Bridgeport in Wise County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Toll Bridge & Old Bridgeport
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, April 10, 2023
1. Toll Bridge & Old Bridgeport Marker
Inscription.
Toll Bridge and Old Bridgeport. . When Butterfield Overland Mail traversed this area (1858-61) on St. Louis to San Francisco route, a crossing over West Fork of the Trinity was a necessity. Colonel W. H. Hunt on February 11, 1860, obtained a charter and built a toll bridge here (50 yards west). The Overland Mail ceased operating as Civil War began. The bridge soon collapsed. However, a settlement had begun here, and in 1873 Charles Cates, a Decatur merchant, spanned the river with an iron bridge. When the Rock Island Railroad built to this point in 1893, town moved but retained historic name.
When Butterfield Overland Mail traversed this area (1858-61) on St. Louis to San Francisco route, a crossing over West Fork of the Trinity was a necessity. Colonel W. H. Hunt on February 11, 1860, obtained a charter and built a toll bridge here (50 yards west). The Overland Mail ceased operating as Civil War began. The bridge soon collapsed. However, a settlement had begun here, and in 1873 Charles Cates, a Decatur merchant, spanned the river with an iron bridge. When the Rock Island Railroad built to this point in 1893, town moved but retained historic name.
Erected 1972 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5499.)
Location. 33° 11.718′ N, 97° 47.059′ W. Marker is in Bridgeport, Texas, in Wise County. Marker is on Farm to Market Road 920, 0.4 miles north of County Road 3424, on the right when traveling south. FM 920 and Trinity River Bridge, just west of Bridgeport. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bridgeport TX 76426, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 11, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
