The R.A. Doughton Bridge

Text from this post is an article from the September 6, 1938 edition of the Bristol News Bulletin about the dedication of the R.A. Doughton Bridge on US Highway 21, just south of Independence in Virginia. At the event, officials unveiled a bronze plaque, commemorating Lt. Governor Doughton who was former head of the NC highway commission. The plaque was removed when the bridge was torn down and replaced in 1989. It is now in the Alleghany Historical Museum, donated by the Woodruff family.

Big Crowd At Road Program

Bridge over New River is Dedicated to Rep. Doughton, Carolina

Prominent local attorney, and brother of Bob Doughton, Rufus Doughton was elected to the NC House of Representatives in 1887. He subsequently served in 1889, 1891, 1903, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1919, 1921, 1923, and 1933. In 1891 he was chosen Speaker of the House and in 1892 was elected NC Lieutenant Governor, serving in that capacity from 1893 to 1897.
(Photo from History of Alleghany County 1859-1976)

WYTHEVILLE, Va. Sept. 6 (AP)—
Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina joined hands yesterday morning at the dedication of Doughton Memorial Bridge over New River near Independence and again yesterday afternoon at a barbecue and celebration of the recent completion of a link in the Lakes-to-Florida highway. The new stretch of hard-surfaced road joins Wytheville and Independence.

Some 2,000 persons attended the exercises at the bridge when the span, located in Virginia a few hundred yards from the North Carolina line, was dedicated to R. A. Doughton, former chairman of the North Carolina highway commission and former lieutenant-governor of that state.

Governor Clyde Hoey of North Carolina, in praising Doughton, said it is a “unique fact that the bridge was built in Virginia with the aid of North Carolina funds and that the span was being named for a North Carolinian.” North Carolina contributed half of the $100,000 spent in construction of the bridge.

Commenting on the friendship which exists between Virginia and North Carolina and on the administration of governmental affairs of the two states, Hoey suggested that “others come to Virginia and North Carolina to see how a government ought to be run and how the people ought to be served.”

Former Governor Trinkle Speaks

Former Governor E. Lee Trinkle, of Roanoke, who dedicated the bridge, praised Virginians, West Virginians and North Carolinians who have worked for completion of route 21 in Grayson and Wythe counties for some 15 years.

A bronze marker at the south entrance to the bridge on which was inscribed the following:

“Dedicated to R.A. Doughton
Built in 1927“

In his response to the dedicatory speech, Doughton said, “I regard this as the greatest moment of my life and I want to thank the Virginians who made this bridge possible.” The structure was built in 1927 but its dedication was postponed until the road between here and Independence was hard-surfaced.

Original plaque from the bridge which was built in 1927, dedicated in 1938 and replaced in 1989.
Donated to Alleghany Historical Museum by the Woodruff family.

Among speakers yesterday morning were H.P. Burnett, Galax, general assemblyman; W. B. Cassell, Wytheville, member of general assembly; Dr. W. C. Caudill, Pearisburg; Highway Commissioner J. F. Wysor, Pulaski; Clarence O. Kuester, executive vice-president of the Charlotte, N. C. , Chamber of Commerce; Judge J. G. Padgett, Independence, and Frank Easley, chairman of the roads committee of the Bluefield, W. Va., Chamber of Commerce.

Program from the event,
Donation from the Woodruff family.

The plaque, in its place on the southern entrance to the bridge, where it stayed for the next 50 years.
(Ashe County Public Library collection at Digital NC site.)

After the festivities.
(Photo from the Ashe County Public Library collection at Digital NC site.)
In 1932, US 21 was paved from the North Carolina line to Independence and in 1936, it was paved in the Elk Creek area. In 1937, US 21 was finally, fully paved in Virginia.
(Info from Virginia Highway Index site)

Following exercises at the bridge, a motorcade moved to Wythville where the crowd was swelled to 3,000 for a barbecue at the high school athletic field.

Photo from the day of the event, probably made at Wytheville athletic field.
Inscription on the back:
“Mrs. R.A. Doughton, Mrs. Trinkle, Mrs. Robert Doughton & Daughter, Mrs Hoey.”

They are, Back Row, from Left: Unnamed Doughton daughter and
Margaret Elizabeth “Bess” Gardner Hoey, wife of NC Governor, Clyde Hoey.
Front Row: Susan B . Parks Doughton (Mrs. Rufus A. Doughton);
Helen Sexton Trinkle, wife of former Virginia Governor E. Lee Trinkle and
Lillie Stricker Hix Doughton (Mrs. Robert Doughton)
Donation from the Woodruff family.

During the meal, the 150th Infantry U. S. national guard band Bluefield, W. Va., entertained.

Speakers on the afternoon program here praised the work of R. P. Johnson, Wytheville, president of the Lakes-to-Florida highway association for his part in pushing the road to completion.

Dr. B. A. Wagoner, Wytheville, president of the Wythe-Grayson park-to-park highway association, presided at both the morning and afternoon sessions.