HomeMy WebLinkAboutOld Iron Bridge and McCormick Barn - Texas Historical Marker Application, Newspaper clippings, and Notes"We're Building a Beautiful Tomorrow"
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September 17, 1987
Texas Historical Commission
P. 0. Box 12276
Austin, Texas 78711
Gentlemen:
I have read your guidelines for preserving historical bridges and notice
that to receive a historical marker for a bridge that has been moved, it
must have been moved at least 50 years ago. We have a bridge in Euless
that we refer to as "Old Iron Bridge," that was moved in the middle 70's;
therefore disqualifying it for a historical marker under your guidelines.
Although we have not yet determined the exact date of the bridge, we are
following the lead that it was built about 1920.
The bridge was originally built on Euless North Main Street, and when it
became necessary to widen the street and build a new bridge over Little
Bear Creek, in order to save the bridge the City moved it to South Euless
Park. It now adorns the creek at that park and is used as a walking
bridge. It is well maintained by the City and considered a valuable piece
of history.
Are there any other avenues that we can take to obtain a historical marker
or some other recognition for this bridge? I will anxiously await your
response.
Sincerely,
Kay Rainey, CMC
City Secretary
KR/kb
201 N. Ector Drive • Euless, Texas 76039-3595 • 817/283-5381 Metro 267-4403
TEXAS HI S TO
P.O. BOX 12276
Kay Rainey, CMC
City Secretary
City of Euless
201 N. Ector Drive
Euless, Texas 76039-3595
Dear Ms. Rainey:
CURTIS TUNNELL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
R I C A L
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711
October 6, 1987
COMMISSION
(512)463-6100
RECE W,
OCT 0 81987
In response to your recent letter concerning the preservation of
the "Old Iron Bridge" in Euless, I have enclosed several items that
may be of interest to you, including a preservation guideline on
"Preserving Historic Bridges."
Also enclosed is an Official Texas Historical Marker application form;
while it is true that a moved structure is not eligible for the
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark designation, the bridge may qualify
for a subject marker if its significance to the history of transpor-
tation, commerce, etc., in Euless can be documented and justified.
Additional information concerning the marker program is also
enclosed.
Please do not hesitate to contact me for further assistance.
Sincerely,
46x�cu_& i�('cka&l
Frances Rickard, Director
State Marker Program
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Enclosures
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TEXAS PRESERVATIONGuIDELINES
PRESERVING HISTORIC BRIDGES
Trade routes, and the roads and
trails that constitute them, are critical
determinants in the development of
any new region. Roads and trails, in
large part, directed the earliest pat-
terns of settlement in Texas. It was
along their paths, at a convenient
river or stream ford, or near a source
of good water, that pioneers first set
down their roots, erecting the mills,
trading posts, and stagecoach stops
that woud generate the first villages.
Fords and ferries, early methods of
crossing water sources, tended to be
slow, hazardous, and unreliable dur-
ing floods. It was a distinct sign of
permanent communities when
strong, safe bridges were built to
facilitate commerce.
Throughout the 19th century and
continuing into the 20th, the evolu-
tion of transport routes has spurred
the growth of the state. The path of
a railroad or a major highway has
opened new lands and sealed the
fate of many towns and counties.
The construction of bridges made
many of these highways and railroads
possible and helped to determine
their paths. The placement of any
single bridge affected the patterns of
movement along key roads, signifi-
cantly shortening the distances from
farm to market and generally en-
couraging economic development.
The construction of a bridge con-
sequently represents a historic event
in itself.
Americans have long been among
the most prodigious and skilled
bridge builders in the world. Mag-
nificent structures such as the Brook-
lyn Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge
are universally recognized for their
engineering daring and beauty. Less
well-known are the dozens of stone,
wooden, iron, and concrete bridge
designs invented by American en-
gineers that, for the first time, made
it economically possible to span riv-
ers and gorges in more remote re-
gions of the country. It is these more
plebeian structures that formed the
backbone of the American trans-
portation system. Their design and
materials can tell us much about the
industrial, technological, and eco-
nomic growth of the state and the
nation.
Yet bridges stand among the most
endangered historical artifacts from
our past. Because many of them still
function as key elements in our
present-day highway system, their
historical significance is often over-
looked. Recent efforts to modernize
this system has placed many historic
bridges in grave danger of destruc-
tion.
Due to the rapid population growth
of Texas, many bridges originally
constructed in rural areas now are in
the midst of urban sprawl or on
routes with heavy traffic use. Some
bridges will need to be replaced to
serve increased traffic loads; others
will be preserved because of their
historic importance. In the future,
many difficult decisions will have to
be made concerning which bridges
should be preserved and which de-
stroyed. The information that follows
attempts to highlight some of the
considerations necessary in the
evaluation and preservation of his-
toric bridges.
Eligibility for the National
Register of Historic Places
If federal funds are to be used for
bridge replacement, the bridge's
eligibility for listing in the National
Masonry arch bridge spanning Waller Creek, Austin.
3
i-,� -L r of Historic Places
determined. To meet National Red,
ister criteria, the bridge usually
must be at least 50 years old. It
must be a good example of a type,
period, or method of construction;
or be the work of a master crafts-
man; or be associated with an
important person or event. Bridges
may be of local, state, or national
significance. A bridge that has been
relocated may retain its original
form and be in a setting similar to
where it was originally constructed.
If the bridge has been in its present
location for 50 years or more, it
may be eligible for the National
Register of Historic Places, even
though it has been moved. Current-
ly, 11 Texas bridges are listed in
the National Register of Historic
Places, though many more may be
eligible.
Evaluation
As with the study of any historic
structure or object, bridges should be
thoroughly evaluated by field in-
spection and archival research. Ideal-
ly, field documentation should in-
clude a written description of all
significant features, a condition re-
port, photographs, measured draw-
ings, site maps, and field maps.
Often, the date of construction or
manufacture, or the design patent
date, as well as the name of the
manufacturer or contractor, can be
found on the bridge itself. Other
times, this information will have to
be determined through historical
research in local or state libraries,
records of commissioners' courts and
county treasury offices, and state or
county highway department or rail-
road archives.
Significant information necessary
to evaluate each bridge should in-
clude:
Detail of the old toll bridge over the Lampasas River.
Field Inspection
1. Construction dates
2. Manufacturer (if prefabricated) and/or contractor
3. Association with a particular railroad, road, highway, etc.
4. Feature spanned (river, valley, gorge, etc.)
5. Overall height and length
6. Substructure construction (structure below the deck)
Number of abutments and/or piers
Construction material of the substructure
7. Superstructure construction (structure above the deck)
Construction material
Types of truss(es), arch(es), etc.
Number of trusses, spans, and length of each
Width of roadbed
S. Overall condition of bridge
Present structural integrity
Present historical integrity (Has it been altered or moved?)
9. Aesthetic significance (Is it of high artistic merit or especially
suitable to the site it occupies?)
Archival or Documents Research
1. Association with a significant historical event, or an important
person
2. Significance in the economic and historic development of a region or
area
3. Significance in the history of engineering or technology in the
region, state, or nation
4. Engineering problems addressed during planning or construction
5. Importance to the local community
5
Preservation Alternatives
When information gained through
evaluation has been gathered state-
wide or for a specific region, it will
serve to place each bridge within a
larger historical context. Preserva-
tion decisions that were previously
made on a costly, inefficient case -by -
case basis will be made in the future
with the help of comparative mater-
ial. This system will allow for the
development of a comprehensive
statewide plan that would set priori-
ties based upon the relative signifi-
cance of each bridge in the state.
If, upon evaluation, a bridge pro-
posed for alteration or removal meets
the criteria for eligibility to the
National Register of Historic Places,
the State Historic Preservation Of-
ficer, the Advisory Council on His-
toric Preservation, and the Federal
Highway Administration must reach
an agreement (Memorandum of
Agreement) about its future. This
agreement states documentation re-
quirements and other recom-
mendations, such as relocation,
storage, or demolition. Historic
bridges subject to removal must
undergo review to determine that
there is "no feasible or prudent
alternative." In reaching this
agreement, the following questions
are among those considered:
1. Is the bridge important enough
to be left in place? If so, can it be
used for one-way traffic with a new
bridge constructed for traffic in the
opposite direction?
2. If a new bridge is planned, can
the old bridge be left in place and
used as a focal point for a roadside
park, as part of a hike and bike route,
or as a fishing bridge? Many times
the impression is given that old
bridges must be demolished because
they pose a safety hazard. This is
seldom the case.
3. If a bridge cannot be preserved
in place, can it be relocated, or
dismantled and stored for future
use? Once a bridge is demolished, it
can never be used again, so every
effort should be made to preserve
the bridge at another location, either
immediately or in the future.
Local historical societies and com-
missions can have a positive influence
on the preservation of historic
bridges by gathering information on
the bridges in their area.
County historical commission
chairmen and local preservation so-
cieties are often contacted by high-
way department officials in an effort
to determine if a bridge meets the
criteria of eligibility for the National
Register of Historic Places. Unless a
thorough field inspection and at -
Steel truss bridge over the Nueces River, Uvalde County.
s.
_am
mile
ifs •5 , 'i �. �.A� �t '... i
1 i
f
t,
An old iron bridge in New Braunfels.
chival and document search has been
completed for the bridge in question,
any decision concerning eligibility is
based on incomplete information.
Unless this kind of information is
available, the best answer to a ques-
tion about the value of a bridge is
that more information is needed for
accurate evaluation.
Conclusion
Bridges, serving as the barometer
of our society's development and
expansion, hold a fascination that is
unique in our cultural heritage. The
challenge of spanning obstacles has
led to a rich diversity in bridge
design and material selection
throughout time. The challenge fa-
cing our society today is to identify
and preserve the outstanding ex-
amples in this continuum.
Bibliography
The Bracket, Des Moines, Iowa: Office of
Historic Preservation, Iowa State His-
torical Department, 1983.
Jackson, Donald C. and T. Allen Comp.
Truss Bridge Types: A Guide to Dating
and Identifying. Nashville, Tenn.: Amer-
ican Association for State and Local His-
tory, 1977.
Mock, Elizabeth B. The Architecture of
Bridges. New York: The Museum of
Modern Art, 1949.
North Carolina: An Inventory of Historic
Engineering and Industrial Sites. Wash-
ington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the
Interior, 1975.
The Ohio Historic Bridge Inventory Evalu-
ation and Preservation Plan. Akron, Oh.:
Ohio Department of Transportation, 1983.
The Proposed James Island Bridge, Char-
leston, South Carolina. Washington, D.C.:
U.S. Department of the Interior, 1971.
Quirk, Fredric L. Historic Bridges in Mon-
tana. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department
of the Interior, 1982.
Sande, Theodore A. Industrial Archeology:
A New Look at the American Heritage.
New York: Penguin, 1976.
Soderberg, Lisa. Historic Bridges and Tunnels
in Washington State. Olympia, Wash.:
Washington State Office of Archaeology,
1980.
Spero, Paula A.C. Metal Truss Bridges in
Virginia, 1865-1932. Charlottesville, Va.:
Highway & Transportation Research
Council, 1981.
Watson, Wilbur J. and Sara R. Watson.
Bridges in History and Legend. Cleveland,
Oh., 1937.
Whitney, Charles S. Bridges: Their Art,
Science & Evolution. New York: Green-
wich House, 1983.
7
HISTORIC BRIDGES IN TEXAS
• Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
• Bluff Dale Suspension Bridge, Bluff Dale, Erath County. 1895.
• Buckner's Creek Bridge, Flatonia vicinity, Fayette County. 1883.
• Cummins Creek Bridge, Round Top, Fayette County. 1890.
• Fort Griffin Brazos River Bridge, Albany vicinity, Shackelford County. 1885.
• Main Street Viaduct, Houston, Harris County. 1913.
* Moore's Crossing Bridge, Austin, Travis County. 1884.
• Mulberry Creek Bridge, Schulenburg, Fayette County. 1888.
• Regency Suspension Bridge, Regency, Mills and San Saba Counties. 1939.
• Riverside Swinging Bridge, Riverside vicinity, Trinity and Walker Counties. 1904.
*• Rogers Street Bridge, Waxahachie, Ellis County. 1889.
• Roma San Pedro International Bridge, Roma -Los Saenz, Starr County. 1926.
• Waco Suspension Bridge, Waco, McLennan County. 1870.
Cover illustration: Elm Grove Bridge, Bell County. A Pratt through truss iron bridge.
TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
P.O. BOX 12276
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711
First Printing: August 1983
Second Printing: February 1984
This publication made possible
by grants from the Moody
Foundation and others.
TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION jE°FT
OFFICIAL TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKERS
GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION FORM
MARKER APPLICATION
PROCEDURES
1. Read the marker policies.
2. Evaluate the eligibility of your subject based on the policies.
3. If the subject appears eligible, gather specific information
and write a complete, concise, footnoted and well -docu-
mented narrative history (with a bibliography) of the
subject. This written history must be submitted with the
application form and must include the author's name and
address. An acceptable history will be at least three type-
written pages in length, and can be longer if the subject
requires. The history must be submitted on 8�/z"x 11"plain,
white bond paper, and must be typewritten with a good
black ribbon because the history will be duplicated for the
members of the State Marker Committee. Please do not
bind your narrative historv.
4. If the subject is a structure, you must submit clear, black -
and -white photos of all sides of the building, plus a historic
photo.
5. County maps delineating the proposed marker site and its
relationship to the marker subject(s) are most helpful and
should be included if possible (8�/2" x I I" size, please).
6. Complete the application form (insert) and send the history
and form to your county historical commission.
7. Do not send money with applications for subject or building
markers.
PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT A SUGGESTED INSCRI PTION.
The wording, spacing, and style of inscriptions are technical
matters and are controlled by the State Marker Committee.
Your preference of subject matter, as shown by the history
submitted, will be considered in writing the marker inscription.
Submission of an application does not guarantee that a
marker will be awarded. The applicant will be notified of the
receipt of the application by the THC. If the submitted history is
inadequate, although the topic is worthy of consideration,
additional information may be requested. After the State
Marker Committee reviews the marker topic, you will be
notified of the topic's status. The decision of the State Marker
Committee is final.
Generally, nine months are required to process and manufac-
ture a marker. Because of the variables involved, a marker
dedication should not be scheduled until the actual marker has
arrived.
Information that is not considered strictly historical, such as
names of sponsors, may be incised in small letters in the base or
on the back of a marker at a cost of 50c per character (letters,
numbers, and punctuation), plus tax if applicable.
Please note that the state marker program is separate from the
federal inventory of historic properties (the National Register of
1987 EDITION
Historic Places). A marker application does not constitute a
nomination to the National Register. Further information about
the federal program is available through the Texas Historical
Commission.
The Marker Process
APPLICANT
researches the topic, writes the history, fills out the
application, and submits it to the _ . .
COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION
which may ask for additional information. If approved by
the county commission, the application is signed
by the chairman and forwarded to the ...
THC MARKER PROGRAM STAFF
which may request additional information. When
all the material is in order and the staff review is completed,
the application will be mailed to the ...
STATE MARKER COMMITTEE
which will either approve or reject the topic. If approved,
the application is sent to the .. .
THC MARKER WRITER
who prepares a suggested inscription.
The text is then sent to the ...
COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION
and the applicant for approval. If changes are suggested,
the marker writer will prepare a new inscription.
Once approved, the text is sent to the ...
FOUNDRY
where the marker is set up. A "proof" is sent to the THC,
where a final check for errors is made.
After approval, the marker is cast,
painted, finished, and shipped, and
planning can begin on the ...
MARKER DEDICATION
TEXAS MARKER POLICIES
I. State Marker Committee. All policies and procedures related to
the marker process are determined by the State Marker Committee,
comprised of members of the Texas Historical Commission appointed
by the chairman. The decisions of the committee about the eligibility of
marker topics are final. When additional information warrants, the
marker committee may reevaluate a topic that has been previously
rejected.
2. Definition of Official Texas Historical Markers. Official Texas
Historical Markers are those markers and plaques awarded. approved.
or administered by the Texas Historical Commission. Thev include
centennial markers awarded by the state in the 1930s, Civil War
centennial markers (1960s), medallions, markers awarded by the Texas
Historical Commission or its predecessor, the Texas Historical Survey
Committee, and private, state -approved markers.
3. Documentation. The basic document governing decisions of the
State Marker Committee to grant a marker shall be a comprehensive
history of the topic, with footnotes and bibliography as prescribed in
the application form. Collections of miscellaneous documents or notes
are not acceptable in lieu of a narrative history.
4. Permanent Archives. All materials submitted by applicants for
Official Texas Historical Markers become part of the permanent
archival files of the Texas Historical Commission. Thev may be used or
cited in the commission's publications unless otherwise noted by the
applicant or county historical commission.
5. County Approval of Applications. The approval of the appropriate
county historical commission, where one exists, shall be signified upon
every application submitted to the Texas Historical Commission. In the
case of counties with no active county historical commission, the
approval of the county judge shall be signified upon the application. If
the county historical commission rejects or fails to act on an application
or proposed marker inscription within 120 days, appeal may be made by
the applicant to the State Marker Committee.
6. Use of Emblems or Logos. No Official Texas Historical Marker
may be fabricated with any emblem, design, or logo signifying another
organization. No other emblem, design, or marker size may be used in
addition to, or instead of, those offered by the Texas Historical
Commission. Medallion logos are the property of the commission and
may not be used for commercial advertising or be copied for the use of
any other agency, association, corporation, or individual.
7. Response Required of Applicant. When an Official Texas His-
torical Marker is proposed, whether for a structure, event, person,
institution, site, or any other topic, the applicants shall comply with the
regulations of the Texas Historical Commission as set forth in these
policies. Failure to respond after two consecutive written requests from
the commission regarding any part of the marker process can result in
termination of the application. Upon termination the commission shall
return the application and accompanying history to the applicant. The
applicant may reactivate a terminated application and supply the
commission with requested information in compliance with marker
policies.
8. Burden of Proof. The burden of proof for all historic claims rests
upon the applicant for a historical marker, and supportive docu-
mentation is to be submitted according to specifications in the
application form. If the topic or subject purports to be unique (one of a
kind, the largest, smallest, oldest, first, etc.), the submission is to include
documentation from an unbiased and authoritative source which
validates the claim. If oral histories are used in the documentation for a
marker topic, the application will indicate the form of the recorded
data, whether tape or transcript, and whether or not the data are
available to the public; will give the name of the interviewer and
interviewee: and will include the date, place, and subject of the
interview.
9. Relative Weight of Data. Primary source data (writing. pub-
lications, or other evidence from the time of the event) take precedence
over all documentation in the evaluation of any historical topic. Legal
documents take precedence over private papers. Testimony from
disinterested and authoritative sources takes precedence over testimony
of interested individuals.
10. Subject Marker Approval. Subject markers may be approved for
institutions (including. but not limited to, churches, schools, cemeteries,
businesses, organizations, and ethnic groups) that are at least 100 years
old or two-thirds the age of the community with which they are
associated, whichever is the smaller figure.
If. Marking Individuals. No individual may be mentioned in a
marker text until 20 years after his or her death, except in the case of a
deceased person of state or national significance, in which case the State
Marker Committee of the commission will be the final authority on
eligibility. Individuals must be eligible for marking on their ow n merits,
rather than from their association with. or relation to. a historical
person. Eligibility for an Official Texas Historical Grave Marker will
also be determined by this rule.
12. Marking Events. If an event changed the course of state or local
history, that event will be eligible for historical marking 30 years after its
occurrence.
13. Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks. Designation as a Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark is given to structures that are significant in
history and preservation. Such structures are eligible for the landmark
status because of architecture, history, or age (50 years old or older). In
no case may the landmark status be awarded unless the structure is in
good repair. The landmark designation becomes effective when the
application is approved by the State 'Marker Committee.
14. Relocated Structures. Buildings that have been moved cannot be
considered for designation as Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks.
Relocated structures may qualify for subject markers if their history
and architectural integrity warrant, and if there is proof that the
relocation was required. Proof consists of evidence that the relocated
building was formally condemned by the state or a political subdivision
of the state, or that it was under threat of imminent destruction. The
State Marker Committee will be the final authority on the validity of
such claims.
15. Building Markers. Applications for Official Texas Historical Building
Markers are automatically evaluated for designation as Recorded
Texas Historic Landmarks. At the request of the applicant, subject
markers may also be reviewed for the special landmark status. Building
markers consist of a medallion and an interpretive plate: one may not be
issued without the other.
16. Permanence of Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Designation.
The status of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks is a permanent
designation, and is not to be removed from the property in the event of a
transfer of ownership. The landmark marker awarded to anv structure
shall remain with that structure and may not be removed or displayed
elsewhere.
17. Restraints to Changes in Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks.
The exterior appearance of structures designated as Recorded Texas
Historic Landmarks may not be changed appreciably after receiving
such designation. If structural changes, including the relocation of the
structure, are desired, the applicant will conform to the provisions of
Article 6145. Section 12(c), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, which state
that:
No person may damage the historical or architectural integrity of any structure
which has been designated by the Commission as a Recorded Texas Historic
Landmark, without first giving 60 days' notice to the Texas Historical
Commission. After receipt of the notice. the Commission may wai%e the waiting
period or, if the Commission determines that a longer period will enhance
chances for preservation, it may require an additional waiting period of not more
than 30 days.
If appreciable or unwarranted changes are observed to have been made
on a structure designated as a landmark, the designation and the marker
may be withdrawn by the State Marker Committee.
18. Disposition of a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Marker. A
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Marker for a structure that has
been destroyed may:
(a) be placed in an appropriate local museum for display with
accompanying photos and history: or failing that,
(b) be presented to the county historical commission for use in the
promotion of historic preservation or education.
19. Placement of Historical Markers. Official Texas Historical
Markers are to be displayed in conspicuous places accessible to the
public, and in dignified surroundings. Desirable sites are public
highways, parks, and city streets where the reading of the marker text
will be of educational value. If the site of a commemorated event,
structure, or institution is on private property or is otherw ise inaccess-
ible to the public, the marker is to be placed in an accessible location as
near as possible to the historic site.
20. Relocation of Historical Markers.
(a) Causes for relocation. Official Texas Historical Markers may be.
relocated
(1) when they are the object of persistent vandalism in their original
location,
(2) when a more accurate site for the marked event or structure has
been determined,
(3) when an extant hazard to viewers of a marker can he reduced or
eliminated by its relocation, or
(4) when better public access results.
(b) Written permission. Relocation shall be with the written consent
of the Texas Historical Commission, given through the office of the
executive director.
(c) Supplemental plate. In cases where a marker's text will be revised
by reason of the relocation, a supplemental plate may be required by the
commission.
21. Private, State -approved Markers. Privately installed markers
that meet state marker requirements may be recognized by the State
Marker Committee as Private. State -approved Markers, and may be
listed in commission publications.
22. Significance of Marker Topics. No topic is to be considered for
historical commemoration for its amusement value alone. There must
be inherent significance over and above the matter of popular appeal.
23. Marker Inscriptions. The State Marker Committee is the final
authority on the wording, spacing, and stele of marker inscriptions.
24. Restraint on including Owners or Restorers in Marker Text.
Neither restorers nor owners of historic structures may be named in the
text of an Official Texas Historical Marker awarded to the structure.
25. Replacement of Markers. When the replacement of an historical
marker is necessary because it has been damaged or stolen, or because it
contains factual errors, the topic or structure shall meet marker criteria
and policies in effect at the time of replacement.
Official Texas Marker Policies were adopted by the Texas Historical
Commission on Mar 3, 1984.
RESEARCH GUIDELINES
While there are many different approaches to writing history,
good research is essential to a comprehensive narrative. Research
provides the answers to questions, such as who, what, when,
where, and how. The following items are listed as general
guidelinesfor research, you can adapt them to fit your particular
topic. If you would like more specific guidelines, contact your
county historical commission or the marker staff at the THC.
WHO?
* Who were the individuals involved with the topic?
* What were their names?
* What were their dates of birth and death?
* Give details of their lives (place of birth, education, etc.) and
their military, civic, or business service.
* What was the significance of their contributions?
* If your topic deals with prehistory, describe the lifestyle of the
people involved.
WHAT?
* Give the names of associated events or institutions.
* Give earlier names, or describe earlier events that led to the
present topic.
* Describe affiliations, such as Masons, Southern Baptist, or
Rosenwald School.
• What were the underlving causes or patterns of development?
WHEN?
* What period of time did the topic cover? When did it begin
and when did it end'?
* What were the earlier institutions, events, or individuals that
were influential?
* Place the topic in a context: what other events were taking
place at the same time in the state or the region?
WHERE?
• Give specific information about the location of events or sites
associated with the topic.
• Give information about former locations of an institution.
HOW?
* Describe the development of the topic.
* Describe how the topic influenced the community or the
region.
* Give the significance of the topic to your county or to the state.
In addition to the above, if you are researching a building, be
sure to include information about the builder, the occupants,
and the architecture.
Documentation
Histories submitted with marker applications are required to
include footnotes and bibliographies. This allows the marker
staff to authenticate information, but it also helps researchers
who use the THC files. For an example of footnotes, consult
sources such as the Southwestern Historical Quarterlr, the West
Texas Historical Association Year Book, or the East Texas
Historical Journal.
Bibliographies should be an alphabetical listing of the sources
used to compile your history. Examples can be found in writing
manuals, or you can contact the THC State Marker Program
and request a reference guide entitled "Documenting Local
History."
CRITERIA FOR RECORDED TEXAS
HISTORIC LANDMARKS
The Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) designation
is awarded to those structures over 50 years of age deemed
worthy of preservation for their architectural and historical
associations. In reviewing applications for this designation, the
staff considers not only the historical persons or events as-
sociated with the structure. but also the architectural integrity of
the building. The structure should maintain its appearance from
its period of historic significance and should be an exemplar}
model of preservation. Historic photographs area crucial part of
any application for this designation.
In no case can a structure be considered for the RTHL
designation if it has been mo ved in the past 50 rears or if artificial
(aluminum, asbestos, vin1•1, etc.) siding has been applied to its
exterior. Other items, or a combination of the items listed below,
may prohibit the building from being designated a Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark:
1. Sandblasting.
2. Removal of architectural features.
3. Inappropriate signage.
4. Altering grounds in such a way as to destroy archeological
resources.
5. Major additions to the building that detract from the
primary facade or that are made to appear as part of the
original plan.
6. Inappropriate roofing material or window shutters.
7. Inappropriate windows (replacing original windows with
different styles or with material such as tinted or mirrored
glass).
8. Aluminum window frames, doors, or screens.
9. Alteration of steps, skirting, or porch foundations.
10. Inappropriate porch reconstruction.
If. Unsympathetic replacement of mortar on brick or stone
buildings.
12. Unsympathetic removal of paint, inappropriate colors:
painting of brick.
13. Imitating an earlier style that was not part of the building's
architectural history.
MARKER QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Q.
A.
Q. Where can I get examples of narratives used in marker
applications?
A. Check with your county historical commission, or contact
the State Marker Program of the THC for a sample
history. If you are in Austin, you can review microfilmed
marker files in the Hoblitzelle Data Center of the THC. Q
Q.
Can I have my name included in the marker text?
A.
The State Marker Committee feels marker texts should be
A.
reserved for historical information only. Policy number 1 1
says that no individual may be included in the text until 20
Q.
years after his/her death. In addition, policy number 24
says neither owners nor restorers of a building are to be
included in the text. Information of that nature can be
A.
incised on the base or back of the marker, or can be
included in a supplemental plaque (see order form).
Q.
What are the tax benefits for properties with a marker?
A.
There are no tax benefits for marker properties, unless
Q.
your city has adopted ad valorem benefits for certified
A.
historic structures. Check with your city manager's office.
Q.
Does the THC have money for restoring old buildings`?
A.
The THC does administer some grant programs. For
details, contact the Architecture Division.
Q. What is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL)?
A. The RTHL designation is a special status that is auto-
matically invoked when a building marker is approved by
the State Marker Committee (see policy numbers 13-18).
Larger subject markers may also include the RTHL
designation, if requested by the owner.
Q. Can a building that has been moved be designated a
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark?
A. No; however, a relocated structure might be eligible for a
subject marker if its history and architectural integritv
warrant, and provided there is proof the more was
required (see policy number 14).
Q. If my building has a marker, do I have to open it for tours`?
A. No.
Q. What if a marker has been vandalized?
A. First, contact your police or sheriff's office. Second, if you
want the marker replaced, you should follow the normal
procedures for ordering. This means that funds will need to
be submitted for the replacement marker.
Q. What if there is an error on a marker?
A. Contact your county historical commission and provide
them with documentation. If the county feels the marker
should be changed, you should follow the regular ordering
procedures. Again, funds will need to be submitted. There
is no state money for the replacement of damaged or
incorrect markers.
Q. Does a marker protect a cemetery?
A. No. Cemeteries in Texas are protected under separate
laws. Contact your county attorney for information about
the laws, or write the THC for a reference guide on
preserving historic cemeteries.
How do we mark archeological sites?
Every precaution should be taken to assure that no
archeological sites are disturbed as a result of the informa-
tion on a marker. Such markers should not be near the site,
if possible. For example, a marker could be placed on a
highway, hundreds of yards from the site. The marker text
could be worded so as not to give directions, such as "Near
this site ...," or "In this vicinity ...."
Does the State Marker Committee meet to review
applications?
No, reviews are handled by mail to save time and travel
expenses.
What are the age requirements for the following subjects:
Structures, institutions, events, graves, people in subject
markers?
Structures— 50 years, if being considered for the RTHL
designation; institutions— 2/ 3 of the age of the community,
or 100 years; Events— 30 vears; Graves— 20 years after
death; People in subject markers— 20 years after death.
Why is private money used for markers?
The state appropriates money only for part of the adminis-
tration of the marker program. With an increasingly tight
state budget, we are now required to finance a portion of
the program with marker funds, and the remainder of the
cost represents the actual foundry work. Because private
funds are used for part of the process does not mean that
markers are owned by individuals; they are still state
markers.
Q. Are there any restrictions on where a marker is to be
placed?
A. Yes. Markers should be placed in conspicuous places that
can be easily reached by the public. Markers should not be
placed inside buildings or on private land, if possible.
Q. How can I recognize those individuals that assisted on a
marker project?
A. First, you may want to purchase a replica or medallion
paperweight (see order form). Or, you might want to give
certificates (also on order form).
Q. How long does it take to get a marker?
A. The marker process takes at least six months, but usually
averages about nine months.
Q. Can we order our marker for a specific date?
A. Yes, provided it is at least six months after the time the marker
application is received in Austin and provided the staff is given
six months' notice of the proposed date.
Q. Do I send photos with the application'?
A. While photographs add much to an application, they are
not necessary unless you are applying for a buildin"
marker. In that case, you must submit a historic photo and
clear, black -and -white photos of each side of thestructure.
Q. Who is the sponsor of the marker'?
A. The sponsor is considered the individual or group that is
paving for the foundry costs.
There may be other questions concerning markers. Please feel
free to contact the State Marker Program of the Texas
Historical Commission, P.O. Box 12276.:Austin, TX 78711.
APPLICATION FORM FOR OFFICIAL TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER
Texas Historical Commission
State Marker Program
P.O. Box 12276, Austin, Texas 78711
Title of Marker
County
(subject to revision by
THC staff)
001.
Marker Location
(street address and town,
or specific directions from
nearest town on state highway map)
Distance and direction
If not on post, type of
of subject
surface to which marker
from marker site
will be attached (wood, stone, etc.)
Owner of �et�
Address
City, Zip
Marker Site
Sponsor of
Address
City. Zip
Marker
Signature of
Address
City, Zip
County Chairman
Person to whom marker
Address
City, Zip Telephone
is to be shipped'
(required)
'/(marker is to be placed on hightcar right-of-sra_r, it will he shipped to tour district highttay engineer.
Please consult the back of this page for specifications of the markers available. Check the items desired below. Approval of theappiication and
narrati%e must be obtained from the county historical commission, as indicated by the county chairman's signature on this form. before
forwarding the material to the Texas Historical Commission. Please do not send payment if ordering subject or building markers; funds mill be
requested once the application has been approved by the State Marker Committee. Sales tax must be added to the price, except if purchased by a
tax-exempt organization. Applicants may order a marker with a socket to attach to their own post; however, the cost is the same as a marker
furnished with a foundry post.
SUBJECT MARKERS DIRECTIONAL SIGNS
❑ 16" x 12" grave marker (comes with mounting bar) ............. S225 Please indicate quantity desired and give locations) on form above:
❑ 27" x 42" subject marker with post .......................... S650
24" x 24" Historical Markers In City lien ........................SRO
❑ 27" x 42" subject marker without post ........................ Shoo These swill he shipped to and placed on your tmvni car
❑ Ix" .x 28" subject marker with post .......................... S375 limits signs III the Di.vtrwt flighwar F_ngineer.
❑ Iti" x'_ti" subject marker without post ........................ S300
Black and White (for farm -to -market roads, state and U.S. highways)
❑ I(We) request that RTHL designation be considered for this marker.
(Please see signature line below)
BUILDING MARKERS
❑ 16" s 12" building marker with post S350
❑ 16" x 12" building marker without post ....................... S300
Applications for building markers %sill automatically be considered for the
R I Ili designation. Please read carefully Texas Marker Politics 13 through
18. and indicate that sou hale done so by signing below.
Signature of owner
PAPERWEIGHTS
Please indicate quantity desired.
_ 3- x 4" plastic paperweight
mounted %%ith replica of marker ................................ S90
Allosc Itcu ntonthv from completion of marker
for reccyn of paperweight.
Medallion paperweight .... S40
A Him v four lutes ofengras'ing: please indicate desired wording.
Green and White (for interstate highways)
19- x 22" Historical Marker directional sign ......................
SSG
/n black and tchite nnh. For cite and counn, roads.
Applicant men? .%upph putt and he re%pon.sihle feu placement.
With arrow pointing straight ahead
_ With arrow pointing left
_ With arrow pointing right
OTHER
❑ National Register plaque ..................................
S So
❑ 12" x 6" supplemental plate ................................
S 110
❑ 16" x 12" building marker plate onh
(sec policy#15)..........................................S190
❑ Replacement medallion (see policy 915) ......................
S110
❑ Bronre stars (for replacement on 1936
granite markers) .......... ..............................S
25
❑ Bronre wreaths (for replacement on
1936 granite marker) .....................................
2
❑ Bronre seals (for replacement on
1936 granite markers) ............. ........................
S 65
❑ Bronre plates (for replacement on
1936 granite markers).....................................S185
❑ Certificates of commendation .......................... 50c
each
19k7
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SUBJECT MMARKER BUILDING MARKER
(27" x 42")
SUBJECT MARKER (27" x 42") allows up to 24 lines of text
using 1/2" lettering. Specify marker with or without post.
BUILDING MARKER (medallion and 16"x 12"plate) allows
up to 14 lines of text using 3/g" lettering. Specify marker with or
ssithout post.
NATIONAL REGISTER PLAQUE
HISTORICAL MARKER
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS
NATIONAL REGISTER PLAQUE is available for structures
that are individually listed on the National Register of Historic
Places or that are contributing members of a National Register
IMoric District.
IIISTORICAL ,MARKERS IN CITY (24" x 24") to be placed
on city limit signs by the State Dept. of Ilighways and Public
ti
Transportation.
SUBJEC'I' MARKER URAV E I<IARhER
(18" x 28")
SUBJECT MARKER (18" x 28") allows up to 18 lines of text
using 1/2" lettering. Specify' marker with or without post.
GRAVE MARKER (small medallion and 16" x 12" plate)
allows up to 14 lines of text using 3/g" lettering. Marker includes
mounting bar.
'I' EXAS
NUECES'COUNTY Vo
t98O
MEDALLION PAPERWEIGHT
PLASTIC PAPERWEIGIT
MEDALLION PAPER WEIGLIT cast in alurninurn, the medal-
lion measures 4" in diameter with a 3',6" x I',/," plate, allowing
four lines of engraving.
PLASTIC PAPERWEIGHT, a miniature replica of sour
marker mounted on a 3" x 43/s" x 1/2"black acrN lic base. tUluw
two months after completion of the marker for deliverv.
HISTORICAL MARKER (18" x 22") with directional arrow
to he placed on city streets and county roads.
RECEIVED
THE JUL 51988
;� �oU�,• city of VAM
:N A NEWSLETTER OF THE
*•:.::••�TARRANT COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Volume 9 Number 2 June 1988
Annual Preservation Conference
Approximately 250 preservationists
from across the state gathered in
Brownsville for the Texas Historical
Commission's Annual preservation
conference April 21-23. Tarrant
County was the recipient of both the
DSA award and the highest award to a
county historical commission, the
Millard C. Cope Memorial Award for
Best Program of Work.
The Texas Historical Commission's
highest award, the Ruth Lester Award
for Meritorious Service, was
presented to the Meadows Foundation.
The foundation has maintained a
program of giving that encourages
historic preservation projects, both
the large and the smaller projects
that often may be overlooked but are
nonetheless imaginative and
innovative.
Evelyn Cushman, Marker Chairman,
received an award for Outstanding
Committee Chairman for her work with
the Marker Committee. Tarrant County
members attending were Chairman Dee
Barker, Secretary Ruth Stone, Evelyn
Cushman, and Oliver Cozby.
UTA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
The Commission is frequently asked
questions regarding the location of
the Fort Worth Star Telegram
collection. This material is housed
in Special Collections, in the UTA
Library, under the direction of Dr.
Gerald Saxon.
This collection consists of 180,000
black and white photographic prints,
112,000 film negatives, and 1,000
glass negatives,which together
document virtually every aspect of
life in Tarrant County from the
early 1870s through the 1970s.
The collection also contains over
512,000 clippings from the 1920s to
1960s, 18,000 index cards on Texans
who served in World War II, a
170,000 card index of oil wells in
Texas fields from 1944 to the early
1970s, and 101 oversize sectional
maps showing the location of Texas
oil wells. This collection is one of
the few complete newspaper morgues
in the nation which will be open to
the public.
Marker Workshop Held
A workshop focusing on how to
prepare a historical marker
application was held in Plano,
Collin 'County, on April 9th. About
20 people from 5 counties attended,
including Dee Barker, Chairman, and
Evelyn Cushman, Marker Chairman,
from Tarrant County.
Texas Historical Commission staff
members Frances Rickard, Cynthia
Beeman, and Jim Steely reviewed
criteria, procedures, research, and
proper documentation. The success of
the workshop has led the THC to play:
for additional workshops throughout
the state.
z Volume 9 Number 2 Page 2 June 1988
Architectural Fellowship
The School of Architecture at The
University of Texas at Austin,
announced the establishment of the
Blake Alexander Traveling Study
Fellowship in Architecture for
outstanding students interested in
studying abroad.
The fellowship is named in honor of
Alexander, a professor of
architecture at the university since
1955. Nationally recognized for his
work on behalf of architectural
preservation, Alexander has been
instrumental in the restoration of
numerous historic sites across the
state and serves on the board of
various preservation organizations,
including the National Register Board
of Review and the Austin Landmark
Commission.
Because the school currently has
limited financial resources to
support travel and study abroad, the
goal of the fellowship's development
program is to raise a $25,000
endowment fund to support an annual
travel award to the school's most
outstanding graduate. If the goal is
met by August 31, the fund is
eligible to receive a matching grant
of $12,500.
In the mid 60s, as a joint project
with the Amon Carter Museum and the
University of Texas School of
Architecture, Alexander led an archi-
tectural survey of Texas homes of the
nineteenth century. He was prominent
in the U.T. decision to restore and
operate the Winedale Properties as a
museum and study center. Locally,
Alexander was a consultant on the
Historic Architecture of Fort Worth
project for the Fort Worth Junior
League.
Regional Workshop
A reminder is in order for the
regional workshop to be held in
Mansfield on 23 July, hosted by the
Texas Historical Commission,
Preservation Texas, and the
Texas/New Mexico field office of the
National Trust for Historic
Preservation.
The one day workshop, titled
"Rediscover and Learn: Successful
Preservation in your Community", is
designed for community leaders,
local offficials, county historical
commission members, nonprofit
preservation organizations, chamber
of commerce and tourism leaders, and
downtown redevelopment groups. The
workshop will provide practical
information that individuals and
groups can readily apply in the
development of an effective
preservation program.
Speakers will be: Rick Meyer of
Preservation Texas, Libby Willis of
the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, Stan Graves of the
Texas Historical Commission, Jim
Steely of the National Register
Department of the THC, and Anice
Read of the Main Street department
of the THC.
Marker News
The THC has announced that guide-
lines on documentation of historical
markers has been revised to
emphasize the need for strong
footnotes and bibliography. We are
pleased to see this step taken, as
it should provide for better and
more accurate marker narratives with
information available, rather than
contained in voluminous attachments.
Volume 9 Number 2 Page 3 June 1988
Marker Dedications
In Tarrant County more markers have
been dedicated this year than in all
of 1987. The following markers have
received official dedication:
General Edward H. Tarrant; Johnson's
Station Cemetery; Armour and
Company, Fort Worth Plant; Swift and
Company; Bransford; Dr. Azle
Stewart; Arlington Heights Masonic
Lodge Building; Greater St. James
Baptist Church; Major K.M. Van
Zandt; and Tarrant County State Bank
Building.
Betty Wilson, chair of the Marker
Dedication Committee, not only meets
with sponsors to plan the
dedications, but attends all
dedications with her photographer
husband to photograph and vidio tape
the dedications for the official
files of the commission. Anyone
desiring copies of photographs from
the commission negatives may obtain
them by calling Bette at 265-2606.
Isham Cemetery
The official dedication of the Texas
Historical Marker for Isham Cemetery
will be held at 9:30 a.m. on 16 July
at the cemetery on John T. White
Road. The Tarrant County Historical
Commission and +he Isham Cemetery
Association extend an open
invitation to the dedication.
Cemetery Project
Your county Historical Commission
is in the process of driving the
county to precisely locate every
cemetery within the county, even
small one -grave sites. These
locations will be placed on Texas
Highway Department maps, with
copies placed in the Tarrant County
Historical Commission Archives and
Research Library, the Texas
Historical Commission Library, and
a copy given to the State Highway
Department for use when planning
new roads or widening of roads.
We are also gradually accumulating
black and white photographs of
local cemeteries. Anyone who has
photographs of tombstones which are
now missing are encouraged to
contact the Commission.
If anyone knows of a small deserted
cemetery which may be unknown to
others, we would appreciate being
informed of its location. In order
to protect and save these
cemeteries or gravesites we must
know of their existance.
-- cemetery Law
There are numerous --!--ate laws and
court decisions that offer
protection to burial sites. In
addition to the information listed
below, there also may be specific
statutes that pertain to individual
counties and cities. There are also
federal regulations pertaining to
cemeteries, which are not covered
here.
Basic Cemetery Law - Under Texas law
(Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes,
Title 26, Article 912a-10 and
912a-11), property dedicated as a
cemetery cannot be disturbed unless
the district court for that area has
formally removed its purpose of
dedication.
Definition of a Dedicated Cemeter
Court decisions have established
that an enclosed tract and evidence
of burials are two criteria that
constitute dedication of land for a
cemetery. In the case of Michels v.
Crouch (Court of Civil Appeals,
1939), it was determined that if
tombstones still marked burial
sites, the property was considered a
cemetery, even if it had been
abandoned or neglected.
Ownership of Cemeteries - Through a
ruling in 1936 (Smallwood V.
Midfield Oil Co.), the Court of
Civil Appeals ruled that a cemetery
cannot be sold or conveyed in such a
way as to restrict its
designated purpose. This ruling does
Volume 9 Number 2 Page 4 June 1988
not necessarily mean, however, that
owners must grant access to a
cemetery.
Penalties - According to the state's
penal code (sections 36.01 to end),
intentional desecration of a burial
site is punishable as a class A
misdemeanor.
It is important to note that
cemetery laws are not administered
by the Texas Historical Commission
or any other state or county agency.
In most cases enforcement is the
responsibility of local law
enforcement agencies. Despite laws,
vandalism is frequent, and the
vandal often uncaught. Vigilance is
the best deterent.
Cemetery Resources
For more information on cemeteries,
the following sources are
recommended:
The Association for Gravestone
Studies, 46 Plymouth Rd., Needham,
MA 02192, 617-455-8180.
Jordon, Terry G., Texas Graveyards:
A Cultural Legacy. Austin:
University of Texas Press, 1982.
The Medallion. The newsletter of the
Texas Historical Commission has
featured a variety of articles on
cemeteries in the past several
years. More specific information and
copies of back issues are available
from the THC, Publications Dept.,
P.O. Box 12276, Austin, TX 78711.
Preserving Cemeteries. Texas
Preservation Guidelines. Austin:
Texas Historical Commission, 1984.
Researching Cemeteries. Information
sheet prepared by the State Marker
Program, Texas Historical
Commission, Austin 1983.
Steely, Jim, Tombstone Territory,
Texas Highways, March 1976.
THC Assistance
The Texas Historical Commission is
committed to assisting citizens
preserve the historic and
prehistoric cemeteries in the state.
If you are aware of a threatened
cemetery that is on state land or is
part of a project involving state
funds, contact your county
historical commission or the Texas
Antiquities Committee (housed with
the THC) at 512/463-6098. If a
threatened cemetery is part of a
federally funded or federally
permitted project, contact the THC's
Review and Compliance Department at
512/463-6096. For endangered
cemeteries on private land, the
THC's Archeology Department (Office
of the State Archeologist) can offer
information on preserving the site.
The most successful way to save a
cemetery is to use preventative
maintenance, so the department
encourages early contacts. The phone
numberfor the Archeology Department
is 512/463-6090.
We encourage readers to keep the
County Historical Commission
informed of any vandalism, sale of
cemetery sites, discovery of unknown
sites, or problems concerning
cemeteries. We also have files with
information on cemeteries within the
county which are available for
information to the public.
Cemetery Cataloguing
Evelyn Cushman, commission member,
has given several workshops on
cemetery cataloguing. They are
always well received, as was the
one given at the pre -conference
session in Brownsville.
Following are suggestions similar
to a handout she has developed for
her workshops. Cemetery buffs will
find it interesting and useful.
Volume 9 Number 2 Page 5 June 1988
SUGGESTIONS FOR CATALOGUING CEMETERIES
Optional but helpful supplies for cataloguing a small rural graveyard can
be kept in a zippered bag in the trunk of your car. Insect repellant, a small
tube of Colgate toothpaste for ant and wasp stings, hightop shoes, chalk and
charcoal sticks for making rubbings of worn stones, a pencil sharpener, 2 to
3 pencils and a spiral notebook. I also recommend some washcloths, a plastic
bottle of water, sturdy pointed stick and a plastic -covered kneeling pad.
At the cemetery, a quick spray of chigger -chaser and change of shoes and
you're ready. Pin the carkeys in a pocket and with pencil and notebook in one
hand and your ,sturdy staff (to hold back the briars and barbwire) in the other,
you're ready for business.
For a large cemetery, a little more preparation is worth considering.
First, inquire if the inscriptions have been copied by the cemetery
association or a local history group. Try to obtain the records. Stones may
have fallen and become covered up, yet can be found if you knew to look for
them. This is another advantage of not listing tombstone inscriptions in
alphabetical order. Reserve that for the Index.
Second, obtain a plot plan or map. If the cemetery association or
caretaker does not have a map, try the county and city Tax Assessors. This
will be helpful when dividing the area into small sections for easier
recording. Try to locate a surveyor that has recently surveyed adjoining
tracts, he may still have his field notes.
Use easily recognizable boundaries that will not change, driveways, for
instance. Include the description at the beginning of each section's list of
inscriptions.
Park your car in a shaded area, one that can be easily reached. A sudden
rainshower, injury, or you may just want a comfortable place to take a break.
There are no set rules or methods of surveying. Some recorders copy row
by row, others lay out grids with string across each section. Describe your
method at the beginning so specific tombstones can be located.
Keep each section's listing separate, starting a new page in your
notebook. If you begin Section No. 1 in the southeast corner, then start all
Sections in the southeast corner.
When a group is doing the survey, work in teams of two persons. Divide
each section in half. Have each member of the team copy half of the section
and then exchange books, rechecking and correcting if necessary.
Use binder clips on your notebook to keep the pages from blowing in the
wind. A clipboard makes a firm writing surface. Place a strip of Velcro on
your pencil and on the clipboard to keep them together.
Knowledge of burial customs can be helpful as well as interesting. The
wife is usually buried to the north of her husband, taking the traditional
position by his left side. For that reason it works better to begin the survey
in the southeast corner of the cemetery, working toward the northwest corner.
Be careful not to miss a small plot or a single grave between curbed plots.
As there are variable size and shaped plots, place a chalk mark, a number,
perhaps, on the top of each recorded stone to reduce the chance of missed
markers. If there is a caretaker, check with him beforehand, even though the
next rain will wash away the chalk.
Do not crowd your copy, leave a space between each inscription with the
exception of double headstones and family monuments. Leave at least two spaces
or a symbol to indicate the beginning and end of family plots. If a row
divides, label them "Row X east" and "Row X west".
Volume 9 Number 2 Page 6 June 1988
Look on all sides of the stones and check footstones for further
information. "Mother" at the foot of a grave where only initials preceed the
surname, is one example of the importance of recording all information.
Note and record the number of unidentified graves, especially in family
plots. By inquiring later, you may learn their identity. Hopefully it will
remind relatives that the grave needs a marker.
Record military service and symbolic carvings that may give a clue to
occupation or religion. Stones placed by fraternal organizations such as the
Masons, Odd Fellows or Woodmen of the World, should be noted because their
records are available for research by relatives.
If the memorial verse gives genealogical information, social or local
history, copy it verbatim. But enclose in brackets any explanations,
directions, notes, decorations, unusual gravemarkers or anything other than
what is actually inscribed on the marker. Make a note if a stone is broken.
Burial sites with illegible funeral markers, concrete blocks, vases,
fieldstones, etc. should NOT be recorded as being "unmarked". Make an
appropriate notation such as: "(NOTE: child's grave marked with a styrofoam
cross, located between J. A. Smith and Jane Jones)".
Headstones that have sunk so that the data is obscured should never be
pulled up. Carefully use your pointed stick to uncover it. Be sure to replace
all the dirt and stamp firmly to prevent the stone from toppling forward.
Turning over markers that have fallen face down is perilous to the stone.
Plan ahead how you are going to replace it, making sure the ground is firm and
level. Use gloves for a firm grip.
Copy inscriptions exactly, even if it is obviously misspelled. Use the
same lettering and punctuation. Do not make abbreviations.
Different styles of lettering is used on tombstones and care must be
taken in distinguishing between many of them. There may be as many as three
types on the same marker. For severely weathered stones it is sometimes
easier to make a quick rubbing of the worn letters. Place a piece of paper
against it and rub with a soft pencil. It should give enough contrast to
read. If necessary, use silkspan, #00 Pellon or rice paper and charcoal to
make a full-sized "rubbing". To hold the paper secure, use freezer tape
rather than masking tape, it leaves less residue.
For hard to read inscriptions try talcum powder. For upright stones
apply the powder with a puff or wad of cloth. Rub it into the stone with your
palm and lightly blow the excess away.
A hairpin or pointed soft pencil is useful to dislodge mud or moss but
be careful. Try a stiff brush with water.
A last ditch method is to use a piece of chalk or charcoal, according to
the color of the stone. Lay it flat against the stone and draw it across the
inscription leaving the carving in contrast. NEVER use wax crayons or colored
pencils as they will permanently stain the stone.
The ability to read worn stones often depends upon the light. If the
sun's rays hit the stone at an angle and no shadows are cast in the incisions,
it may help if you shade the inscription with your sunhat, brush the stone
with water or trace each letter with a soft lead pencil.
After returning home wash your hands immediately. Boraxo hand cleaner
is very good to remove the plant oils. If you have chiggers, add a half cup
of Clorox to your bathwater.
Make frequent rest stops. A banana or other energy -replenishing snack
with cool water will prevent heat exaustion and errors in copying. Recording
tombstone inscriptions should be done at a leisurely pace. Take time to
Volumn 9 Number 2 Page 7 June 1988
appreciate the surroundingsandthe imagination and artistry of the stone
carver. It can be enjoyable method of preserving the records of past
generations which, in many cases, are slowly being lost.
A brief history will make your cemetery report more useful as well as
interesting. Use it's current name but ask if it was ever known by any other.
The precinct garage, funeral homes, elderly residents, the city secretary or
clerk of a nearby church may give you much information. Ask them about the
unmarked graves. Inquire about known burials that do not have inscribed
tombstones. Cite the name and address of your informant in the report.
The history should include the date it was started, the oldest surviving
marker, and where records of internments are located. Determine if it is a
privately owned cemetery or a public one. List the name and address of the
person or association in charge.
Cemetery transcribing can be considered an art. It requires skill,
interest and ability, all developed through patient practice. Satisfaction
results if your transcription appears as a verbal image of the tombstone
itself. Not only will your art aid researchers if placed in local and major
libraries, but it will serve future generations when the stones have worn to
only smooth remembrances or have become some thoughtless individual's
doorstep.
ADDITIONAL AIDS FOR A LONG-TERM CEMETERY SURVEY
Some of the following items could be handy if you are cataloguing a large
cemetery that is not close to your home. If it will take more than a few days
and several hours there on each trip, assemble the items you may need for the
entire project and keep them together.
Picnic lunch plus a thermos of water. Fruit for snack time.
Sunhat, workgloves, a sharpshooter and shears to cut briars.
Magnifying glass, pocket compass, road and cemetery maps.
Rice paper, Silkspan or Pellon for making full-size "rubbings".
Short and long tapes to measure boundaries of the sections.
Iiammer and 12 inch spikes for boundary stakes or to make holes for
wire coathanger stakes. Use colored plastic strips as "flags".
White vinegar for lichens. Mix 1 part to 3 parts water.
Red pen for special directions or notations on your recording.
Evelyn D'Arcy Cushman
4904 Wedgeview Dr.
Hurst, TX 76053
LOSITi9
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THE COMMISSION is edited by Commission Chairman Dee Barker.
The TARRANT COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION is a County Board appointed by Tarrant County
Commissioners Court to carry out a statutory responsibility to preserve the heritage
of Tarrant County.
THE COMMISSION is a quarterly publication of the Tarrant County Historical Commission.
DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE: /O A)
�G
MAYOR
T. HART
S. CRIM
T. COX
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY COUNCIL
J. HENNIG
we DATE : l%1/�
Buil.t..
ta
a
❑ Euless to mark more than 100 years
of service by its Old Iron Bridge 7her✓ i%
By L. JAMES KUNKE
News Staff Writer
For more than 100 years, Euless
residents have been using the Old
Iron Bridge to stay high and dry
while traveling across town or to
neighboring cities.
. On Friday, the Euless Historical
Preservation Committee will hold
a dedication ceremony at South
Euless Park to mark a century of
use from a bridge first built to han-
dle 19th century horse carts and
pedestrians.
The bridge originally was built
in 1889 on Arlington -Grapevine
Road, what is now Highway 157, at
the only place where that road
crosses the Trinity River," said
committee chairwoman Diana
Crawford. "That was back when
the horse-drawn wagons were
used."
•In the 1930s it , was moved to
North Euless to cross Little Bear
Creek on Euless -Grapevine Road,
what is now North Main Street.
When the state widened Main
Street in 1975, local civic leaders
paid to move the bridge to South
Euless Park near South Euless Ele-
mentary School.
•'It's an important bridge be-
cause it was part of the main thor-
oughfare from Grapevine to
Arlington and south, and it's an
iron bridge that has held up well,"
said Mayor Mary Lib Saleh, who
will take part in Friday's i
ceremony.
"When the state and cities came
in and decided to widen Main
Street, the bridge could no longer
be used. Warren Fuller and Dick
Lewis, who was then a county com-
missioners, knew enough about the
history to raise the money save the
bridge."
Saleh said she can remember i
using the bridge frequently when it
was in place on Main Street, but
Fuller's memory of the bridge goes
back even further. Fuller, the first
mayor of Euless, tells stories of
riding with his father in an ice_
wagon across the Trinity River on
Old. Iron Bridge
Fuller will assist in Friday's cer-
emony by unveiling two plaques
being erected at the site, one tell- ;
ing the history of the bridge and
one a replica of the original con-
struction marker.
"One plaque is a replica of the
original 1889 King Iron Bridge
Company marker, from the com- ,
pany that made the bridge," Craw-
ford said. "The Parks and Leisure
Services Board had a replica made
of the original plaque that was
found in a chicken coop
somewhere."
Crawford said the bridge spans
0 Please See BRIDGE, Page 5A
DISTRIBUTED TO: DATE: '3
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL �i'
T. HART J. HENNIG / /� DATE: lD ,
S. CRIM
T . COX
CITY ATTORNEY d�
Bridge: Euless salutes piec6,'of histol:
❑ Continued from Page 1A torical significance, because a lot " it's used by the kids going; a
of times when you modernize ar- and, from school today, and people
something more important than eas bridges like that are de- in the neighborhoods use it to go
the branch of Hackberry Creek stroyed," she said. "There is not an into the park, so it's seen a lot of
that crosses South Euless Park — it effort to keep things that are im- ct.iange from the horse-drawn kag-
spans the entire development of portant to our community, so we gsns to these kids xho are our' f
Euless. are really fortunate that Euless r[ure generation."
"It's great when you have some- had the foresight to preserve it and Fridays ceremony starts 't Z ,
thing like this that has some his- keep it from being destroyed. p.m. at the park, located behind'
it South Euless Elementary School.,:
In addition to presentations of the''
two plaques and an oral history of
the bridge, there will be a perfor-
mance by the Spice of Life kitchen
band composed primarily of sing-,
ers and musicians age 80 and
above. x
t t
THE H I STORY OF THE OLD I RON DR I DGE
(consolidated from file materials)
Euless' old iron bridge, built in 1689 by the King Iron Bridge Co. of Cleveland,
Ohio, stands today in South Euless Park as a footbridge across "'The Branch", a small
0
tributary of Hackberry Branch w1iich empties into the Trinity River. But, at one
time the old iron bridge spanned the Trinity River itself.
Measuring 96 feet long by 14 feetTo.7ide by 17 feet high at its highest
elevation, the original bridge color was red. The bridge was built to accommodate
the horse-drmvnwagons of the 1690s serving traffic on the Arlington -Grapevine
Road (now State Highway 157) enabling early residents of Eastern Tarrant County
to trade and shop in these small but important centers.
In the early 1930s the steel of the bridge N-%ncs moved to North Euless where
the Tarrant County Construction Company used ifto span Little Bear Creek on the
Euless -Grapevine Road, later called North Main Street, replacing an older timber
-bridge to the v7est. The gravel put on the road in Euless was red and was f rom the
Morrison farm across the street from the McCormicks. The Euless road had
previously been a dirt road. Earl Johnson, who later became Precinct 2 Count,*
Commissioner in the 1950s, helped his father, owner of the construction company,
to build the new bridge, 'which was located just east of the original bridge across
Little Bear Creek.
Travelers on the one -lane bridge changed their mode of conveyances from
wagons and buggies to automobiles and trucks, but the bridge served for 40 more
C.
years until the timbers composing its floor and supports began to deteriorate. At
b-
that time the city or Euless aeciaea to replace tne N. m-ain street brill Jae vlitl-1 a
wider, modern one. The old iron bridge eras to be scrapped until the Euless Park
Board, under the chairmanship of Charles Hunt., announced plans to save the bridge
for use in South Euless Park.
No city funds were available so save the bridge, although the Euless City
Council v,,a-s sympathetic to the cause. It was estimated $ 181,000 "would be required
to take the bridge apart and move it to South Euless Park for rebuilding, build a
temporary foundation and replace the deteriorated timber decking. The bridge is a
suspension type, its roadway suspended from sets of two crossed cables connected
to pairs of towers. Disassembly and reconstruction would require expert
engineering skill. Despite discouragement Hunt persisted in searching for vr;-'7c to
save the bridge.
Hunt was interested in the bridge because he and Harold Copher, later a
Euless councilman, had purchased the property southeast of the bridge in the late
1950s and had built their homes there. An old chicken house, while being torn
down to make way for Hunts house, yielded two iron plaques giving the name of
the King Iron Bridge Co. and the date, 1689. Copher mounted one of the plaques on
his house and the other was presented to the family of Andrew Fuller, the late
owner of the land.
Hunt tf,)Id the Euless Bicentennial Steering Committee about the bridge in
September, 1974 and the Bicentennial Committee adopted the bridge as one of its
projects. However, time was running out as the Euless City Council signed a
contract with a construction company to begin construction of the new bridge in
November, 1()74. In an effort to find a way to save the bridge, the Bicentennial
committee joined with members of a 'Save., the Bridge"' committee led by Charles
Hunt.
In October, 19 7 4, stories about the bridge appeared in local nev,7spapers and
on television. One of these was seen by Earl Johnson, now retired and living in Fort
Worth. He called the chairman of the Bicentennial Steering Committee, Brenda
Eberhart., and questioned the supposed age of the bridge as he recalled working on
it as foreman about 1932. He said lie helped build the timber part including the
foundations of the bridge. Although he said it was probably "the last bridge of its
kind,'" Johnson questioned whether the bridge was actually 85 years old. However,
he said the steel work was sub -contracted to Texas Iron and Steel Company and he
didn't know where they had gotten the steel.
A member of the Bicentennial committee then called Warren Fuller, whose
brother the late Andrew Fuller, had deeded the land for the N. Main Street bridge.
Fuller, a realtor and the first mayor of Euless, said it was definitely the old Trinity
River bridge, which he remembered crossing "in a wagon and a buggy and a hack!
Fuller and Hunt then verified the story by Qbtaining copies of county records
f
showing that the work order for the North Main Street bridge called for the steel
for the bridge to be picked up from the bank of the Trinity River. Later, Johnson
said that the Tarrant County Construction Co. had subcontractPed the steel to the
North Texas Steel Company.
His interest aroused, Warren Fuller called the present Precinct 3 County
Commissioner, Dick Lewis, to see if the county could move the bridge. The next
morning he met Lewis at the bridge and they walked out to its creaking f loor to
look it over. Levhs said the county did not have the equipment to move the bridge,
but he offered sufficient county funds in his 1975 budget to not only move the old
bridge but also help pay fore the new one -- a total of $75,000. The new budget
was to be formally approved the second week in January. At the Euless council
meeting mavor Pete wno naa a biQ7 smile on his race. said tbat. the c1tv
�.j V Krause;I %J 1 0
would go ahead with its plans as soon as it received a firm conimitinent from
Commissioner Lewis. That commitment was received the next morning. The offer
0
�Anas quickly accepted by the Euless City Council stating that after the county budget
vy—as approved, the county could reimburse the city.
In January, 1975, the old iron bridge was moved to South Euless Park. The
Euless City Council set April 20, 1975, as the date for its dedication. On that
Sunday afternoon a large group of Euless citizens gathered in the park to hear the
dedication program. Hunt, Fuller and Lewis took part n the program to tell their
memories about the bridge. Also taking part in the program were Mayor Harold
Samuels, the Euless City Council, City Manager Blackie Sustaire., Director of parks
and Recreation Frank Lindsey, Bicentennial chairman Brenda Eberhart, and the
Trinity High School Concert Band.
At the end of the ceremony a replica of a Civil War cannon manned by a gun
crew dressed in Confederate uniforms, boomed three times, officially dedicating the
bridge.
But for the efforts of several Euless citizens, particularly Charles Hunt, who
never gave up in his fight to save the bridge, and Warren Fuller, who took up the
0
challenge at the last possible moment and won, the bridge would be a heap of scrap
today.
Instead, it acts as a footbri&(e for schoolchildren crossing the creek to South
Euless School. It rests on the banks of "The Branch*" tucked in among the trees as
though it had always been there. Not only does it serve as a monument and
memorial to 104 years of human activity and community growth, but the Old Iron
Bridge continues in service as a foot and bicycle bridge helping to create a safe and
open approach ror the awaren attending soutri Euless Eiementaq scriool and ror
neighborhood families using park facilities.
From the echo of horses' hooves to the rubber treads of automobile tires, and
finally too children's footsteps, the old iron bridge has witnessed a parade of Euless
history.
It was a fitting monument to Euless' Bicentennial celebration of 1976.
OLD IRON BRIDGE HISTORICAL MASKER PROJECT
(AND OLD MCCORMICK BARN)
02-12-88. First interview with Mr. and Mrs. W. W. McCormick
regarding old iron bridge and their barn. Data revealed as follows.
BRIDGE: was originally located over Trinity River as it intersects
FM 157 in Arlington or Fort Worth. County probably was original
purchaser around 1880's. In 1936 the bridge was moved from that
location to the Euless site on North Main Street, which at that time
was "Euless -Grapevine Road" and was the only way to get across
Little Bear Creek in the area. The original bridge color was red and
the gravel put on the road in Euless was red and was from the
Morrison farm across the street from the McCormicks (at 2300 N.
Main, but on the west side of the street). The Euless road was
previously a dirt road. Mr. McCormick remembers going across the
bridge with his parents, via horse and buggy, when the bridge was
still over the Trinity River, to visit relatives that lived in Arlington.
And at the Euless site, the bridge was first placed about 200 feet
upstream from where a bridge is located now, and west of Main
Street, where the creek curved around. By the way, the first
bridge that was over Euless Main Street was moved to Fuller -Wiser
Road and stayed there until recent 1980's reconstruction of
Fuller -Wiser Road. That old bridge was also iron, but had low side
rails on it. This bridge was probably dismantled and removed during
Fuller-Wiser's improvements this decade. Harold Copher, a previous
councilmember, took the plaque off of the old iron bridge in the
1970's when it was removed from North Main Street to South Euless
Park. This plaque has a date in the 1880's and the manufacturer's
name on it. The McCormicks say it is on Copher's front porch, and
Copher got it to keep someone from taking it off and destroying it.
They suggested that I visit with Copher about the plaque and get the
actual date and manufacturer's name from it. Copher's house is on
North Main, east side, a white house south of the creek. W. W.
McCormick said the bridge was the only way to get across the creek
and therefore had to have contributed to early transportation in the
a
area. He also said the bridge should be painted red again rather
than alumiminum, to put it in its original condition. Mrs. McCormick
said it is a one -car bridge, but she can remember only waiting a half
dozen times for a car to come across it before she could cross it.
The McCormicks moved to 2300 North Main Street in 1948. In the
early 1970's when the bridge was removed from N.Main Street, there
was quite a problem. Donations were sought to pay for its
relocation, but not enough money could be obtained. Warren Fuller
got Tarrant County Commissioner Dick Lewis to get the County to
move the bridge at a cost of $25,000. Had it not been for this, the
bridge would have been destroyed. Charles Hunt also worked to save
the bridge and see that it was preserved.
BARN: Lee McCormick, W. W. McCormick's father, built the barn in
1919. That same year, he took a team of mules to Fort Worth and
bought scrap wood from Camp Bowie, on the west side of Fort Worth.
He hauled the wood with the team of mules from Fort Worth to Euless,
and built the barn. All of the wood of the original structure is still
the same today. The McCormicks asked me to see if the barn would
qualify for a historical marker.
THINGS TO DO
--Steve Norwood to make a videotape interview with the McCormicks
about the bridge and the barn
--Kay to formulate questions and area of discussion for the
interviews, based on state required criteria from the historical
society
--check county records for information on bridge original purchase,
i.e., date, amount, maker, parties involved, significant events
surrounding the bridge at either its locations
--maybe city of arlington or fort worth or county would want to
participate in historical marker for bridge -- or barn
--check fort worth and/or military records on camp bowie
2
information????
--interview Warren Fuller, Charles Hunt, Harold Copher, others
about bridge
--get information from plaque
--write to manufacturer of bridge, if possible
--where did wood come from that built camp bowie>????? native from
along trinity river, or what????
--ask wms for ideas
FORMULATE QUESTIONS AND ITEMS TO COVER WHEN CONDUCTING
INTERVIEWS ON THE TWO ITEMS and prepare affidavits of the
parties giving the statements....
Tuesday, 02-16-88 notation: visit from Linda Tidwell and she offered
note of information: that a fort worth deputy municipal court clerk
named Carol Elder worked up an application for a historical marker,
one of the best narratives Linda has read; maybe lives on "Corondo"
in north richland hills; she did project for class and for church
questions to be answered -- and/or -- information required for
application
-- a comprehensive history with footnotes and bibliography; a
narrative history that makes it easily understood what the historical
significance and basic facts are and are clearly defined; footnotes and
bibliography so written that anyone can go directly to a course
referenced; and NOT supplemented with with copies of deeds,
newspaper articles, entries in county history books, etc. because
these are considered redundant and unncessary; GOAL IS TO MAKE
IT SO COMPLETE AND ACCURATE WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL
3
MATERIAL except for use of photographs, maps, site plans; if
committee wants more documented information they will ask for it.
-- history should be at least three doubled -spaced typed pages
-- if a structure, i.e., bridge, building, current photographs
needed of all sides of the structure and any available copies of
historic photographs
-- PRIMARY SOURCE -- material that is contemporary with the
beginning of the event, site or building
-- SECONDARY SOURCE -- later written account or oral account
by person who was not present at the event
-- primary sources preferred
IN INTERVIEW, INCLUDE;
-- name of person interviewed
-- name of interviewer
-- date, time, place of interview
-- subject of the interview
-- whether taped or typed copy of the interview has been made
-- whether copy of interview is available to the public
-- copy of relevant portions of the interview signed by both
interviewer and interviewee
-- identify person's interest - is it a personal interest or is the
person giving a recollection in an unbiased, disinterested,
authoritative capacity (these have more weight with committee)
-- if claim is of earliest, first, largest, oldest, etc.,
accompaning solid documentation must be given from an unbiased
source
-- testimony from persons who do not have firsthand knowledge
of a particular claim is not valid documentation ,
( --footnotes necessary to cite reliable source of history; second,
used at state's historical data center on microfilm)
--name, address, signature of interviewee
------ SCRIPT -------
This is Kay Rainey, accompanied by Steve Norwood, interviewing Mr.
W. W. McCormick, 2300 North Main Street, Euless,Texas, regarding
the barn on his property/the iron bridge. Today is Monday, March
1, 1988, and it is 3:00 P.M. This interview is taking place at the
Euless Administration Building, 201 North Ector Drive, Euless. Mrs.
Willie Mae McCormick is also present. Mr. McCormick's full name is
His date of birth is
Mr. McCormick, can you tell us about the barn that is on your
property at 2300 North Main Street in Euless?
-- let him tell his story without interruptions if possible --
--then begin questions needed for marker application:
1) What was your father's full name
his date of birth
born at
date of death
buried at
occupation
2) Did you go with your father when he purchased the wood
from old camp bowie? Do anyone else accompany him?
Who? --
3) Did you help him in building the barn?
Did anyone else help him?
Who?
4) Did your mother help out?
Her name?
5
Date of birth Where?
Date of death Buried at
5) How much did your Lee pay for the wood?
$ per
6) This was in 1919?
7) How did your father know about the wood?
8) How was the wood transported?
9) What route did he take?
10) Why did he build the barn?
11) What was it used for?
12) Is the barn still the original wood, without any new siding
or covering of any kind?
13) Is the original structure the same? Have any additions or
deletions been made to/from it? When?
14) What has the barn been used for since its first use?
15) Who all has been owners of the barn?
16) What significance do you feel the barn has had to our
community?
17) Was the barn ever used for any community activities?
18) What do you know about old Camp Bowie? Why was it
dismantled?
0
19) Who conducted the dismantling? What branch of the
military?
20) Did you go over and see any of it with your father?
21) Who else would know about the barn -- that would have
firsthand knowledge of it?
22) Do you have any paperwork, like a receipt, letter, notes on
a calendar or diary, concerning the barn's history?
23) Do you have any photographs of the barn when it was first
built or since it has been built? Or any photographs of the site
before the barn was built?
24) Can we have permission to visit the barn in the near future
and take current photographs of it from all angles? This is a
requirement of the Texas Historical Commission.
25) Is there anything else that you wish to say about the barn?
26) Would you like to see it receive a historical marker? Why?
How would it benefit our community?
-------QUESTIONS AND SCRIPT FOR OLD IRON BRIDGE -------
FIRST, EXPLAIN THE
THEY WILL KNOW WHAT
HEARING PROCESS THE
BE ASKED TO TELL
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
COMMISSION.
PROCESS TO MR.
TO EXPECT -
MAYOR EXPLAINS
WHAT THEY KNOW
THAT WILL
AND MRS. MCCORMICK SO
SORT OF LIKE THE PUBLIC
-- THAT EACH ONE WILL
AND THEN I WILL ASK
BE RQUIRED BY THE
I am Kay Rainey, and I and Steve Norwood are conducting an
interview today with W. W. McCormick and Willie Mae McCormick,
regarding the old iron bridge. Today is Monday, March 1, 1988, and
it is 10:00 a.m. We are at the Euless Administration Building
Conference Room, 201 North Ector Drive. Mr. W. W. McCormick and
his wife, Willie Mae McCormick are present.
Mr. McCormick, will you please state your name and date of birth?
Mrs. McCormick, will you do the same?
Mr. McCormick, will you tell us what you know about the old iron
bridge, starting with its arrival in Euless?
---- let him talk uninterrupted if possible ------
Mrs. McCormcck, what are your recollections of the history of the
bridge?
----- let her talk uninterrupte if possible -----
Then begin questions that are so far unanswered and required for
the application:
1)
02-19-88 Discussion with wms about project. He suggested talking
with persons who might remember old cotton gin that Mr. Euless
owned, which was possibly at the southeast corner of the city
complex land; perhaps the Byers will remember. Also, old Huffman
pecan tree;
We also discussed the two cemetaries that are in Euless but on
airport property. He said one was kept up and burials still going
Iq
on there; Richard Hamm would know about them. The other one is
rundown, but has a lot of old-time Euless residents there.
He said w.w. could tell about his home site and what was
happening with the barn and/or barn site 'way back them. Maybe
some significant bit of history of the area can be picked up and used
to designate the barn as an item of importance to community. He
thinks the McCormicks bought the land for 25-cents an acre about a
hundred years ago.
Also, the pecan trees in the McCormick park are 50 years old.
Mrs. McCormick said at the park dedication that they were bought at
the Texas 100-year anniversary in 1936 and planted at that time by
the McCormicks themselves. Maybe there's something there to be
used.
III
HUGE COTTONWOOD bTRjEuStomaktowering way or over N. Main
crossing in Euless will
new
bridge.
OLD IRON BRIDGE spans Little Bear Creek in north Euless.
GRAFFITI is defined as an ancient drawing or writing
scratched on a wall or other surface. Exposed layers of
rock near the old one lane bridge in Euless on North
Main Street recount visitors to the spot over the post
years. Names, initials and messages are carved into the
i
Daily News photo
• ig
rocks. Once the main roadway between Euless and Gra-
pevine, the road is,now the central thoroughfare of Eu-
less and crosses Little Bear Creek. The creek is forded by I
a one -lane narrow bridge built in the 1930s.
i
i
i
County funds
" I think we're going to
save that bridge," Charles
Hunt said last week, al-
though most everyone else
had thrown up their hands
and said the old iron N.
Main bridge in Euless was
a goner.
For two years Hunt, the
Euless park board chair-
man, had headed an effort
to save the old one -lane
"wagon bridge" for a Eu-
less park. The bridge is
scheduled to be torn down
soon to make way for a
newer, safer bridge, but the
Euless City Council, intent
on not raising taxes this
year, had said there were,
no funds available to save
the old one.
Hunt's tenacity paid off
at the Euless City Council
meeting Tuesday night.
Realtor Warren Fuller, who
had become involved in the
battle for the old bridge
only Monday afternoon,
announced to the council
that Tarrant County Com-
missioner Dick Lewis has
agreed to help with funds
for the bridge.
LEWIS VERIFIED the
agreement to the Mid -Cities
Daily News.
"I. am anticipating set-
ting up in the 1975 county
budget some money, about
$75,000, to help the city
build the new bridge,"
Lewis said.
"The county will help in
rebuilding the new bridge,
and I hope some of that
money, $25,000, will be set
aside to _ save the old
bridge," Lewis said.
He went on to say, "I
don't have that kind of
money in'- this year's
budget, but the new budget
will be formally approved
save
Charles Hunt keeps, the faith
the second week in Janu-
ary," Lewis k said.
WHEN ASKED if all
commissioners work to
gether on the budget, or if
each sets up the require-
ments for his own precinct,
Lewis said, "We usually set
up our own budgets in our
own precincts, and the
other commissioners go
along with it."
AT THE EULESS coun-
cil meeting Tuesday night
Mayor Pete Krause, who
had a big smile on his face,
said that the city would go
ahead with its plans as'
soon as it receives a firm
commitment from Commis-
sioner Lewis. That commit-
ment was received Wednes-
day morning After the
county budget is approved,
the Euless mayor said, the
county could reimburse the
city. .
THE FINALE to the
"Save the Bridge" cam-
paign was swift. Warren
Fuller, the first mayor of
Euless in the days before
the city adopted the coun-
cil -city manager form of
government, became in-
volved in the project Mon-
day when the age of the
bridge was questioned.
Earl Johnson, a retired
builder who was Precinct 3
County Commissioner in
the 1950s, said he helped
build the bridge about 1932.
His father's Tarrant County
Construction built the
bridge to replace an older
one to the west of it over
Little Bear Creek.
Although he said it was
probably "the last bridge of
its kind," Johnson ques-
tioned whether the bridge
was actually 85 years old.
However, he said the steel
work was sub -contracted to
Texas Iron and Steel Com-
pany and he didn't know
where the steel had come
from. He suggested check-
ing records kept by Com-
missioners' Court in the
Tarrant County Court-
house.
WARREN FULLER
STATED the bridge was
definitely the old bridge
that once spanned the Trin-
ity River on the Arling.
ton -Grapevine Road (S.H.
157). A member of an early
Euless family, Fuller
backed up his claim 'by an
exaggeration, "After all,
I've lived here 103 years!"
The property by the N.
Main bridge originally was
a farm that belonged to
Warren Fuller's brother,
Andrew Fuller. In 1959
Charles Hunt and Harold
Copher, a present Euless
councilman, bought the
property from Andrew
Fuller.
Hunt and Copher found
two iron plaques with ' the
King Iron Bridge Company
name on them in the corn
crib of an old log barn on
the property. King Iron
Bridge Company had made
the bridge in Ohio in 1889.
Copher mounted -one
plaque on the outside of his
house and gave the other to
the Fuller family. -
Monday afternoon Fuller
and Hunt checked county
records and verified that
the steel came from the
Trinity River, bridge. Hunt
said the plans for the
bridge gave orders to pick
up the steel for the Little
Bear Creek bridge at the
Trinity River location. He
•
is being sent copies of th
county records.
Telephone lines in Eu-
less hummed late Monda
as Hunt and Fuller con-
tacted city and county au-
thorities about the. bridge
Fuller made an appoint-
ment with Dick Lewis t
meet him at the bridg
Tuesday to see if th
connty could move it.
THE NEXT MORNIN
e
y
e
e
G
Lewis and Fuller walked
out on the little iron bridge
that shakes on its deterior-
ating foundations whenever
cars pass over it.
After looking it over,
Lewis said the county
didn't have the necessary
equipment to move the
o bridge. However, he agreed
to not only help financially
to move the old bridge but
also to aid substantially in
building the new one.
Daily News staff photo
CONFIDENCE PAYS OFF — Charles Hunt, who stub-
bornly worked to save Euless' old N. Main iron bridge
from the scrap heap when all seemed lost, stands on
the bridge over Little Bear Creek. Coming to the rescue
of the old bridge, which once spanned the . Trinity
River, is Tarrant County Commissioner Dick Lewis, who
has said he will not only budget $25,000 in 1975 -to i
save the old bridge, but also include $50,000 to help
on the new one.
�rl d recel ves / n®. vote
By BARBARA BURKE structing the bridge to be. the new community canter
$9,500. Costs for the founda- the Simmons Drive Com-
Due to an sstimated cost tion and a new deck on the munity Center was adopted
of $18,000, the Euless City bridge would amount to by the Council.
Council decided against re- $8,600 making the total ex- Corporationhe request for ofperivest
manent
locating .the Little Bear penditure $18,000. zoning of a 31 acre Creek Bridge to South Eu- In other action, the g tract of
less Park. on South Main Council approved the ap- property was approved by
Street, last night. pointment of Wayne Wright council members. The pro -
Plans had previously as a director 'to the Ci- perty located on the west
been proposed for the ties/Chamber of Commerce side of Westpark Way,
85-year-old historic struc- of Northeast Tarrant north of Pipeline Road is
ture to become a footbridge County (CONET). Wright is zoned for multi -family and
across a small creek called presently representing the small commercial _develop-.
"The Branch" in the park. city on the Metropolitan ment.
The iron bridge, built in Highway Committee. Ray
Ohio in 1889 has been in its Ozebek was named alter- Weather forecast
present location for 45 nate director. `
years. The Council also ap- . MID -CITIES weather
Earlier, the bridge had proved the appointments of will be partly cloudy and
spanned the Trinity River Bob Olsen to the Board of. warm through, Thursday.Appeals .
on the Euless -Arlington alternate. and Bill Dorsey astonight rnate..near 70 and the high on
Road, now known as High-' -
way 157. Thursday will be in the
Bids received estimated The Parks and Recrea- upper 80s. Winds will be
the costs of disassembling, tion Committee's re- light and variable. ;
transporting and recon- commendation to name ,•., ..
- ----------------�..- ................ ..... .....•.� ,
Daily News staff photo
ONCE A MAIN THOROUGHFARE between Euless and Grovevine, Main Street now ser. 'J.J,1 acres of form land. Construction of bridges at the intersection of Hwy. 183 and the 'ex-
4
ves the neighborhoods in the northern section of Euless. The picturesque bridge, weak.' tension of Hwy. 360 at Greater Southwest International Airport points to a future major
ened with age, is a reminder of past days when the bridge was the vital span a I ckti thioro4hkie designed to .transport busy Mid -Cities residents to the mammoth new Re -
Bear Bear Creek between the towns. Smaller cars, lighter in weight and slower In hciffirA gi 0 rfol.Al rport, posting residential and industrial development along the way.
er took,area residents through the countryside from one small village to the next, post,.. "! I I � - , ., , along
19-A -TORT WORTH STAR -TELEGRAM Monday Evening, October ?,1974
The Metro Report,
By
Jim W. knes
Old'Bnod
41 Endan'g''
e"
red,-.,
L., An histoic Euless bridge,
- .raise, finds for �the YMCA..
almost. 100 years old —may be
there,
ripped apart if the U.S. Army
The YMCA, women'sauxiI"__,iTr!
doesn't come to the rescue.
iary (perhaps the only such
The narrow bridge over Lit-
auxiliary in the nation) is
tle Bear Creek is due for de-
sponsoring the ball and auc-
struction- in the �next few
tion, said Mrs. Martha Jo Cal.
--weeks as a part .of a project
houn, auxiliary president.
-,to widen North Main Street,
Mrs'. Judy, Anderson, Pi -
but efforts are under way to
oneer Ball chairman, said
save the bridge.
tickets will be $15 a couple
The E u I e s s Bicentennial
and dress will-be.c.asual and
;''Committee, headed by Mrs.
western wear.
-George Eberhart, the park
Mrs. Calhoun said the new
and recreation board and oth-
YMCA building under con-
er groups hope the bridge can
struction at Spur 303 and Da.
*_ be moved to South Euless
vis in Arlington will be o pen
Park, where it would be used-
later in the fall
as a footbridge.
Euless councilmen refused-,
IN THE METROPLEX: At
to appropriate the - $34,000
the Haltom -Richland A r e a'
needed to move., the bridge,...,
Chamber of Commerce ban -
but they have -delayed, the ''
quet next, month -'six new'`:,;;:
to give resl'-,directors,
;'recently: elected to'.
dents a chance (66U, y,
threeyear terms;' will be rec-.,'
to save the old bridge, �: - �'. .
ognized, Dr. Andy Kulaga,'
-41 Don Perkins, Hurst -Euless-_
"'Bedford
chamber, president, has aw'
Chamber of Com*�,'
nounced,
metce representative on the
Directors will
Direrepresent:'
r' bicentennial committee; -.has
jor areas of the economy. Tht
asked the U.S. Army Corps of
new, leaders' are Joe Boston
Engineers to take' on Ahe.,: ,
president of As sociated Fiber'' -'
bridge -moving project 'as a
_
g1ass, manufacturing; Bill 'r"
training exercise.
Mnni§, owner of Minnis Erec-
Me engineers are now
tion, industrial development;.:
considering his suggestion.
"The
Estelle Praether, president of:,-.
Army engineers can put
Fort WortK Butane ;,.Gas,,
up bridges and take them
tail; Robert Phillips":,,� -vice. -o
�,,down overnight," said Per-
president of Haltorn-state R
kins, a retired Air Force colo-.
Bank, financial-, alttorneyT,lm
nel.
Truman and John Cowsat, Pr,
If the Corps of Engineers
chitecturaI ;plari,ner, Trofes=
can't help, it is likely that the
sional.:
turn -of -the -century bridge will
be lost.
COMING UP: Groundbreak.
- C. — Fnnn nnn -_;-
future
--SW-Telegram Photo
Creek bridge is uncertain
-Page 4 KID -CITIES DAILY NEWS Mondav, October 7, 1974
.. ... .....
w.,
X-
MW.,
4
X4
4,
- �lt
R, NNW, In
4f
CROSSING THE BRIDGE, one sees the road to the north framed by the iron bridge
sup
ports.
DETAIL OF IRONWORK on upper bridge supports on
EVLESS RESIDENTS Charles Hunt, Willie Mae McCormick and Carolyn. Griffin, from
left, are active in fight to save`N. Main bridge.
1. im' e is runnin lout
g
The days are growing landscape, • it was once the' tennial com nittee joined
short for the old North bridge across the Trinity with membe: s of a "Save
Main bridge in Euless. River on the Euless-Arling- the Bridge" =mzittee led
Unless a miracle hap- ton Road, now S.H. 157. It by Charles Y, int, chairman
pens. was moved to its present. of the Eule 3s Parkand
In two to four weeks location 45 years ago. Recreation B )ard. The lat-
work will begin on -the de- Aging timbers in the ter committ �e has been
,molishing of the iron floor decking and erosion of working for r lore than two
bridge, built in 1889 in Ohio the abutments of the years to save the bridge.
by the King Iron Bridge bridge, as well as its single EVERYONE, the city
Company, in order to make lane, have made it danger- council, the c ity engineers,
;. way for a safer, wider ous for modern day traffic, the contract(r, the park
bridge across Little Bear .ORIGINALLY, the City and recreatic i board, and
Creek. of Euless planned to save the, two prev ously named
Unless a miracle hap- the bridge, but finally de- committees, all want to
`: pens and someone comes tided it didn't have the save the brill ;e, but have
forth to save the bridge for " $18,000 estimated as re- come to a deadend in
reconstruction as a foot- quired to take the bridge trying to find he necessary
bridge across "the apart, move it to South Eu- money.
` . Branch," a small creek in less Park for rebuilding, Except for )ae hope, the
South Euless Parka build a temporary founda- U.S. Army G rps of Engi-
OTHERWISE, the bridge tion and replace the deter- neers. Col. Don Perkins,
will end up on the scrap iorated timber decking. (USAF ret.) Blcentennial
pile. The recently formed coordinator fir the HEB
Trying to . produce^_that Euless Bicentennial Steer- Chamber of C mnerce and
;:needed miracle are a nu ing Committee'
--the ' i,'Eules -resit ent, has, --ape.,-
.� .:.:
ber of Euless citizens in- bridge on its list of Bicen proached the -'orps of En-
volved in a last-ditch effort tennial projects which have gineers for h� 1p with the
to save the bridge. Not only been approved by the city. project, and • hey hwe it
is it a type fast disappear- In an effort to find a way to under consider ition.
`j> ing from the American save the bridge, the Bicen- But time is running out.
9/8/89
Lynn_
King Iron Bridge Company
Cleveland, Ohio
1. 2 Bridge Plaques @ $642.30/ea. $1284.60
2. 250 Bronze Paper Weights
4x6 @ $13.50/ea. 3400.00
3. 250 Bronze Belt Buckles
311x3 1/2" @ $14.90/ea. 3725.00
4. Plaque w/ Lettering @ $400.65/ea 400.65
$8810.25
6-8 weeks
70 ft. Bridge at South Euless
(Estimated Cost of.Materials)
(2) Steel girders $2,000
Lumber Wood Bolts 11000
Concrete 500
TOTAL COST $3,500
Prices of steel from:
Mosure Steel Co.
Box 5651
Dallas, Texas
5101 Maple
631-3311
Extention 62
Talked to: Tommie Lopez
Need drawings and specs to be completely accurate