Bellamy Bridge & Christoff’s Ferry

By Dale Cox
The first Bellamy Bridge was built in 1850 by Dr. Samuel C. Bellamy under contract with the Jackson County Commission. It was an open, wood bridge. Bellamy, of course, was the husband of Elizabeth Bellamy about whom the ghost story grew. It was called Bellamy Bridge because his brother, Edward, owned the land there. The current iron structure was built sometime around 1900 and is one of the last surviving such structures in Jackson County.

Regarding Christoff’s, the first mention of it I have found is from 1826, before Marianna was founded. The original road or trail leading east to west through the center of Jackson County crossed the Chipola River at the Natural Bridge at Florida Caverns. This road was used by the Spanish at least as early as 1674 and it remained in use until after 1818. Then, as settlers began making their way into the county, a pretty large settlement grew in what was called the “Chipola District.” This was the area basically from U.S. 90 North to Waddell’s Mill Creek and from the Chipola west to U.S. 231. These first settlers continued using the crossing at the Natural Bridge, but it proved difficult because the swamps there overflow badly when the river is high.

At some point between 1818 and 1826 they relocated the road slightly to cross at Cristoff’s Ferry. This provided a better approach to the river and allowed travelers to avoid the swamps around the Natural Bridge. The earliest record I have found is an advertisement by an inn keeper who placed ads in the Pensacola paper announcing that he was moving his inn from Cristoff’s Ferry on the Chipola to a hill about 1/2 mile west. It remained an important ferry until Marianna was established, then diminished in importance, although a raft or “flat” was kept there for years after.