Spring Branch in Comal County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Esser's Crossing at Wesson

Photographed by James Hulse, October 25, 2022

1. Esser's Crossing at Wesson Marker

Inscription. In the mid-1800s, a wagon trail called Fredericksburg Road ran 19 miles northwest of New Braunfels to one of the first safe Guadalupe River road crossings. Esser's Crossing at Spring Branch served almost one hundred fifty years as a place designated for secure passage into the northwest portion of the state from New Braunfels and San Antonio to Johnson City and Fredericksburg. The crossing provided a safe, shallow solid rock river bottom crossing for pioneers and their ox-drawn wagons and horse-drawn carriages. As early as 1850, this crossing on the Guadalupe River was known as Henderson Crossing. A German immigrant, Charles Esser, Sr. (1827-1902), settled in the area in 1858 and provided a public way-station along the route. Esser was a judge, justice of the peace and school teacher and was instrumental in getting a postal station, called Wesson, in the area. Charles Beierle, Sr. was the postmaster between 1893 and 1907. When the crossing was flooded, teamsters drove to Fischer's store, Devil's Backbone or Purgatory Road to cross over the 1887 Faust Street Bridge in New Braunfels.

By 1903, the public and Comal County officials began discussions to build a second bridge to provide high water crossing over the Guadalupe River. In 1904, the county commissioners court selected Esser's Crossing to receive the bridge. After its construction, agricultural products were brought to the New Braunfels area from as far away as Johnson City. The wrought iron Whipple Truss bridge, a popular style of the time was completed in 1904. The bridge designed for one-way traffic displayed a sign forbidding fast driving or riding or driving more than ten head of livestock on the bridge at any one time. Esser's Crossing Bridge was designated an official United States Geological Station in 1923, area residents served as gauge attendants

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to record annual data. The 1904 bridge was later condemned and removed in 1979.

Erected 2012 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17227.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 29° 51.442′ N, 98° 22.812′ W. Marker is in Spring Branch, Texas, in Comal County. It is on Farm to Market Road 311 2.2 miles south of U.S. 281, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located along the road on the south side of the Guadalupe River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6630 FM 311, Spring Branch TX 78070, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country

and in the San Antonio Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At

The view of the Esser's Crossing at Wesson Marker from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 25, 2022

2. The view of the Esser's Crossing at Wesson Marker from the street

least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Herman and Ada Knibbe House (approx. 3.6 miles away); Adam Becker Homestead (approx. 3.7 miles away); Spring Branch Post Office (approx. 4 miles away); Smithson Valley Cemetery (approx. 4½ miles away); Specht's Crossing (approx. 4.6 miles away); Startzville Community (approx. 6½ miles away); Anhalt Halle and the Germania Farmer Verein (approx. 6.7 miles away); Saint Mary's Help of Christians Catholic Church (approx. 9½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spring Branch.

Also see . . . Esser's Crossing at Wesson. Comal County Historical Commission

Esser’s Crossing on the Guadalupe River, situated along one of the first safe river road crossings, became site of an important way-station. It played a vital role that provided crude, but a safe shallow solid rock bottom river crossing for pioneers and their ox-drawn wagons and horse-drawn carriages.

(Submitted on October 27, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,002 times since then and 262 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 27, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.