A folklore timeline should not create false precision. Dates such as “the 1800s” or “the 1950s” are commonly assigned to versions of the story, but the date of an alleged tragedy is not the same as the date the legend first circulated.
Claimed eras
1800s
Some published retellings place the origin in the nineteenth century. Treat this as a narrative setting until corroborating historical evidence is found.
1950s
Other sources describe the tale as dating to or circulating by the 1950s. This remains a useful research lead rather than a settled origin date.
Published record
2011
The San Antonio Current published a feature following the legend to the bridge and describing its place in local lore.
2018
KSAT and the San Antonio Report published prominent retellings, showing the legend’s continuing life in local media.
2020s
Tourism pages, podcasts, social video, museums, and new creative projects continue to reinterpret San Antonio folklore, including the Donkey Lady.
Next research steps
The archive should seek earlier newspaper mentions, school publications, oral histories from Southside residents, historic road maps, and records concerning the old bridge alignment.