Old 380 bridge earns national historic designation

The National Park Service listed the old bridge off U.S. 380 crossing the Brazos River in the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 22, joining some 3,183 properties in Texas with the designation. A letter was sent to Young County Judge John Bullock March 15 from State Historic Preservation Officer Mark Wolfe informing the county of the decision. In the letter, Wolfe said site could be eligible for assistance to care for the steel bridge. “Various historic preservation programs may be available to aid in the preservation of your property, including investment tax credits for certain income producing properties,” he said. “Although funding is limited, grants may also be available to aid in the further preservation of your property.” The bridge is a through truss bridge that was built by Buckner Bros. Contractors in 1932-33 and replaced a 1908 cable suspension bridge that collapsed in 1930. The commissioners court of Young County at the time was made up of County Judge W.F. Parsley and commissioners A.C. Anderson, C.W. Akers, Sam Bird and Tom Rice. For the rest of this story, subscribe to our print or online edition.