Bridgeport

By Andrew Pehanick

The golden age of postcards, which took place between 1900 and 1940, was also the golden age of Bridgeport. Local and national publishers printed scenes of the city’s beautiful and renowned parks, magnificent mansions, palatial theaters, and sprawling factories, as well as its busy streets and unique architecture. These cards carried images of Bridgeport near and far. Recipients of these mementos could imagine building automobiles at the Locomobile factory, dining at the Amazon Caf©, staying at the Stratfield Hotel, riding the carousel at the Steeplechase Island amusement park, shopping at Howlands, admiring the Wheeler Mansion, attending mass at the South Congregational Church, or watching the activity at the winter quarters of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Bridgeport takes the modern reader on a journey into the past through nearly two hundred of these vintage postcard images.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: May 18, 2005
• ISBN: 9781439616116

Andrew Pehanick

Bridgeport native Andrew Pehanick has been collecting postcards of the city for almost thirty years. He has selected the images in Bridgeport from the nearly three thousand postcards in his collection.

Book preview

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INTRODUCTION

My postcard collection started out in the usual way, with the purchase of a single card. I bought that card at the Plaza Stamp and Coin Shop on Main Street, near Capitol Avenue. On the postcard was a picture of the D. H. Sterling Firehouse, with firemen posing in front of their horse-drawn apparatus.

I was always fascinated by the old photographs of Bridgeport on display at the Barnum Museum. I soon discovered that some of these same scenes were made into postcards. I also noticed that many of the photographs used in books about Bridgeport’s history were postcard images. All of the images in this book are postcards from my collection. Most of these cards are printed cards, except for a few that are real-photo postcards.

In this book, I have tried to show as much of the city as possible, and have chosen views of buildings that no longer exist. Bridgeport is rich in history, and these postcards are proof of this. At one time, there existed diverse subject matter for postcards of the city; but piece by piece, Bridgeport seems to be losing its history, rather than preserving it.

In some way, I hope that this work will remind us of how true is the old saying: Once it’s gone, it’s gone. People are the most important component of our cities, but the buildings we live in and work in are important also. Distinctive architectural landmarks brought visitors to Bridgeport in the past. I hope that the city’s history will come alive for you within the pages of this book.

A crowded busload of tourists travels from Bridgeport to Savin Rock in this generic postcard, mailed in 1908.

One

STEEPLECHASE ISLAND AND PLEASURE BEACH

Originally known as Long Beach, this island was named Pleasure Beach in 1892, when a bicycleracing track was built and amusements were added. In 1903, George C. Tilyou of Coney Island bought the site, and in 1905 he renamed it Steeplechase Island.

This wooden bridge brought people to the island c. 1905. The bridge was later replaced by the present iron swing bridge.

By land or water, this was the only entrance to the island in 1905. The building on the right is the Steeplechase Island Restaurant, part of which extends over the water.

This restaurant was the first sight welcoming visitors as they entered the island. Note the sign on the restaurant: George C. Tilyou’s Steeplechase Island.

Looking north, this boardwalk view shows the aerial swing and the carousel building. On the left is Bridgeport Harbor, with the partly visible wooden bridge that connected the island to the mainland.

This southward view shows the boardwalk crowded with people attired in fancy dress clothes for Baby Show Day in 1911. The building on the left housed the carousel, which must have been very busy on this day.

What was once known as the main street or boulevard was renamed the Trail in 1905. This road extended the length of the island, with every form of amusement to be found on it.

A Bridgeport Post article dated May 27, 1905, described the ballroom as having no equal in this part of the state. This elegant building featured a south side encased with mirrors; handsomely figured side walls; and rich, ornamental panels and ceilings. Hundreds of incandescent lights strung from the ceiling gave the building, comprised almost entirely of glass, a brilliant appearance at night.

Another view of