Let's Cross Before Dark

Book excerpt: Let's Cross Before Dark A History of the Ferries, Fords and River Crossings of Texas. My fascination and quest for researching the early-Texas river crossings was ignited by my deep admiration and respect for the courage, determination, and sheer bravery of the early European explorers that mapped these destinations and the pioneers and settlers that brought them to life. This intrigue is not inspired by some romantic interpretation of their heroism as much as it has been a product of my appreciation of their audacity, their strength, and their leadership in carving out livelihoods from a raw and unlawful wilderness. The earliest pathways of Texas were animal trails leading through forests and across prairies to springs, streams, and rivers, establishing easily navigated tracks. Native Americans adopted these footpaths, expanding them to include campsites at river crossings, linking hunting grounds and the villages that evolved and establishing trade and commerce. After 1700, Spanish explorers and their settlers adopted these same trade paths, widening them, clearing trees for horsemen, wagons, and soldiers. Today, these once heavily traveled and prominent river crossings exists only as dim traces advancing down river banks if at all. Their existence and importance has been eclipsed by new highway bridges and these early destinations of commerce have faded away with the passing of time. Their history has largely been drowned out by the incessant march toward improving toward improving infrastructure serving Texas. Bill Winsor Kelmar Ranch, 2022