Chess Richardson Memorial Bridge: A historic bridge for a small town ledgend

When traveling east on LA 16, in order to get into the small town of Franklinton, Louisiana, you will need to cross over the Bogue Chitto River. To do this, you will travel over the Chess Richardson Memorial Bridge. Though the bridge does not have the same iron beam cross design that it once had, the remembrance of Col. Hardy Chesley Richardson is still the same.

Colonel Hardy Chesley Richardson was born on April 20th 1822, in a small community named Ben's Ford, Louisiana. He was married to Martha Warren and they lived together in Sunny Hill, Louisiana until his death in 1888. It is said that Col. Richardson was a very large man, standing anywhere from 6 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 6 inches and weighing roughly 250 pounds.

The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 between the north and south in America. The reason for the American Civil War was because of the abolishing of slavery. The South was trying to keep slavery to help keep their economy. The North wanted to abolish slavery and make everyone free. The North fought under the Union Army. The South fought under the Confederate Army. Since Louisiana is located in the south, they joined the Confederacy. Col. Richardson was a colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He was in charge of "Camp Moore" in Tangipahoa Parish, where 200 men trained to fight for the Confederacy. His crew, also known as the Washington Rifles, went on to join General Robert E. Lee's army in Virginia. Col. Richardson's army fought in eight battles. They fought in the following: First Manassas (Bull Run), Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Sharpsburg, Chancellorsville, Second Manassas, Petersburg, and the raid on Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In their final battle, the raid on Chambersburg, Col. Richardson was shot and wounded and would end his leadership in the Confederate Army.

Upon his return back home, Col. Richardson raised cattle, served as the parish clerk of court in Washington Parish, and served on the Louisiana State Senate. He also ran for the United States Senate but lost the election by three votes. He would suddenly pass away on July 5th 1888, after collapsing on his front porch.

The Chess Richardson Memorial Bridge began construction in 1935 and was offically opened on April 23rd, 1936. The bridge would be a significant piece of history in Franklinton, Louisiana, until in 1989, the Louisiana State Legislature and the DOTD would decide on tearing down the bridge and replacing it with a modern bridge. The bridge was officially torn down in 1998, and the new bridge was officially opened on March 18th, 1998.

Col. Hardy Chesley Richardson's service in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and his public service in Washington Parish left a lasting impact in Eastern Louisiana. As travelers pass by the Varnado Store Museum, they can still see the iconic sign that once was mounted on the bridge.