Eleven years ago, I accompanied one of the third-grade classes of Johnson Elementary School during the annual trolley ride through historical Bridgeport. This year - which happens to be the 40th year for the tradition and the 100th birthday of some of the featured sites – I was able to ride along again. As a perk, I was able to surprise one of the 8-year-old students, my granddaughter Vienna.
After boarding at JES, the first featured building was the Governor Joseph Johnson house, constructed in 1818 and occupied by the Virginian governor prior to West Virginia’s statehood. We visited the Bow String Bridge, built in 1924 to transport products of the glass factory to the nearby warehouse. Class teacher, Erica Carey, who was providing historical commentary to the kids, also told them about the former stockyards.
The students were surprised to learn that Simpson Elementary was once Bridgeport High School before it was transformed into the grade school in 1924. I told the kids I went to that school and by the looks on their faces, I think they thought it was back then.
They were all so cute and inquisitive and when we visited Bridgeport Cemetery, they were interested and respectful of the graves, stopping to read each one, commenting on the ages of the deceased and speculating about how some of them might have been related. They were amazed that some of the gravestones were so old that they weren’t even readable.
We made two passes by the Benedum Civic Center and heard a little about Michael Late Benedum, a subject expanded upon when we visited Bridgeport City Hall. Community Development Director Andrea Kerr showed the kids some historical photos and they recognized some of them. They thought it was super cool that there was an ice rink by the city pool several decades ago and that we now have one again!
Mayor Andy Lang showed the students pictures of all the past Bridgeport mayors and explained a little about how our city elects its leaders. The kids got to sit in City Council chambers and took turns trying out the gavel. Mayor Lang told them that it is not known how long the gavel has been around or where it came from. Police Chief and former Acting City Manager Mark Rogers also addressed the kids about the city’s police force and its work. Several students raised their hands to tell him that they wanted to be policemen when they grew up or that they had someone in their family who serves in law enforcement.
Our last visit was to the Simpson Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1881, washed out by a flood eight years later and relocated a half-mile upstream. It is one of only 17 historic wooden covered bridges remaining in West Virginia.
Thanks Johnson Elementary third grade for keeping this tradition through the years and giving our kids what is perhaps their first introduction to the history of their city. I appreciate the invitation to ride along and extend my thanks to Mrs. Carey and to Mrs. Olivio for coordinating my participation.
Here’s a link to the story written in 2013, the last time I boarded the historical trolley ride. You may recognize some of the kids shown, most who went on to graduate from Bridgeport High School in 2022.