The Red River Bridge at Garland, Arkansas Although this three-span Pennsylvania truss bridge has been demolished since its inclusion on the National Register in 1990, it is mentioned because of the importance of the Red River to the economy of Miller County. Built in 1931 by the Kansas City Bridge Company, the bridge was designed by Ira D. Hedrick. It is operated as a toll bridge until 1938. The following are excerpts from Corine Smith's essay on the bridge and its significance to Garland, or Garland City, as it is sometimes called. "The city was named for Rufus Garland, a merchant who settled near the present community in 1833. Garland is situated between Highway 82 and the old path of the Cotton Belt Railroad. The highway follows an old military road which is the oldest road in the county. An amber-colored bootleg whiskey made in the area in the 1920's took the name "Garland City Pride". The city became the liquor capitol of :a large area of the Southwest", reaching as far west as Colorado. Boot-legging in Garland City brought with it gangs and violent disputes over business dealings. The end of prohibition ended the fights, the gangs and the boot-leggers. Local citizens were…..eager to see a bridge constructed over the Red River at Garland City. The old military road which would be connected over the river was the most direct route between El Dorado to the east and Texarkana to the west. The work order was issued (by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department), September 9, 1929. Construction began after the State paid ferry owners Charles A. Beasley and Jess Smith $19,000 for the right of way through their land. The owner of the Garland City ferry, Charles A. Beasley, (also the mayor of Garland City) was opposed to the bridge… because of the effect on his business …. Early in the morning on September 3 , 1930…two large blasts rocked the center span of the Red River bridge off its piers into the river. The blast was heard twenty-five miles away…. Several motives for the dynamiting were presented… The local opinion was that the owners of the ferry business were trying to preserve their profits. Although there was an investigation and suspects were arrested, no one was ever convicted of the bombing; neither was the man who supposedly hired the suspects ever publicly named. The city of Garland, the State of Arkansas, and the bridge company reached a private agreement regarding financial responsibility for the damage and the bridge was completed in July of 1931, almost $12,000 under estimate. The bridge officially opened July 15, 1931, with no fan fare. The ferry was supposed to cease operation at six o'clock that evening. The toll for a car to cross the bridge was fifty cents one way… In 1938 (the Arkansas General Assembly) made all toll bridges in the sate free bridges whether they were paid for or not. The Red River bridge was one of only four known examples of the Pennsylvania truss style of bridge in Arkansas. With its demolition, Garland has lost a unique and colorful part of its past. Correction: Submitted by: Pat Foster King pfking@dellepro.com On The Red River Bridge at Garland, AR, it states that Garland was named for Rufus Garland. That's not correct. It was named for Josiah Garland & on the Lafayette County, AR, there is an article, " History of Garland City. In the article, it says Garland City was named in honor of Col. Josiah Garland, the uncle of Augustus H. Garland and not his father as is incorrectly going the rounds. Josiah was my great great grandfather. Submitted by: GVRichards@aol.com ***************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *****************************************************************