Cator Woolford Bridge
In the summer of 2022, a large tree fell during a storm at Cator Woolford Gardens in Druid Hills, damaging a nearly 100-year-old stone bridge. The bridge serves as the main access point to the gardens and the Frazer Center school up the hill. While the structure remained intact, the side closest to the gardens and a corner across the road were significantly damaged. Fortunately, the road remained open for events and daily use, and most of the dislodged stones remained on site. With school and fall events approaching, it was important to complete the restoration quickly and efficiently . We coordinated closely with the gardens team, event staff, and the school to establish a work schedule that would not disrupt daily operations or scheduled events.
Once logistics were finalized and materials secured, we began by removing loose, damaged, or displaced elements. The damaged sections were carefully deconstructed down to stable stone and mortar. We then dry-set the stones to confirm layout and ensure sufficient material was available for reconstruction. Thankfully, all original face and interior stones were recoverable, allowing us to rebuild without sourcing new materials or significantly altering existing pieces. Most stones required only cleaning and removal of old mortar, with minimal reshaping.
Over several weekends, we rebuilt the bridge’s interior using filler stone and mortar to create a solid backing for the face stones. Once the structural work was complete, we installed capstones and completed the matching joint work. The mortar was color-matched to blend with the undamaged portions of the bridge, allowing repairs to naturally integrate over time. After cleanup, only minor decorative bead joint work remained. Throughout the project, community engagement was strong—passersby frequently stopped to ask questions and express appreciation, which we were always happy to engage with. We returned the following year to removing asphalt along the historic house, and were pleased to see the bridge holding up beautifully, with repairs blending seamlessly into the original structure.
