DEMING'S BRIDGE, TEXAS

Later known as Hawley, Texas

Texas Ghost Town
Matagorda County, Texas Gulf Coast

Highway 71
SW of Bay City the county seat
3 Miles NE of Blessing
20 Miles S of El Campo
Population: 0

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Deming's Bridge Community Tx Bridge Beam and historical marker

Deming's Bridge Beam and historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2009

History on a Bridge Beam

The community of Deming’s Bridge is represented today by a historical marker and a supporting beam of the original span that gave the community its name. In 1857 Edwin A. Deming constructed a bridge over the then-navigable Tres Palacios River. A post office was in operation in the 1860s, closed in 1866 and reopened in 1872. Although the town was hit by a devastating storm in 1875, it retained a healthy population of 300 in the mid 1880s and grew to a population of 500 by the early 1890s.

The name was changed to Hawley, Texas in 1899 and the name of Deming’s Bridge fell into disuse – except for the school which continued to be known as the Deming’s Bridge School until its demise.

More History:
Hawley, Texas ›
Demings Bridge Community Marker ›

Photographer's Note:
The Demings Bridge Community Marker and Bridge Beam are located to the very back, west side, of the Old Hawley Cemetery on the banks of the Tres Palacios River. - Barclay Gibson, February 18, 2009

Deming's Bridge Community Texas historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2009

Historical Marker:

Deming's Bridge Community

The Deming's Bridge community grew up around a wooden bridge built over the Tres Palacios River at this site in 1857 for Edward A. Deming, owner of land along the west side of the stream. The crossing provided by Deming's Bridge became a natural gathering place for settlers of western Matagorda County.

Tres Palacios Baptist Church, site of many community activities, was established on the east side of the river. The Deming's Bridge Post Office opened in 1858, with Edwin A. Deming serving as postmaster until it was discontinued in 1866. Reinstated in 1872, the post office name was changed to Hawley in 1899. It closed again in 1903 when it was moved to the new settlement of Blessing (2 miles west). A Masonic hall, established in 1874, was also moved to Blessing after location of the railroad there caused a population shift.

Hawley Cemetery originated as a two-acre plot of land called Deming's Bridge Cemetery. Among the burials are the graves of brothers and noted cattle ranchers Abel Head "Shanghai" Pierce (1834-1900) and Jonathan Edwards Pierce (1839-1915). Jonathan Pierce donated land to enlarge the cemetery and was instrumental in changing its name in 1898 in honor of Texas Senator Robert B. Hawley (1849-1921).

Cover cancelled with Deming's Bridge 1899 Postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

Matagorda County map showing Deming's Bridge,
Tres Palacios River, Blessing & Bay City
Modification of Texas General Land Office 1920s map

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