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King Bridge Company agents, including Zenas’s nephew George King, were very active in these southwestern states. Texas, in particular, has been very active in preserving many of these old bridges. (Check this website for more Texas historic bridge information http://www.historicbridgefoundation.com/ipages/texas/texas.html)
TEXAS
1.The Bullman Bowstring* - 1884 – Hamilton County* (85 feet) * This is the most complete and substantial of the remaining bowstrings in Texas and one of three contracted by the King Bridge Company for the County. Located on the old Waco-Hamilton Road, this bridge is included in the State transportation enhancement program and will be a feature in a State approved park.[3] (see PRESERVATION and 2005 Update + NEW 6/15/03) The Jonesboro Bridge in Hamilton County, Texas – (64 feet) – 1884*This bridge is the second of the Kings and was left in place when a bypass bridge was built in 1988 across the Leon River. Along with the Bullman Bridge, it is designated eligible for nomination for the National Historic Register. Note: Two other King bridges, the third bowstring of 85 feet and a Pratt truss built in 1897 have been moved out of Hamilton County, the bowstring to Fort Worth and the Pratt truss to Travis County. 2. The Faust Street Bridge – 1887- New Braunfels, Comal County (2 spans, 640 feet) 1887* --This impressive Whipple Truss once served as the major highway crossing of the Guadalupe River on “El Camino Real” connecting Austin and San Antonio. As one of the most important historic bridges in Texas, it has been restored by the County to serve foot and bicycle traffic needing access to the river. (see NEW 6/15/03) 3. Moores Crossing Bridge# – 1884 – Austin, Travis County Three of the six spans that was the Congress Avenue Bridge across the Colorado River in Austin and featured in the King Bridge Company sales catalogue of the 1880s now reside in Richard Moya Park near the Austin airport after a long and turbulent history. It is being repaired as pedestrian crossing of Onion Creek.[6] (see NEW 3/9/03) 4. The Alton Bridge -1884- – Denton County The records of the Denton County Commissioners Court from the 1880s and 1890s indicates that 14 bridges were built by the King Bridge Company in the County during that period (and another 12 built by George E. King & Co. founded by Zenas King’s nephew). This Pratt through truss across Hickory Creek is the only one still in place and was preserved as part of a hiking and equestrian trail system thanks to the efforts of the Denton County Historical Commission and others.[5] The Gregory Road Bridge in Denton County, Texas – (66 feet) –1880sA pony truss across Duck Creek is scheduled for demolition unless The Denton County Historical Commission, which is currently looking at ways to save some of these old structures, can find another use for it. (see NEW 7/1/03) 5. The Piano Bridge – 1885 –Dubina, Fayette County This is one of three King bridges ordered by the county. It is a Pratt truss across the East Navidad River that still has it builder’s plate and has been documented by the Historic Bridge Foundation of Texas. (see 2005 Update) Two people who have sent us recent pictures of the Piano Bridge near Dubina, Texas which had been featured on the Historic Bridge Foundation website and included in their bridge calendar of 2001, with the dramatic photo of a yellow thunderbird crossing it. (photo by Billy Moore of LCRA). Gary Alford of Upstream Engineering referred us to the following link (www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsSouth/DubinaTexas/Dubina-Texas-Piano -Bridge .htm) Marilyn Tomalavage sent us the following four lovely shots of the bridge taken in June 2005. She can be contacted at MTomalavage@johncrane.com.
6. The Green Creek (Co. Rd 270) RR Bridge -1906- near Clairette, Erath Co (see NEW 9/12/04) 7. The Bosque River (Co. Rd 270) RR Bridge-1906- near Hico, Erath Co. (see NEW 9/12/04)
OKLAHOMA 1.The Salt Creek Truss (on rte. OK 9A) – 1896 – Seminole County (see NEW 9/12/04 link http://okbridges.wkinsler.com/saltcreek9.html)
ARKANSAS 1.The Springfield Bowstring – 1874 – Faulkner County- As documented in“Great American Bridges and Dams” by Donald C. Jackson, (John Wiley & Sons 1988)., this 188 foot bowstring is the oldest highway bridge in Arkansas and oldest remaining bowstring in the State. It is also in the HAER register and is cited in (see NEW 9/12/04 http://bridges.midwestplaces.com/ar/faulkner/cadron/) 2. The Mickles-Danville (Petit Jean) Bowstring -1880- Yell County (see NEW 6/6/06 http://bridges.midwestplaces.com/ar/yell/bowstring/) | ||||||||||||||||
