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From the Texas Historic Sites Atlas:
Narrative: During a flood of the Colorado River in 1938
an older bridge at Regency, Texas, was destroyed. Mills
and San Saba counties combined their efforts to build
a new bridge across the deep ravines of the Colorado River
at Regency. Bids for construction were advertised by both
counties with the Austin Bridge Company of Dallas, Texas
receiving the contract. Both counties agreed to supply
lumber for use in building the flooring.
Construction began in February 1939 with excavation of
the banks of the river. Six to eight feet of earth were
removed so that footings for the towers could be poured.
After the concrete and steel towers were built, a falsework
was constructed across the Colorado River to support beams
and trusses while cable was strung above them. This falsework
washed away during high water on the Colorado River, but
it was rebuilt and construction resumed.
The
cables consisted of 475 strands of No. 9 galvanized wire
and each cable passed over towers at both ends of the
bridge. Both of the cables were anchored at each end by
pouring concrete into excavated holes and placing the
ends of the cable into it. Beams and trusses were connected
to the cable by vertical one-inch turnbuckles. Eventually
the cable and abutments held all the weight of the bridge
plus vehicular traffic passing over it.
The
Regency Suspension Bridge spans 340 feet from tower to
tower. Both cables are pulled tight for another 134 feet
behind each tower where they are anchored into the ground.
The towers rise approximately 30 feet above the bridge
floor. Maximum sag in the cable was not to exceed 7 feet
above the floor of the bridge. The bridge stands 25 feet
above the recorded high water level of the Colorado River
at Regency. The flooring for the bridge was constructed
with 4 by 12 inch lengths of lumber.
All
work on the Regency Suspension Bridge was with hand labor
and light-weight equipment. Local residents were used
for common labor and worked 60 hours a week. Those individuals
who were not local residents boarded at the nearby Regency
Store.
Construction
on the bridge was completed in October 1939. The bridge
has maintained its structural integrity since that time
with a minimum amount of maintenance. Today it is in need
of painting and floor repair, but it remains sound and
should continue to serve the surrounding area.
Built
for the counties of Mills and San Saba by the Austin Bridge
Company of Dallas Texas, the Regency Suspension Bridge
is one of the last remaining suspension bridges in use
in Texas. Although it does not meet the National Register
of Historic Places age requirement, extenuating circumstances
make its nomination necessary. It is likely that the bridge
will be destroyed within a short period of time.
In
1938 after a flood along the Colorado River destroyed
the older, heavily used bridge at Regency, Texas, a suspension
bridge was erected in 1939 to reopen the transportation
link between San Saba and Brownwood. Cotton and other
agricultural products were shipped to market along this
route. This bridge also provided an accessible crossing
of the Colorado River for persons living in this locale.
Since
its construction the Regency Suspension Bridge has maintained
its structural integrity with a minimum amount of maintenance.
Although today it needs painting and floor repair, the
structure remains sound and should continue to serve its
surrounding agricultural area.
BIBLIOGRAPHY ON FILE IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER
Historical marker Marker Text: (near extinct town of Regency,
4.4 mi. S)
This area's first Colorado River bridge was at Regency,
on Mills-San Saba County line. Built 1903, it served ranchers
and farmers for going to market, but fell in 1924, killing
a boy, a horse, and some cattle. Its successor was demolished
by a 1936 flood. With 90 per cent of the work done by
hand labor, the Regency Suspension Bridge was erected
in 1939. It became the pride of the locality, and youths
gathered there in the 1940s to picnic, dance, and sing.
Bypassed by paved farm roads, it now (1976) survives as
one of the last suspension bridges in Texas. (1976, 1997)
- Texpert
