Volunteers building bridge replica at Visitor Center

The newest addition to the Kinston-Lenoir County Visitor and Information Center is a replica of the former Neuse River bridge destroyed during the Civil War.

The replica, at 24 feet long, is a scaled-down version of the wooden drawbridge that granted access to Kinston from the south.

Union troops burned the bridge when they occupied the city following the First Battle of Kinston in December 1862 and the pilings still remain next to the present-day Queen Street bridge.

"It's been a project that's been a long time coming, and it's going to add a lot to the monument plaza," Lenoir County Tourism Director Lucy Marston said of the replica, which volunteers from Kinston's Mormon congregations are building.

Marston has conceptual drawings created by Dunn and Dalton Architects of Kinston in 2005 showing the replica connected to a historical plaza featuring the county's Confederate soldier monument.

Although the Visitor Center opened in late 2007, the bridge-building has not started until now because of a lack of money.

Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Director Bill Ellis, who is overseeing the project, said the Mormons have volunteered their labor and Kinston Builders Supply donated some building materials.

Ellis estimated Tuesday that he will spend $500 - taken from the Visitor Center budget - at most on the project for additional materials. He expects the project to be complete in about two weeks.

About 20 volunteers spent Saturday sinking the bridge pilings. Other volunteers were clearing part of the river bank for Pride of Kinston's annual Clean-Up Day, and more worked on projects at South Lenoir High School and Pink Hill's recreation center.

Chad Howard, a counselor in the Bishopric of the Mormon Church's Second Ward in Kinston, said he offered the volunteer services to local officials for the Church's designated day of service, also on Saturday.

"We want to help out in the community as much as possible, and help Kinston grow as much as possible," Howard said. "These are things that we could do at no cost to the city."

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.

Fast facts
-The Kinston-Lenoir County Visitor and Information Center is jointly operated by the county and the city.
-It is located at the intersection of U.S. 70 East and U.S. 258 South
-Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday