National Register Listing

Saffold Dam

a.k.a. Starcke Park Dam

Off TX 123, Seguin, TX

Impounding the waters of the Guadalupe River with a graceful serpentine sweep, the Saffold Dam is historically linked to the settling of Seguin. It facilitates a steady supply of power and water, as well as a beautiful recreational site. Typical of many mill dams constructed on the rivers of central Texas in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Saffold Dam, readily visible from the Highway 123 Bridge, is one of the few remaining examples.

Dams such as this were often constructed on sites where naturally occurring rock outcroppings created small reservoirs. The water was raised to a level that would operate a mill wheel by simply placing more rocks on top of the outcrop. Through the years mill capacity was increased by compiling more rocks. Often, particularly after the turn of the century, entire stone dams were covered with concrete to both stabilize the structure and increase its height. A historic photograph, ca. 1885, indicates that the dam originated as an outcropping built up with a reinforcement of boulders.

Spanning the river south of the city, the Saffold Dam, just upstream from the Highway 123 bridge, is connected to the original Humphrey Branch grant on the north and the Eligio Gortari League on the south. Wounded in an Indian attack in 1834, Gortari died soon after leaving all of his property to his wife. Mrs. Gortari married Manuel Flores and the Gortari-Flores house became a meeting place for area colonists. The main north/south road of the time forded the Guadalupe at the Gortari League. Santa Anna traveled this route on his way to San Jacinto, confiscating most of the animals and destroying the property. 1850 the Flores family sold 200 acres to J.M. Rodriguez for $500.00. The legal description of this property mentions..."the mouth of a small branch near the falls of the river."

Rodriguez sold the same 200-acre tract back to the Flores family for $1000.00 in 1853; this increase in land value could have been caused by improvements to the falls. The entire Gortari League was then sold to Bird Saffold who in turn gave it to his son William Saffold and his wife Sarah Herring. In 1866 Saffold advertised his mill, ferry, and lime kiln for rent, all of these properties grouped on the south bank of the Guadalupe. Saffold and Herring sold six acres to Thad Miller in 1874 which embraced..." the mill site, mill houses and the southern ferry landing." In addition, they granted Miller the privilege of obtaining rock from their land... "for the purpose of repairing or strengthening the natural dam." In 1875 Miller, Herring, and Saffold agreed to cover particulars concerning the construction of a bridge across the Guadalupe near the present Highway 123 bridge. This bridge was completed in 1879. That same year Miller sold "lands embracing my mill and gin" to Henry Troell. Troell enlarged the mill and gin in 1899 and then built a hydroelectric plant to power a new cotton gin. This electrically operated gin proved to be unsuccessful so Troell enlarged his plants and constructed a 75-barrel-per-day flour mill. It is believed that between 1879 and 1900 Troell made improvements and raised the level of the dam in an effort to develop more power. The Commissioners' Court minutes of September 27, 1895 record electric lighting installed in the courthouse. In 1900 the city of Seguin refused to renew or grant a franchise to Troell for his electric distribution system. In 1907 Troell sold three acres of land including the falls, water rights, and electric plant to the city which has continually repaired and improved the dam.

The north bank of the dam site was settled in 1831 as part of the Humphrey Branch grant, though Branch soon sold his land due to Indian conflicts. The property changed hands several times prior to the turn of the century during which time a privately owned water works was constructed. In the early 20th century the city purchased the water works which initially suffered many financial and mechanical difficulties but has remained on the site, today operating as a pumping and treatment plant. Though founded in the 19th century, both the water and electric plants have been continually improved and renovated and are not to be considered part of the nomination.

Local significance of the site:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.