer look at the marker.

Here’s what it has to say: OLD FEDERAL ROAD, John Peobles had an established toll bridge over Little Escambia Creek in the early 1800s. A dispute over the bridge arose between Peobles and John Hollinger. As a result, Hollinger built a toll free bridge adjacent to Peobles’ toll bridge. Erected in 1998 by Monroe County Heritage Museums and the J.L. Bedsole Foundation.

Reading this, I was reminded some of the details on this marker don’t quite gee-haw with other information that I’ve read about the bridge. The best source that I’ve found about Peobles Bridges comes from a document called “Places Along the Federal Road” by Monroe County historian Steve Stacey. Stacey wrote that the bridge was first established by David Peobles, who was granted the right to construct a toll bridge across Big Escambia Creek by the state legislature.

“After (John) Hollinger and Peobles had some misunderstanding at the bridge, Hollinger built his bridge on a detour of the Federal road and reduced the toll for his bridge,” Stacey said. “Peobles made his bridge toll free, and John Hollinger, being on the detour, lost everything he had invested in his bridge. The modern wooden bridge was constructed at the site of Hollinger’s Bridge and has been called Hollinger’s Bridge ever since. The new concrete bridge was constructed at the site of Peobles’ Bridge but retains the name Hollinger’s Bridge today.”

Not having anywhere in particular to be the other day, I walked out onto the bridge and looked down the creek. Through the dense, green foliage I could just make out the remnants of the old wooden bridge downstream. If you go there in the wintertime, after the leaves have dropped from the trees, it’s a lot easier to see the old wooden bridge.

I eventually climbed back in my truck and pointed it towards home. On the way, I thought about how ghost stories and local legends are often attached to old bridges. One is left to wonder if there are any such tales related to Peobles Bridge or Hollinger’s Bridge.

Big Escambia Creek would have been also been a major source of fresh water for Indians living in our area centuries ago. No doubt there are many old Indian village and camp sites up and down its banks. I also wouldn’t be surprised to learn that there are a few Indian mounds scattered here and there along this sizeable creek.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about Peobles Bridge and Hollinger’s Bridge. Also, let me know if you know of any spooky tales about this area or if you know of any old Indian sites in this part of the county. It would be a shame not to document this information before it becomes lost into the forgotten fogs of history.