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Saffold Dam

Saffold Dam, a historic site in Texas
Saffold Dam, a historic site in TexasLarry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0

Saffold Dam is a historic site in Texas, at a modelled elevation of 147 m. Comanche Lookout stands 315 m to the west, 24 miles off. The nearest named place is Henry Troell, a historic site less than a tenth of a mile away. Texas Independence Trail passes 1.2 miles off. 16 named summits stand within 25 miles.

The story

Saffold Dam at the Flores Crossing is a dam and man-made waterfall in the city of Seguin, Texas. Named for William Saffold, a Civil War veteran, a major landowner and local merchant. The dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 1979. This dam began as a natural outcropping in the riverbed. After Henry Troell bought the mill, the dam was further built up over the years. In 1895, Troell installed hydroelectric generators to power his mill and the town. Then in 1907 he sold the dam and power plant to the City of Seguin, which owns them today. The low but wide dam forms a graceful S curve, a rare structure for a dam. It is a unique design on the Guadalupe River, and perhaps in Texas. The dam we see today was built as part of Max Starcke Park, designed by Robert Hugman, the father of the San Antonio River Walk. The dam/waterfall, like the rest of the original section of the park, was built by the National Youth Administration, to Hugman's plans. The park was dedicated in 1938, the town's centennial. Saffold Dam is located on the west side of Texas State Highway 123 Business, about 10 blocks south of downtown Seguin. One side borders Max Starcke Park and the city's water works; the other side has the abandoned power plant.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q7398706, matched on coordinates and name (96 m apart).

What the record says

Built
1991
Material
aluminium

What to expect

Operated by
Texas Historical Commission

Official site

How to reach it

Coordinates29.55138, -97.97147

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Historic sites
Parks
  • Ruby P. Vaughan Park: 1.0 mi
  • Veteran’s Park: 1.1 mi
  • Walnut Springs Tower Dog Park: 1.1 mi
  • Heritage Village: 1.1 mi
  • Heritage Village: 1.1 mi
Museums: 24
Peaks: 16
  • Kings Hill: 7.7 mi
  • Harborth Hill: 11.0 mi
  • Mill Creek Hills: 11.2 mi
  • Capote Knob: 11.5 mi
  • Capote Hills: 11.8 mi
Artworks: 14
  • Martin Luther Statue: 1.5 mi
  • Antique Road Grader: 3.4 mi
  • Steelmaker: 3.7 mi
  • World's Largest Pecan: 5.4 mi
  • Buc-ee's Beaver: 13.7 mi
Nature reserves: 11
Ghost towns: 10
Attractions: 8
Springs: 6
  • Denning Spring: 12.8 mi
  • Comal Springs: 15.0 mi
  • Suphur Spring: 19.4 mi
  • Bear Springs: 23.1 mi
  • Weismuller Spring: 23.5 mi
Gardens: 5
Cliffs: 4
  • Red Bluff: 22.4 mi
  • Purgatory Creek Overlook: 22.5 mi
  • Canyon Lake Spillway Gorge: 24.9 mi
  • Canyon Lake Spillway Gorge: 24.9 mi

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Saffold Dam. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Comanche LookoutW 276°315 m23.9 mi
Mission HillNW 314°292 m16.2 mi
Coal Kiln HillN 351°281 m19.9 mi
Trunk HillN 353°263 m19.7 mi
Rocky PointSW 220°237 m23.4 mi
Kings HillSSE 162°228 m7.7 mi
Calf HillWSW 252°227 m23.7 mi
Nail HillNNW 346°215 m16.0 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:3719:1219:44
June solstice06:3320:0120:36
September equinox07:2118:5819:30
December solstice07:2317:0217:38

Local time (America/Chicago).

Climate normals

Months averaging 5080 °F: Sep–May.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F525663707782858580716154
Precip in2.11.72.52.03.63.42.22.03.43.32.52.4

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Austin SAN Antonio, 11 mi away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element node/12403617447

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