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    • News
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    • Our Water Crisis
    • Old Rusty Bridge
    • Did You Know
    • Early Families
    • Neighbors
    • 501(c)(3)
    • Resources
  • Home
  • News
  • Save Our Bridge!
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  • Did You Know
  • Early Families
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Joppa Community

Joppa CommunityJoppa CommunityJoppa Community

Hello Spring 2025

BURN BAN in Effect as of March 3, 2025

Welcome to Joppa Community Web Site

Note:  This web site may best be viewed on a computer versus a smaller mobile device


This website was created in 2023. The purpose of our site is to aid in preservation of the stories and history of Joppa and nearby communities for future generations; to provide a resource for sharing history, articles, stories, photos, current events, videos, and more.  No personal information will be shared.
Navigating this site:  depending on what browser and device you are using, Page Names are listed upper left corner (3 horizontal lines) of each page, or across the top header of each page, or in the footer at the bottom of each page.


INDEX of Pages:


Home Page & Photo Galleries

News & Calendars

Save Our Bridge!

Friends of Joppa Community, Inc. 501(c)(3)  NEW!  

Water Our Water Crisis

Old Rusty Bridge 

The Early Pioneer Families    

Did You Know 

Neighboring Communities

Resources & Contacts


 Visit all of the pages, listed on menu.   ** SEE bottom of page for HOW YOU CAN  PARTICIPATE **
Please contact  toni.schmid@gmail.com  if you wish for any images to be removed.  

What's Going On In and Around Joppa Community

BURN BAN *** Outdoor burning "IS NOT" ALLOWED as of 3/3/2025 at 9:16 AM. ***

Outdoor burning is regulated under state law. As conditions warrant, the county may adopt a burn ban.  Info at:  https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/environ.burn


Saturday June 7, 2025 - Coffee On The Bridge


Residents & Visitors have been enjoying Historic Joppa Iron Truss Bridge for 117+ years
 

NEW! Friends of Joppa Community, Inc. our newly formed non-profit organization.  

Visit our NEW Web Page to learn more - Friends of Joppa Community, Inc. 501(c)(3)    


CLICK HERE to view Burnet County Commissioner Meetings or Town  Hall Workshops on Burnet's Youtbue Channel.    Watch LIVE in real time, or view past meetings


Click Here to view BURNET COUNTY Calendar of Public Workshops & Commissioners Court Meetings.


LCRA appreciates your feedback on the proposed aggregate processing plant and quarry near Inks Lake. 

CLICK HERE to view LCRA web page 


Saturday August 30 (Labor Day Weekend) - TENTATIVE:  Joppa Community Fish Fry & Car Show

Location: Joppa - hosted by Friends of Joppa Community, Inc.  - details forthcoming


Joppa Iron Truss Bridge PROJECT - see Save Our Bridge Page for progress updates

Update:  as of Oct 29, 2024 - The electricity is live, outlets operational, timer is installed.


"Singing in Community"  Peace Christian Church @ Mahomet

First Sunday each month at 4PM    Click here for more information


DROUGHT STATUS:   STAGE 4 CRITICAL DROUGHT

Read more here https://centraltexasgcd.org/drought-status-stage-4-critical-drought/ 

Contact the  CTGC District office at 512-756-4900 if you have furher questions.


WATER WATER WATER!    "Burnet County Runs on Water"

Sign up for the NEW NEWSLETTER at  Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District 

VIEW our Water Crisis Page  for more information on our Groundwater situation

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". 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.

Coffee On The Bridge - Gallery Updated March 2025 - scroll or swipe right & left to view

Coffee on the Bridge ~ Coffee & Conversation

First Saturday each month, 8am until whenever. .  Hot coffee & breakfast goodies

What a WONDERFUL tradition!

    Joppa past & present Photo Gallery - scroll or swipe right & left to view

    January 21, 2025

    A Neighbor Muscovy Duck strolls  down CR-210.   

    He did make it back to his home.

      Bridges of Burnet County Photo Gallery - scroll or swipe right & left to view

      1907 Historic Joppa Iron Truss Bridge to be stabilized for public enjoyment

        Christmastime at Joppa Bridge - Photo Gallery - scroll or swipe right & left to view

        Christmas 2024 - Beautiful!

          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) wtih music


          In 2007 the church, while having a Christmas Party, had the idea, from T.J. Morris, to decorate the bridge and also expressed 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 after 2016 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.


          According to Susann H:  The lighting of the Joppa Bridge idea started brewing at a gathering at the Joppa Community Center aka Fellowship Hall around 2007.  T J Morris had the idea.  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)

          Sights around the area Photo Gallery - scroll or swipe right & left to view

          December 2024

          Beautiful 3/4 life size Nativity on Burnet Courthouse Square

            Links to Web Sites of Interest and Videos


             3 Texas Towns Unique Names w Biblical Roots 

            2015 Article Joppa Church, a safe harbor in history

            2016 Historical Commission works to save Burnet Co iron bridges

            2017 'Iron Bridges back to Commissioners' article in The Highlander

             2018 Dedications Joppa + Russell Fork Iron Bridges
             Burnet County Historical Commission
            Burnet County Historical Commission (facebook page)
            Historical Marker Database - Joppa Community
            2015 Jesse Burnam, Historical Marker Burnet Co
            Purple Martin Conservation Association

            Joppa Bridge Christmases past  (turn sound on)

            Articles of Interest (PDF)

            The Old Rusty Bridge - D Cain (pdf)Download
            A Brief Joppa History (pdf)Download
            2015 Article Joppa Church ‘a safe harbor’ in life, history Community (pdf)Download
            2016 Article Historical Commisison Fish fry benefits iron bridges Burnet Co (pdf)Download
            2015 Article Burnet County Jesse Burnam pioneer, freedom fighter (pdf)Download

            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

            1890s A.R. Smith Home off of CR-210


            Copyright © 2025 Joppa Community - All Rights Reserved.

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