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Dear
Texas Escapes:
On your web page Waxahachie
Images, you have a lovely photo of an old iron bridge. The photo
is captioned: Historic bridge near downtown Waxahachie. |
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I
thought it might interest you and your readers to know that this bridge
has a sister. The bridge in the photograph was built by the Iron Bridge
Company of Canton Ohio. That same company built a second bridge in
Ellis County to span Chambers Creek. This second bridge was completed
in 1888 and the note was paid off in 1890.
It lived its life in that location until 1981, when, sadly it could
now longer satisfy the increased demands the modern world was placing
on it. But the story doesn't end there... |
As
the saying goes, there was good news, and there was bad news:
The good news was that the bridge was sold by the County to a developer
who relocated the bridge to its current location in Ellis County:
1890 crossing, spanning the Spring Creek, where it is daily used and
deeply loved by residents of Ellis County. |
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bad news was that by moving the bridge, the bridge lost it's official
"Historic" status. This is important, because the bridge is once again
under threat. |
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Residents
of the Spring Creek area were surprised to see construction crews
putting up "bridge out" signs. When they inquired more, only then
were they told that the bridge was about to be demolished in order
to make way for a new, modern, 2 lane concrete bridge. While TxDoT
has a procedure for such projects, that includes at least 2 public
outreach sessions to gage the feelings of the community, that process
was not followed.
Given the short amount of time, the citizens had no other recourse
but to file an injunction against the county to stop construction.
In doing so, they also invited the county to sit down with them and
discuss other options for saving the bridge.
No such luck.
After hearing the requests of their constituents, the county commissioner
decided that an appropriate response would be to authorize filing
suit against the citizens who are trying to save the bridge.
Please help get the word out. To anyone who loves these historic reminders
of our past, we need your help. |
Please
contact the Ellis county commissioners and let them know that this
bridge is loved, and needs to remain in its current location. Please
call or e-mail them and ask them to save the Spring Creek Bridge.
In particular, we want letters and phone calls to go to our commissioners,
TxDoT, and our federal representatives (80% of the money being used
for this project is federal money).
Commissioners
Pct. 1 - Dennis Robinson (972) 449-3260 Dennis.Robinson@co.ellis.tx.us
Pct. 2 - Larry Jones (972) 875-3241 Judy.borders@co.ellis.tx.us
Pct. 3 - Heath Sims (972) 483-7477 Alysa.Kirton@co.ellis.tx.us
Pct. 4 - Ron Brown (972) 723-8017 Stacey.Lee@co.ellis.tx.us
Hon. John Cornyn P-(972) 239-1310
F-(972) 239-2110
Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison
P-(214)361-3500
F-(214)361-3502
Hon. Joe Barton P-(972) 875-8488
There is a very short time frame to do something. We are being forced
to drop our lawsuit due to the financial pressure being put on us
by TxDoT so time is definitely running out.
- Joe Bento, Ellis County Resident, June 30, 2005 |
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Texas
Escapes,
in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas,
asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us.
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