Building a Dam: The making of Toledo Bend Lake

In May 1963, land acquisition for Toledo Bend Reservoir got underway.  Construction of the Toledo Bend Dam, which would halt the flow of the mighty Sabine River to ultimately create the lake, began almost one year later, in April 1963.  The dam and the spillway construction were initiated, along with the building of a power plant from which hydroelectricity would be generated.

The closure of the earthen embankment and the filling of the lake began in October 1966.

Here are a few photos of the construction of the Spillway and Dam.  The spillway was designed to provide the controlled release of flows from the dam downstream to the Sabine River, and to release flood water so the level does not get too high and overtop or damage the dam.

Here are some photos of construction of the dam and spillway.  I added some close ups of a couple of the photos… honing in on different parts of the original photo.

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Time Travel Backwards Style: Ferries on the Sabine

We received a request regarding photos and information on ferries which operated on the Sabine River before the bridges were built (most of the bridges that were added on the Sabine River were built in the 1930s).  So I rounded up all the photos I had and grabbed up a few old newspaper articles and here they are.  If anyone has additional photos, I would love love love to share them! They are really invaluable and I get so excited any time I come across one.

Pendleton Gaines Ferry.  Not sure of the year, but was pre 1937.  This photo was shared with ATS by Donna Owens Jones
Pendleton Gaines Ferry. Not sure of the year, but was pre 1937. This photo was shared with ATS by Donna Owens Jones

Continue reading “Time Travel Backwards Style: Ferries on the Sabine”

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Through the years: Crossing the Sabine River between Bon Weir, Texas and Merryville, Louisiana

 

1931. On the Sabine River between Merryville, Louisiana and Bon Weir, Texas. From The Beaumont Enterprise, "The old hand-powered ferry which took its departure with the erection of the bridge. This is one of the old and historical crossings of the Sabine river."
1931. On the Sabine River between Merryville, Louisiana and Bon Weir, Texas. From The Beaumont Enterprise, “The old hand-powered ferry which took its departure with the erection of the bridge. This is one of the old and historical crossings of the Sabine River.”
1931. Bridge over Sabine River between Merryville, Louisiana and Bon Weir, Texas. From The Beaumont  Enterprise.
1931. Bridge over Sabine River between Merryville, Louisiana and Bon Weir, Texas. From The Beaumont Enterprise.
Railroad bridge over Sabine River, built pre-1910.  Photo by Patrick Feller
Railroad bridge over (ATFS) Sabine River, built 1905, according to BridgeHunter.com. Photo by Patrick Feller.
image
The railroad bridge over the Sabine River between Newton County and Beauregard Parish is a swing through truss bridge. Photo by Patrick Feller.
Bridge today, as part of US Hwy. 190 system.  Not sure when the bridge was constructed... Looked a good bit online but did not find a date pinpointed.  Feel free to comment if you know more about this bridge.  NOTE:  We took this photo from the air this past December... The river was at flood stage at this time... So it may appear quite high in these photos because it is quite high.
Bridge today, as part of US Hwy. 190 system. Not sure when the bridge was constructed… Looked a good bit online but did not find a date pinpointed. Feel free to comment if you know more about this bridge. NOTE: We took this photo from the air this past December… The river was at flood stage at this time… So it may appear quite high in these photos because it is quite high.

 

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Old photos from Call School

From the collection of Mr. D. T. Kent, these are some photos from early to mid 1900s of Call School in Newton County, Texas

Call School in Newton County. From the collection of Mr. D.T. Kent, Kirbyville, Texas
Call school looking east, 1935.  From the collection of Mr. D.T. Kent, Kirbyville, Texas
Call school looking east, 1935. From the collection of Mr. D.T. Kent, Kirbyville, Texas
Call School, From the collection of Mr. D.T. Kent, Kirbyville, Texas
Call School, From the collection of Mr. D.T. Kent, Kirbyville, Texas
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Big fun at Big Cow Creek.. Just as one would expect from a creek named “Big Cow”

Big Cow Creek ... at Texas Hwy. 363 bridge which crosses it
Big Cow Creek … at Texas Hwy. 363 bridge which crosses it
Big Cow Creek, horshoeing along its merry way
Big Cow Creek, horshoeing along its merry way

Back in December, I had shared a few photos and details of waterway called Big Cow Creek.  I did not expect the response I got… nearly 150 likes, some 30 comments and almost 50 shares.  People commented about how special the creek was to them, referring to fond memories and happy times on the creek… fishing, swimming, playing, picnicking, even being baptized in the creek’s cold waters.

Continue reading “Big fun at Big Cow Creek.. Just as one would expect from a creek named “Big Cow””

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Burr’s Ferry Bridge over Sabine River scheduled for replacement

Burr's Ferry Bridge, crossing the Sabine River
Burr’s Ferry Bridge, crossing the Sabine River

Another bridge crossing the Sabine River is scheduled to be replaced within the next year.  Burr’s Ferry Bridge, a kind of strangely attractive bridge which crosses between Newton County in Texas (Tx. Hwy. 63) and Vernon Parish in Louisiana (La. Hwy. 8), will soon be replaced.

Continue reading “Burr’s Ferry Bridge over Sabine River scheduled for replacement”

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The Toledo Bend Damsite: Spillway, power generation plant, and plenty of beauty between and beyond

Toledo Bend Power Generation Plant in the middle, and the Sabine River in the background
Toledo Bend Power Generation Plant in the middle, and the Sabine River in the background

The Toledo Bend Project was created by the Legislatures of the States of Texas and Louisiana and includes the mammoth 186,000 acre lake, a more than 11,000 ft. long, 100 ft. tall rolled earthen dam, a managed spillway with 11 release gates, and a hydroelectricity generation plant capable of producing over 200 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

In the video that follows, the footage on the Texas side of Toledo Bend, where the power plant is located, was taken this past weekend.  Some of the footage at the spillway was taken this past weekend as well, while some at the spillway was taken about a month ago.

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A wooden train car; a bit of ignorance; shrugging Atlas; and stories to be told

kirbytrain

A good photograph  can say a thousand words.

“Wooden passenger car the day the lots were sold,” is written on the back of this photograph, supposedly the first excursion train in Kirbyville, Texas.

Continue reading “A wooden train car; a bit of ignorance; shrugging Atlas; and stories to be told”

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