Alabama Department of Archives and History
Rooster Bridge
Demopolis, Sumter County
U.S. Highway 80, 3 miles east of State Road 28
The marker
says, "In 1919 a rooster sale organized by Frank Derby raised money to
begin construction of a bridge over the Tombigbee River at Moscow Ferry.
This was the last link in the completion of the Dixie Overland Highway
between Savannah and San Diego. The idea was 'to bridge the 'Bigbee with
cocks:' Roosters would be solicited from world-famous persons and an
auction and barbeque held in the city of Demopolis for the benefit of
the bridge. Congressmen 'Buck' Oliver, Admiral William S. Benson, and
Secretary of Navy Josephus Daniels helped sell President Wilson on the
idea … By August 14, 1919, 600 roosters (and one hen from Helen Keller)
had arrived in Demopolis. President Wilson's rooster auctioned for
$44,000. Over $200,000 was pledged, but most was not collected. The
names of 88 donors appear on markers at the original site one mile
downstream. With the addition of state and federal funds the bridge was
constructed and opened in 1925 as Memorial Bridge … In July, 1971, a
bill … decreed that all future bridges over the Tombigbee at Moscow
would be named Rooster Bridge and bear plaques relating the unique plan
devised by Frank Derby in building the first bridge."
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