An artistic look at the Bynum Bridge

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The Bynum Bridge is an icon within the Bynum community.

Bynum began as a cotton mill community in the late 1800s with homes on the hill being rentals for the mill workers. By the 1970s, the county began purchasing the homes and providing the opportunity for the workers to purchase them. While many purchased their homes, many of the workers also chose to sell there homes, ushering a new population of residents. The mill closed in 1983.

Originally, the Haw River was spanned by a wooden covered bridge which was replaced in 1922 by what was essentially a single-laned bridge. When it was closed to road traffic in the 1990s when the current Haw River bridge on US15-501 was constructed, the bridge remained a pedestrian bridge connecting both sides of Bynum.

Over the years, the bridge has become a sort of “free expression” bridge drawing impromptu artists. That only makes sense considering the residents of Bynum include artists, musicians, creatives, and philanthropists. In recent years, the bridge has hosted pumpkin carving displays at Halloween and firework displays.

Most recently, a Craig and Amanda Greiner, have use the bridge as a back drop for an exhibition of local artists called Bynum BridgeFest which will occur on April 20. With the vision of a French promenade open-air art gallery, the pair have held the event for several years to benefit local artists and raise money for charity.

With Chatham Park coming, there was a lot of discussion of what’s the end fate of the bridge,” Craig Greiner said.

The Greiners, as with many of the residents of Bynum and the surrounding community, hope the bridge will continue to be a community gathering place that remains essentially as it is. The art on the bridge constantly changes and it provides a unique opportunity for visitors to watch the Haw River below or to view the night sky.

Bynum, Bynum Bridge, Bridgefest, Art, Chatham County