The History of Albany’s Bridge House

Before 1858, crossing the Flint River in Albany, Georgia, meant relying on a ferry operated by city founder Nelson Tift—a risky venture, especially during fluctuating water levels. Seeking a safer solution, Tift hired Horace King in 1857. King, a formerly enslaved man and acclaimed bridge builder throughout the Southeast, was tasked with building Albany’s first bridge.

Completed in 1858, the Bridge House served multiple roles: the first floor housed Tift’s office and a toll collection station, while the second floor was home to a theatre known as Tift Hall. Travelers paid varying tolls based on whether they were on foot, with livestock, or traveling by wagon. Today, visitors can enjoy an overlook at the rear of the Bridge House, marking the historic bridge site.

In 1915, the Keenan family took over the property for their blacksmithing and repair business, later transforming the site into an automotive service and parts operation. Over the decades, the building saw numerous renovations to meet evolving demands.

Paul Keenan, a former Albany mayor who spent much of his life working in the Bridge House, deeded the building to Dougherty County in 2001. Declaring it a local monument, he dedicated it for public use. The Bridge House was reborn in 2008 as the Albany Welcome Center, preserving its storied past while serving new generations.

Born into slavery in 1807 in Cheraw, South Carolina, Horace King defied the odds to become one of the South’s most respected engineers. King was known for his innovative use of prefabricated structures—in fact, the bridge he built in Albany was fashioned from materials intended for a different project in Milledgeville.

The Bridge Hall, constructed from heart pine and local clay brick, featured thoughtful design: dirt-floored cellars accessible from the rear, tall ceilings, and large, light-filled halls. Four prominent brick chimneys anchored the structure, two each on the north and south walls.

The Bridge Hall and its accompanying bridge marked a turning point for Albany. Nelson Tift—entrepreneur, city founder, and railroad promoter—wanted to boost Albany’s prominence as an agricultural hub. His vision included improved infrastructure, and by 1857, the Georgia and Florida Railroad had reached Albany. A year later, the wooden toll bridge replaced the unreliable ferry system.

Spanning 930 feet across the Flint River, the bridge was routed directly through the Bridge Hall, where traffic passed by the toll keeper’s office. This strategic design helped regulate river crossings and emphasized the building’s civic and commercial significance.

In 1914, P.A. Keenan launched the Empire Smithing Company nearby, soon relocating it to the Bridge House. His forges roared in the cellar, using the original flues to vent smoke. The company specialized in blacksmithing, wheelwrighting, and general repairs, later evolving with the automobile age.