Friday, May 3, 2024
An unveiling ceremony at the historic 1904 Leon River Bridge in Gatesville will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m.
A plaque will be dedicated designating the bridge being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge was recognized with a Texas historical marker in 1997 following the restoration of the iron bridge which was approved by the Texas State Historical Commission in 1993. The bridge was also recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1996 following its rededication in 1994.
The Gatesville route of the crossing of the Leon River was first known as the Old Georgetown Road crossing which was in existence by 1854. Originally, a ferry operated at the crossing which was owned by R.G. Grant who was a local entrepreneur and land developer.
A bowstring truss bridge was erected at the site in 1882 and was the first metal truss bridge in Coryell County. It was damaged by two major floods in 1899 and 1900. Following the floods, the county commissioner’s court authorized the building of another bridge.
The George E. King Company of Des Moines, Iowa built the current structure in 1904. Features of the new bridge included steel construction, wooden decking, original lattice railings, pin-connected members, and elaborate stone abutments. The overall length of 141 feet from end to end allows for the 4-foot depth of masonry piers supporting the bridge.
The 1904 bridge served as a major east-west artery for central Texas. The road became part of State Highway 7 in 1917 and was renamed U.S. Highway 84 in the 1930s.
The upcoming ceremony naming the bridge to the National Register of Historic Places will take place with Coryell County Judge Roger Miller presiding over the plaque dedication where he will talk about the history of the bridge. Joining Judge Miller will be the chairman of the Coryell County Historical Commission, Danny Corbett.
The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government’s official list of the historic buildings, sites, structures, and objects worthy of preservation and is overseen by the National Park Service. The National Register is an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. and is associated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The public is encouraged to attend the unveiling ceremony on Nov. 2 to recognize this historic Coryell County site.
