Joppa, Texas, Burnet County. (original) (raw)

	A sign to Joppa TE photo, 8-2005

History in a Pecan ShellFirst called Pool Branch after the plunge pit of a waterfall on the river, the area developed in the 1880s. First businesses included a blacksmith, mill and cotton gin.

In 1881, J. S. and Jane Danford donated two acres of land on the north bank of the river for a school and a church. The school building was raised first and doubled as the church until 1913, when they constructed the church building.

The name Pool Branch remained until 1891, when an application was submitted for a post office. The Biblical name Joppa was submitted and granted. In May of 1904, a telephone line was installed in Joppa and an iron bridge was built across the San Gabriel River in 1907.

	Former telephone line near Joppa TE photo, 8-2005

The Joppa school merged with Bertram during WWII and the church and school buildings are still in use. A historical marker is on the west side of the road and the two iron bridges have been saved - leaving them in place while the new bridges were constructed alongside.

The bridges are captioned Bridge I and Bridge II only to distinguish them from one another. It's not known which bridge was built first. Bridge I is the first encountered coming from Bertram via Bear Creek.

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