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This morning, Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 was the first gathering of the "Coffee on the Bridge" group following the July 5th flood, which washed away the 1907 "Rusty Bridge".
Not knowing what to expect in the way of attendance at our new endeavor, "Coffee on the Porch", I was pleased to see it well attended, by those who loved the Old Bridge. I heard positive attitudes expressed toward what the future holds for the community and the "Friends of Joppa Community". Seems that there is a positive outlook for the Joppa Community, which will not only benefit those here, but those throughout Burnet County as well. Stay tuned.
After "Coffee on the Porch" was concluded this morning, some visitors from Copperas Cove stopped by asking about the bridge and also expressing that they wish there was something like "Coffee on the Porch" over there way. Perhaps we live at a time where there is a need for simple, positive associations with one another, without drama and conflict.
See you next month. First Saturday of the month ~ Delbert Cain, August 2, 2025
STOP the High Voltage 765kV Transmission Line Project
*** ALERT ***
765kV Transmission Line proposed to Cross Burnet County Precinct 2
Texas Historical Commission Marker erected in 1979 by Texas Historical Commission.
The inscription reads:
Some of the first settlers in this farming and ranching community were the William Alexander Faires family in 1874 and the Martin Luther Ater family the next year. The settlement was called "Pool Branch" for a nearby pool formed by a waterfall. In the 1880s a cotton gin and mill were located on the pool which was known as "Mill Pond". There was a store, a blacksmith shop, and one mile from the gin, Mrs. Hattie Snow Smith ran a hat shop in her home.
J. S. and Jane Danford of Delaware County, Iowa, gave two acres in 1881 for a school and church, provided the schoolhouse was completed by March 1, 1882. Area residents met the deadline.
With the establishment of a post office in 1891, the community's name changed to the biblical, "Joppa". The name "Joppa" is derived from the Hebrew word "yaphah," which means "to be beautiful" or "to shine".
William F. Childers served as the first postmaster. After the coming of rural mail delivery, the post office closed in 1904.
Worship was held in the Joppa Schoolhouse until 1913 when the Joppa Baptist Church congregation erected this meetinghouse. The Joppa School consolidated with Bertram in 1942. All that remains of the pioneer settlement is the church house and school building which serves as a Community Center.
History of the Joppa Bridge Lighting Tradition
Christmastime AT JOPPA PHOTO GALLERY - scroll left or right through photos from 2018 to the present.
Christmastime Photo Gallery above Joppa Bridge Christmas Videos & Photos can also be viewed and downloaded ONLINE (Google Drive)*
YouTube PLAYLIST: Joppa Bridge at Christmastime (YouTube playlist) with music
In 2007, at a Church Christmas Party, T.J. Morris, had the idea to decorate the bridge and suggested that they could also sing Christmas carols on the bridge. Paul Honaker was instrumental in making it happen. Some others in the community started helping in 2017, when the church was short on volunteers. So it became a joint effort with the Coffee on Historic Bridge group.
An email group, known as Our Joppa Community, formed. Neighbor Delbert Cain, who has been involved with "all things Joppa," gets the word out every year.
Each year, more and more Joppa-ites participate, and in 2024, we decorated earlier - prior to Thanksgiving - and expanded the decorations by adding an extensive nativity scene, lights on neighbor Swanson's fence, 3 Christmas Trees, a snowman, a santa, and also decorated the community center grounds with lights and a wonderful lit star. view the 2024 video
According to Susann H: in 2007, when the lighting of the Joppa Bridge idea started brewing, Paul Honaker got behind it and made it happen. He strung heavy duty cords from the electrical box at Joppa Church to the bridge. Paul strung all the high lights that required climbing. He was so excited to drive to the church early a.m. to turn on the lights for the kids on the bus to see and enjoy. Over the years, he improved on the previous year. David Giles helped him trench a ditch and bury an electrical line. My daughters remembered that Paul single handedly decorated the bridge in November, 2016. It warms my heart that our community has gotten behind the lighting of the bridge.
This special tradition lives on today, through the efforts of friends & neighbors, typically Thanksgiving weekend. Click for fun bridge videos Joppa Bridge Christmases past (turn sound on)
You can Participate in evolution of this website
** Please share Stories, Memories, Photos **
Please share current or historic stories and photos of Pool Branch and Joppa Community
Please share old photos for our web collection; and stories of "back in the day"; all information and stories about the area families, ranches, farms, farmhouses. See "Early Families" page
ALSO, do you have your own personal or humorous stories centered around our historic Joppa Bridge?
Marriage Proposals, Picnics, Family Reunions, Weddings, other special ocassion or humerous stories.
Please share them with us.
Send info, photos, or questions to toni.schmid@gmail.com
Please contact toni.schmid@gmail.com if you wish for any images to be removed from thi site
1890s A.R. Smith Home off of CR-210