Post by antking on Nov 7, 2008 11:19:52 GMT -6
Howdy, folks! I'm wanting to hear from anyone out there who might have some information concerning an old suspension bridge over the Red River, known to bridge enthusiasts and historians as the "Airline Bridge" (or sometimes "Air-Line Bridge"). In the Jan/Feb 2003 issue of This and That Mr. Ray Gibson of Ardmore submitted an old photo of the bridge:
www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/airlinebridge2.jpg
Lots of folks are unclear these days on whether the Nocona bridge and this bridge were one and the same. However, in 2007 I floated past the remains of the Nocona bridge, took photos and submitted some to "Bridgemeister" David Denenberg's excellent Website on suspension bridges:
www.bridgemeister.com/pic.php?pid=2050
The Nocona Bridge remains can be seen about 3 miles south of Oscar, OK at Ketchum's Bluff. Butch and Jill visited the site and had a very nice writeup plus some photos in the April 3, 2008 issue of This and That:
www.oklahomahistory.net/newsletters/TT584.htm
Comparing my photos with Mr. Gibson's historic photo, it's pretty clear to me that the Airline and Nocona were two different bridges, although built by the same outfit (Austin Brothers Bridge Co., now Austin Industries) and built within just a few years of each other (1924 & 1927).
I'm suspecting that the Airline Bridge spanned the river roughly between Leon, OK and Illinois Bend, TX. Anecdotal information from someone currently living in the area indicates that there might be the remains of an old bridge to be found somewhere a few miles downstream of the modern Taovayas Memorial Indian Bridge (Hwy. 89), although this person doesn't know the name of the bridge. Another person who commented on photos I posted on the Flickr Website left me a message saying that they grew up in the area and remember older relatives talking about an Airline Bridge, although that person has no idea where it might have been located.
So, is there anyone out there who grew up in Jefferson County, OK or Montague County, TX and have information on old bridges in the area? I'm hoping to do a little river exploring in 2009 and see if I can locate and document the remains, if any are to be found. A little information now, no matter how scant or apparently trivial, can save me years of futile searching. Also, if Mr. Ray Gibson of Ardmore happens to read this, I'd really love to hear how he happened to come across that old photo.
Thanks a bunch, folks!
www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/airlinebridge2.jpg
Lots of folks are unclear these days on whether the Nocona bridge and this bridge were one and the same. However, in 2007 I floated past the remains of the Nocona bridge, took photos and submitted some to "Bridgemeister" David Denenberg's excellent Website on suspension bridges:
www.bridgemeister.com/pic.php?pid=2050
The Nocona Bridge remains can be seen about 3 miles south of Oscar, OK at Ketchum's Bluff. Butch and Jill visited the site and had a very nice writeup plus some photos in the April 3, 2008 issue of This and That:
www.oklahomahistory.net/newsletters/TT584.htm
Comparing my photos with Mr. Gibson's historic photo, it's pretty clear to me that the Airline and Nocona were two different bridges, although built by the same outfit (Austin Brothers Bridge Co., now Austin Industries) and built within just a few years of each other (1924 & 1927).
I'm suspecting that the Airline Bridge spanned the river roughly between Leon, OK and Illinois Bend, TX. Anecdotal information from someone currently living in the area indicates that there might be the remains of an old bridge to be found somewhere a few miles downstream of the modern Taovayas Memorial Indian Bridge (Hwy. 89), although this person doesn't know the name of the bridge. Another person who commented on photos I posted on the Flickr Website left me a message saying that they grew up in the area and remember older relatives talking about an Airline Bridge, although that person has no idea where it might have been located.
So, is there anyone out there who grew up in Jefferson County, OK or Montague County, TX and have information on old bridges in the area? I'm hoping to do a little river exploring in 2009 and see if I can locate and document the remains, if any are to be found. A little information now, no matter how scant or apparently trivial, can save me years of futile searching. Also, if Mr. Ray Gibson of Ardmore happens to read this, I'd really love to hear how he happened to come across that old photo.
Thanks a bunch, folks!
