In this pre-1916 photograph, patriotic Spruce Pine residents are shown celebrating our nation’s heritage. Crossing the Toe River and the newly built railroad in the early 1900’s had been a challenge for travelers on the Marion to Bakersville Road. This was the first actual “bridge” across the Toe River into what becomes downtown. The participants are heading toward the English Inn, where commerce in Spruce Pine began. This bridge has a unfortunate history. Legend has it that a herd of cattle fell through it into the Toe River while crossing and it was destroyed by the Great Flood of 1916. The cabin in the background was located near the present-day Carolina Theatre on Lower Street. The original concrete pilings for the bridge are still visible from downtown Spruce Pine. A new concrete bridge was built in 1919, and was replaced with the current structure in the 1980’s.