Where is the tallahatchie bridge?

Answer 1

The Tallahatchie Bridge mentioned in the song "Ode to Billie Joe" was in Money, MS (about 10 miles north of Greenwood, MS). This is the bridge that Bobbie Gentry was crossing in the 11/10/1967 LIFE Magazine article (P. 99). It collapsed on 06/19/1972, supposedly after it was set afire by vandals (according to Wikipedia). It was replaced by the current concrete bridge. Here's an article about the original bridge's collapse:

"Money Bridge Collapses, Greenwood Commonwealth, 06/20/1972, P. 1 (with 2 pictures)

MONEY - The TallahatchieRiverBridge here collapsed between 11:30 and midnight Monday and presumably joined Billy Joe MacAllister in the muddy waters of the Tallahatchie.

Leflore County Deputy Sheriff Ricky Banks said he received a call from Sheriff Rufus Freeman about 12:15 a.m. today telling him the bridge had collapsed.

Leflore County Second District Supervisor Ray Tribble had called Sheriff Freeman earlier when two boys who had been fishing discovered the bridge had collapsed. The two boys reportedly had gone upstream to fish and upon returning to Money found they couldn't get over the collapsed span in the Tallahatchie River.

Tribble and his county road foreman Homer Hawkins then blocked the bridge off at the approaches on each side to prevent anyone from driving into the river."

"[Caption under photos] - BRIDGE OUT AT MONEY - The middle section of the Tallahatchie river bridge at Money tilted towards its upstream side as it collapsed Monday night. The steel suspension bridge was built in 1927. Staff Photos by Steve Bailey. "

The bridge used in the movie "Ode to Billy Joe" did not cross the Tallahatchie River. It was located at Rising Sun, MS (about 10 miles south of Greenwood on the Yazoo River (Old Roebuck Road and CR 512). About 2 miles north of Greenwood (South of the original bridge), the Tallahatchie River and the Yalobusha River join to form the Yazoo River. The movie bridge was demolished in 1987 and replaced with the current concrete bridge.

Also note: The song never mentions that Billy Joe DIED. It just says that he jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge. Jumping off the original bridge from the song, however, would impale the jumper, as the waters are filled with sharp rocks.

The movie depicts Billy Joe's body being pulled from the water from the north side of the movie bridge (Yazoo River). The movie flaw here is that, if Billy Joe drowned, his body would have floated upstream (against the current).