Historical Commission

Historic Iron Bridges

Iron bridge construction in Denton County during the 1880’s took place within the context of the first dramatic population increase and development boom in the country’s history. The last two decades witnessed the establishment of the Exchange National Bank  (Denton’s second bank – 1883), the Texas Normal College (1891), the first Denton City public free school  (1884) the first County Fair, the first telephone facilities, and three major railroad connections. Iron bridge construction went hand- in- glove with these developments. The same local newspaper that catalogued these events reported an expenditure of  $125,000 on bridge construction and boasted “ a majority of these are made of iron.” The iron bridge was seen as symbol of modernity,  a badge of stature for the community and  its growing economic and cultural functions.

As an example of the country’s commitment to the construction of iron bridges, the 1883 Commissioner’s Court authorized the building of eight of these structures on the county’s major transportation arteries. The fact that the commissioners authorized the appropriation of $10,000 from the county’s  Permanent School Fund to finance their Construction underscored the importance with which they were held. A number of referendum elections were ordered between 1880 and 1895 to determine the expenditures of public money on iron bridges. Approximately a score of iron bridges, many of the Pratt Truss type, were built in Denton County by 1910.

The construction and financing of the Iron Pratt-Truss  bridge at Alton was approved by the Commissioner’s Court of Denton County on August 20, 1884. Apparently, was to be built at another place, but the Court confirmed its decision on the site in its August minutes. The bridge had probably been under construction  for a number of months prior to this, because the September 22, 1884 Court minutes described the commissioner’s inspection and approval of the completed bridge. The contract for the Alton bridge was awarded to the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. This company was responsible for almost all iron bridge construction in Denton County during the 19^th century.