Published: July 12, 2008 03:03 pm            

John Watson: Bluff Dale provides history, entertainment

As you travel down today’s super highways you will cross many bridges without even thinking about them. You may come upon one now and then with the overhead structural design that will grab your attention for just a moment.

Now then, what if, upon approaching a bridge, you had to stop and check to see if someone was coming from the opposite direction, and if so, wait for them to cross. Many early day bridges were narrow, one-lane bridges, and this was the typical procedure. One such bridge is the Bluff Dale Suspension Bridge.

Bluff Dale is in northeastern Erath County on U.S. 377 between Granbury and Stephenville.

According to the historical marker, for many years traffic traveling west from Granbury had to ford the Paluxy River to get to Bluff Dale and points west. Wagon traffic increased after the railroad reached the town in 1889.

An iron bridge began to serve the public by spanning the Paluxy River in 1891. William Flinn assembled this highly unusual, cable-stayed bridge using iron pipes, rods and castings with a flooring of steel plate. Wrapped wire cables complete the 140 foot span. This technological wonder remains the earliest known cable-stayed bridge in the United States.

The bridge was originally on the main road to Bluff Dale, which became Texas 10 and later U.S. 377. By 1933 arterial highway travel demanded a wider bridge. In 1934 authorities moved the “swinging” bridge 15 miles upstream, where it served local traffic and remains today.

Several years ago the county built a new concrete bridge next to the old suspension bridge and barricaded the old bridge so no traffic could cross. You may walk around the barricade and walk onto the bridge if you would like. The new bridge is a one -ane bridge also.

While standing and looking at the old suspension bridge I started thinking what it might have been like traveling over it in the old days. Just by looking, the bed of the bridge could not be much more than ten feet wide. The bed of the bridge is not level; whether that was the original condition, I do not know.

The two, large steel posts at either end that support the steel cables holding the bridge have become so overgrown with grapevines it is hard to see exactly how the cables are attached to the posts.

Imagine a wagon and team of mules crossing the metal bridge. The loud clip-clop of the steel shoes on the mules against the steel of the bridge and the bridge gently swaying and creaking under the weight of the wagon and team would be a sight to see. A horse trotting across with a buggy would make a totally different sound.

As the automobile came along and more people bought cars and started traveling more, that put quite a strain on the old suspension bridge. U.S. 377 is the main road from Fort Worth through Granbury, Stephenville and on to Brownwood and points farther west. The little bridge just could not handle the traffic load.

I am glad they moved the bridge and saved it so that today we could see one of the late 19 century engineering feats.

To drive to the suspension bridge, travel west on U.S. Hwy 377 to Bluff Dale, turn right onto County Road 149, cross the railroad tracks, and you will see the bridge.

While you are in Bluff Dale, visit the Greenwood Saloon. It is located in an old building reminiscent of some of the saloons in the old western movies. You could almost imagine seeing some cowboys riding up on horses, except there is no hitching rail out front.

The building itself has quite a history. Originally built in 1897 in the town of Chalk Mountain, it was used as a mercantile store. Sometime around 1930 it was moved to the square in Glen Rose and stayed there until 2000 when it was moved to Bluff Dale. It sat abandoned until 2006, when it was remodeled and made into a saloon.

The Greenwood is open Friday and Saturday nights and serves a good selection of beer, wine, but no hard liquor, and soft drinks. This is a private club, but membership is free.

A live band performs every Saturday night, and there are two dance floors, one inside and the other outside. This is the place to go for an “old West” style night on the town.

Entering Bluff Dale from the east, cross the railroad tracks, take the next right, which is Greenwood Street, and the saloon is at the end of the street on the right.



John Watson is a Cleburne

resident who can be reached at texastraveler@sbcglobal.net.

        

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