The Steele’s Bridge Incident

On this week’s episode we’re unraveling a piece of Cherokee County history that speaks to resilience, conflict, and a forgotten act of sabotage. Nestled in the heart of the Bridge Mill Community lies Steel’s Bridge Road, once a route that led to an old wooden covered bridge spanning the Etowah River. Today, the remnants of that bridge rest beneath the waters of Lake Allatoona, a lake constructed by the Corps of Engineers in the wake of World War II. But this isn’t just a story of a submerged structure; it’s a poignant chapter in our history that takes us back to the turmoil of World War I—a tragedy we should never forget.

During the Great War, while many brave young men answered the call to service, others chose a different path, seeking refuge from the draft. In the greater Atlanta area, “anti-draft clubs” sprang up, fostering defiance against conscription and aiding those who resisted. By June 1918, federal authorities and local police knew that dozens of these men were hidden in the remote areas of Cherokee County, prompting a dramatic response. On Sunday, June 16th, 1918, fifty soldiers from Camp Gordon embarked on a mission, accompanied by federal agents and journalists, in a convoy of Velie trucks and police cars, to capture those evading the draft.

But on that fateful day, as they journeyed north past Woodstock and toward Canton, a catastrophe unfolded on Steel’s Bridge. The calamity that took place that day was an act not of misfortune, but of deliberate sabotage—and the men responsible for it have never been found and held accountable.

In today’s episode, we honor the memory of those soldiers who perished on Steel’s Bridge and reflect on a time when war, disease, and defiance intersected in a small Georgia town. Stay tuned as we dive into the full story of the Steel’s Bridge sabotage—a reminder of the countless unseen battles fought not only in fields far away but also in the quiet, hidden corners of our own hometowns.  With Veteran’s Day only a week away, this is Witness of the Times.