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This is one of two historic bridges that were relocated and preserved in a small park named the Rockdale Bridge Park. The relocated bridges sit on the ground as exhibits. This bridge is a rare example of a bedstead truss bridge in Texas. Most of the legs below the bottom chord have been cut off, but otherwise the historic integrity is good. The bridge was originally located in Milam County, County Road 240 over Big Elm Creek. A new bridge was built at that location in 1988 per NBI data. The bridge was picked off the waterway and set to the north side of the creek in 1994. Sparks Engineering reports this bridge is wrought iron and suggests the reported 1912 construction date may be incorrect as a result.
Art Suckewer provided some possible insight into the construction date and potential for a different bridge builder:
I bought an old bridge contract. It is for a 70' bedstead over Elm Creek in Milam County, TX. The form has 188 printed on it with 91 overwritten (1891). The form has Kansas City Bridge Co. with Kansas City crossed out and Chicago written in. Thus, Galbreath Crossing Bridge is an 1891 Chicago Bridge product and it looks like Chicago bought Kansas City.
Further research into El Paso Bridge and Iron Company was difficult, however the company appears to have been more of an agent for other bridge builders. They may have still been involved with this bridge, perhaps erecting it for a company like Chicago Bridge.
This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Trusses Converted To Decorative
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