"Historic Places at the Crossroads"

6th Annual Preservation Week 2004 Photo-Essay Competition

Third Place: Ashley Booth

Title: Bridgeport School

Get ready to picture the 1800's. You are in a little booming town called Bridgeport. You see stagecoaches, little taverns, and all kinds of happy and friendly people. You decide to go on a walk down the road, and you come upon a school named Bridgeport School. I am going to take you on a tour all throughout the 1800's until now about this wonderful old Bridgeport School.

In 1820, Charles Julian began a private school for only the students in the Bridgeport area. It lasted for 31 years. Then in 1851 the very first public school in Bridgeport was built and used. It was a one-room frame building,18x22 feet, one door in front and two windows on either side. It was on the same lots as the Christian Church on Evergreen Road. It served either first-through twelfth grade students.

However, in 1885, a larger school was needed. It had a two-room frame building in the form of a letter T. It had around 45-50 students each year from 1885-18895. Sadly, it had to be torn down in 1912 because of a fire. The next school was built in 1913. It had six rooms, two halls and three cloakrooms. It was used until 1937.

This present day Bridgeport School was in 1942. It used to have a stained glass window over the front door. It had a wide center stairway in the center hall. Back then, the high school students moved out of Bridgeport to go over to Franklin Counts High
School. This high school is still there and used today. So this just left the middle and elementary students went upstairs and elementary downstairs.

In the year 1960, the high school students moved out of Bridgeport to go over to Franklin County High school. This high school is still there and used today. So this is just left the middle and elementary students. Middle school went upstairs and elementary downstairs.

In the 1970's the middle school students moved to a middle school. So this only left the elementary students. This is how it is today, for students kindergarten through fifth grade.

Sadly, but shortly, in the year of 2004-2005, this school will not be used for a public school. It will be very sad because this school has been used ever since1942. No one wants the school to be torn down and everybody hopes that someone will buy it and then take good care of it. Everyone hopes that this school will stay up and never be torn down.

This essay and photograph(s) are the property of Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and Kentucky Heritage Council and that any use of the photo or essay must be approved by PK and KHC.