Brown County Commissioners heard from Myra Wright on Monday, representing the Brown County Historical Commission and the Zephyr Historical Society, regarding the placement of a historical plaque designating the significance of the iron bridge on County Road 306 in Zephyr, Texas. Also in attendance were Charles Smith and Peter James, land owners whose property run through or is directly adjacent to the bridge. James and Smith addressed concerns about designating the bridge with a historical marker.
According to Wright, the Brown County Historical Commission has already designated the bridge as a historical landmark but needs permission from the county to post a historical land marker plaque. The site is not eligible for a state land marker because it is on a county road. Wright also states that this project would be at no cost to the county and would be paid for and installed by the Brown County Historical Commission.
“All of us from that 40’s era remember that there were political rallies, church functions, Easter egg hunts, school functions, and picnics – it has a lot of historical significance,” states Wright.
Charles Smith addressed the court about his concerns designating this as a historical landmark. Smith’s family has owned their property since 1951, which is on both sides of the bridge. He is concerned with the condition of the road and bridge because of illegal dumping of trash and animal carcasses at the location. Smith has been trying to get the road closed to alleviate the dumping problem. He believes that if the bridge was designated as historical, he would not be able to get it closed.
“Country Road 306 – it runs parallel to Farm Road 218 and in my opinion, the bridge and the road really serve no purpose, they go nowhere. I tried a year or two ago to get the bridge closed with no avail,” said Smith. “And so I put gates on our property line, one on each end, not locked, with a sign saying ‘please close the gates.’ That stopped a lot of traffic which had no business being there, other than to dump trash.”
Smith states that he had to take the gates down because they were on county roads. Since then, the dumping problem has increased. The court then discussed several options including, closing the road, and putting up gates -both solar and ranch gates. Smith and James were open to the option of putting in gates with the exception that they not be self-closing gates. They believe the ranch style gates will reduce those wanting to enter, and they will have to put forth the effort to open and close the gates, as to alleviate people wanting to speed through or dump trash. Brown County Judge Ray West stated that if the court were to take action on installing gates that this would have to be brought before the court another time since it was not a posted agenda item.
“My interest and a lot of other people’s interest in that road is that old bridge; I don’t think Charles [Smith] wants it torn down, or certainly Myrna [Wright] and the people of Zephyr. As far as the bridge I would like to see it preserved,” said Richard Gist, Commissioner for Precinct #3. “It is of historical significance and I don’t personally have a problem with a plaque on it or nearby.”
The court unanimously approved the placement of the historical plaque on the bridge or adjacent to it.
In other items addressed by Brown County Commissioners Court Monday:
*The burn ban remains in place for all precincts.
*The Indigent Care Affiliation between Brown County and Brownwood Regional Medical Center was approved unanimously.
*The court approved the inspection and repair of the fire alarm system at the juvenile detention center.
* The procedure and limitations for the preapproval of expenditures by Commissioners for Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 were put into place and approved.
*The conveyance of a part of Lot 9, Block K, Tannehill’s Addition, Brownwood, Brown County, Texas, was approved and relinquished to the City of Brownwood.
*The hiring of a replacement custodial employee was approved.
