Cromer's Mill Covered Bridge
Also known as: Nails Creek Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Cromer's Mill Covered Bridge crosses Nails Creek about eight miles south of Carnesville in Franklin County, Georgia. Built in 1907 under a county contract won by James M. Hunt with a low bid of $1,623, it is a single 111-foot span of rough-sawn heart pine in the Town Lattice design, with stone abutments built by Will Cromer. The name comes from the Cromer family, who settled on the creek in 1845 and ran a woolen mill downstream before the Civil War; a cotton gin, flour mill and saw mill later operated nearby, all ceasing by 1943. Few alterations have been made: a metal roof replaced wooden shingles, restrictive portals were added, and supports were placed beneath the span, including a steel truss in 1967. Georgia retains only 21 covered bridges, and this is one of 13 Town Lattice examples. A modern concrete bridge now carries Route 106, but the old bridge remains in use at a limited level.
Significance in brief: The bridge is a surviving example of the Town Lattice truss, one of 13 in Georgia and one of 21 covered bridges left in the state. It is named for the Cromer family, who settled at the site in 1845 and ran a woolen mill nearby. Reviewers noted it is the only covered bridge left in the county.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76000619, listed August 17, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8 mi. S of Carnesville at Nails Creek, Carnesville |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | August 17, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000619 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1907 |
| Architect / builder | James M. Hunt (contractor); Will Cromer built the stone abutments |
| Architectural style | Town Lattice truss covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and still passable for vehicles on a restricted basis, maintained by county highway crews; bypassed by a nearby concrete bridge. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 34.27496, -83.26567 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76000619.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58904084
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.