Bridgeport

Ken Sprecher

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780738584614
• eBook ISBN: 9781439625989
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

In 1860, John Butterfield rerouted his famous stage line over the west fork of the Trinity River, and soon a small community sprang up along the banks near the new toll bridge. The settlement became known as Bridgeport, and its pioneers found themselves in the middle of both Texas and American history. Since then, Bridgeports contributions to history have been achieved through the areas land, as well as the rich oil that flowed beneath the rugged, cactus-dotted country. Recognizing the importance of the earth and what lay below took the skill of entrepreneurs and the hard work of many people. The cast of pioneer characters included a young, well-educated New Yorker seeking adventure in the new republic, a stern but generous engineer from Pennsylvania, and a billionaire wildcatter from Houston. Not forgotten are the stories of immigrants from all over the world whose lives have enriched Bridgeports historic past. Today Bridgeport continues to utilize natural resources while developing its local heritage and ecotourism sites.

Six

OUR TOWN

In his 1938 Pulitzer Prize–winning drama Our Town, Thornton Wilder takes people back to a small town shortly after the turn of the 20th century and examines how change is affecting its citizens. The audience is taken through a day in the life of the town, where daily routines and relationships are introduced as significant components of the human experience.

Bridgeport was a small town during this time and no doubt shared many traits of Wilder’s fictional town. The fabric that is woven into any town’s history is simply the stories of the people. Over time, traditional institutions such as school and church played a large role in the life of Bridgeport. Education has always been deemed important in the life of the community, and the role of dedicated teachers and involved parents has certainly made a positive impact. The function of the varied church denominations was of equal value. Serving as the conscience and moral compass of the community, church life was an integral part of Bridgeport’s narrative.

Halsell Street is where most all the merchants were found. Grocery stores, drug stores, banks, hardware stores, gas stations, and dry good stores were some of the businesses anchoring this important road. This is where a boy could spend a Saturday afternoon watching Tom Mix, Gene Autry, or other western heroes of the big screen. Young girls could window shop for a new dress or hat. Young couples or singles could socialize at a drugstore soda fountain.

This is the place on Saturdays where families would drive and vie for a parking space for the entire day or evening. This is where friends were. This is where all the activity was. This was downtown.

And located not far from this bustling hub was the park. Every town needs a park to enhance its standard of living. Fortunately Bridgeport has recognized this need, and for many years it has provided this setting. Harwood Park has been the scene of numer...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - THE BUTTERFIELD STAGE GOT BRIDGEPORT ROLLING
• Two - TIME TO MOVE
• Three - BURIED TREASURES
• Four - A DAM GOOD THING HAPPENED IN 1931
• Five - LIVING OFF THE LAND IS HARD
• Six - OUR TOWN