Beginnings…
Indigo Blue began on a cold afternoon in January 2009. We decided to head north to visit the Poinsett Bridge in Northern Greenville County. Built in 1820, Poinsett is the oldest surviving bridge in South Carolina. If you’ve never visited this historical bridge, picture a scene from Washington Irving’s Sleepy Hollow (minus the headless horseman, of course). It’s creepy, yet hauntingly beautiful at the same time. On a stark January day you can feel 189 years of history as she stands guard in quiet solitude.
Poinsett Bridge was named for South Carolina native Joel Roberts Poinsett. Poinsett was the first minister to Mexico and served as U.S. Secretary of War. This Charleston native was responsible for introducing a beautiful flower to the U.S. from a region of Mexico called Taxco del Alarcon. This spectacular winter blooming flower later became known as the Poinsettia. The 14 foot Gothic stone bridge named for the brilliant statesman was built to connect the state road from Charleston to Asheville, NC through Columbia. The bridge is located 5 miles east of Highway 25 near the North Carolina line.
While we were there, we discovered several trails that provided stimulating exploration. One such trail takes you to the summit of Camp Old Indian. This highly respected Boy Scout Camp is responsible for the beautification and general maintenance involving the bridge. The hike took approximately ten minutes to complete. This gave us a stunning perspective of the surrounding area. Even though we felt the brute force of a cold winter day, this fascinating piece of history provided us with a memorable afternoon of hiking and reflection. The sheer beauty and antiquity make the Poinsett Bridge a must see.
Poinsett Bridge is also known for it’s haunted side. There are several different accounts of ghosts who might haunt the area surrounding the bridge. The most prevalent story is that of a slave who was hanged from the bridge before the outbreak of the Civil War. There have also been accounts of a laborer who died while constructing the bridge. Some also say that an old indian tribe haunts the area. I truly don’t have a strong opinion either way on the hauntings involving Poinsett Bridge. There is one thing I am sure of regarding this old standby in northern Greenville County. I will never visit Poinsett Bridge after dark.
INDIGO BLUE NOTES: Poinsett Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Also, if you like historical bridges you might want to visit Campbell’s Covered Bridge in nearby Gowensville. Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the last remaining covered bridge in the state of South Carolina.
To see more pictures of Poinsett Bridge please visit our photo gallery.
