Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

Famously Hot … Historically Cool for 225 years





This is a drawing of the the first bridge over the Congaree River in 1827.

This is a drawing of the the first bridge over the Congaree River in 1827.

Getting across the river between Granby (Saxe Gotha) to Columbia was difficult in the early years. Friday operated a ferry between Columbia and Granby from 1754 to 1800. Other ferries were operated by John Compty ( 1763- 1799), Henry McGowen (1799-1821), Stark (1806-1823), and Sharp ( 1811- 1827) over the Broad River.

Compty attempted to build a bridge at the site of his ferry in 1791 for George Washington’s visit but it washed away in the spring freshets (floods). Wade Hampton I built a bridge across the Congaree River in 1796 but it suffered a similar fate. The City of Columbia operated a ferry at the site of Hampton’s bridge until the first successful bridge was completed in 1827. This wooden bridge was burned to delay the advance of Sherman’s army in 1865. A concrete bridge was built in 1927 at the same location.

Henry McGowen built a bridge over the Broad River at Compty’s site in 1828. Christopher Sharp built another bridge three miles upriver at the same time.


This bridge was burned by Confederates to delay Sherman’s advance into Columbia in 1865.

This bridge was burned by Confederates to delay Sherman’s advance into Columbia in 1865.

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