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Chartiers Valley South West |
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Past Memorial Day in Bridgeville - 1947.
For Bridgeville history buffs, we have a challenge! What can you tell us about these photos? The historical society would like your help. As much as we know, these photos are of the Hungry Club. We are looking for information about where these photos were taken? when were these photos taken? when did the Hungry Club start? when did the Hungry Club end? who are these people in photos? Can you identify any of them? You can email your information to the Bridgeville Historial Society here.
James Ramsey's warrant included this site. He graded the banks to make it easier for wagons to ford the stream and then proceeded to charge a toll for crossing. This decision did not sit well with the local farmers who used the ford; they elected to construct a timber bridge adjacent to the ford. Each of the dissidents was assigned to provide part of the bridge. On a predetermined day they all arrived at the site and began to erect timbers and construct the bridge. Mr. Ramsey's toll collector attempted to stop them, but was frightened away. He went back to Virginia to report this event to his employer.
"Meet you at the bridge" became a part of the local vernacular and provided an obvious name for the tiny village that began to develop just north of the bridge. Preceding story about the Bridge re-produced from Bridging the Years -- Volume III Yearbook with permission from the Bridgeville Community Association
The book chronicles the history of Bridgeville, the coming together of residents and neighbors commemorating the 1901 incorporation of the borough. You can print an order form here. Some photo history of Bridgeville can be found here. Like trains? Take a peek at some Bridgeville railroad history. |
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Bridgeville Area Historical Society
View our slides from Memorial Day 2005 here. We're looking for a home! The Historical Society needs a place to showcase the many collections of artwork, photos and memorabilia of Bridgeville and its history. Ideally, a street-level location to welcome visitors and show-off Bridgeville's history, with separate areas for archives and an office. If you can assist us with this project, email us.
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The village that eventually became Bridgeville acquired its name from the very first bridge built at the crossing of Chartiers Creek at the south end of what is now Washington Avenue. This is the place where the Catfish Path crossed the creek, as later did Colonel Noble's Trace and Black Horse Trail.
Ramsey elected to resort to litigation to protect his investment in the ford, claiming it was private property. The farmers, however, realized that his rights did not extend into the creek, if it could be declared "navigable." They promptly constructed a boat, filled it with flour from Canon's Mill and Boyce's Mill, and navigated it down Chartiers Creek to the Ohio and from there on to New Orleans. Their bridge survived and became a popular meeting place for travelers on the Black Horse Trail and Noble's Trace.
Bridgeville’s Centennial 2001 Yearbook, Bridging the Years -- Volume III, is available at the Bridgeville Public Library for $40. It contains 272 pages of community history, 175 family memoirs, commemorative acknowledgements, and 83 pages of pictures.
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