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 G Li I M PS ES oV, .:-.;- -:--:- -i-.-^o.^ 
 
 *^'^ 4^-^ BRIDGEPORT, CO|MH. 
 
 Gi'T>troductiot) D\^ (^aitT>oT> Ooodsell, ui>^er t^e aut^orit^ of t^e 
 
 -IBOARD OF TRADE. I^ 
 
 COPYRIGHTED BY 
 
 dOHN H. KANE ANB TRANK A. V00B, PdBlilSHERS 
 
 1S9S. 
 
 Press of the Marigold Printing Co., 
 Bridgeport, Conn. 
 
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 ->■ Preface. -!- 
 
 r\ X preseuting this volume of " Glimpses of Bridgeport" to the public, the compOers aud publishers trust that the work will 
 ^^\J represent the field which its title page indicates and thereby prove a timely and useful manual not only to our own towns- 
 ^^^r people but to our neighbors far and near, showing Bridgeport's progressiveness and the enterprise of its people and the gi-owth 
 of the numerous industries mentioned. In the selection of portraits of prominent peoiile as well as the numerous illustrations 
 of the public buildings, chiu'clies, school houses, parks, etc., together with the various and extensive manufactories, the publishers 
 have endeavored to make the work trul3' representative. 
 
 THE PUBLISHERS. 
 
4^ 3]itrobuctton. -^ 
 
 'Iml T a regular meetiui;' of the Bridgeport Board of Trade held December 13, 1897, Zalmou Goodsell was authorized by a unanimous 
 /@jL vote of the meml)ers present to prepare the introductory article for this publication : "Glimpses of Bridgeport." 
 
 The Board of Trade of Bridgeport, by authority of which this liook is issued, was oi'gauized in 1875 and incoriiorated in 187(i. 
 The officers and members of the Board freely extend every courtesy to those seeking information with a view of removing their present 
 industries or of establishing new plants. 
 
 The primary cause of Bridgeport's steady gTowth in wealth and iwpulation is its excellent location on Long Island Sound, with 
 four safe and roomy harbors atibrding natural and unexcelled advantages for large manufacturing concerns desiring ample waterways 
 for transportation. Quick commuuication is secured through day and night steamers plying daily to and from New York and Long 
 Island. 
 
 Its railroad facilities suri)ass tho.se of anj" other city in New England for convenience in shipping and receiving freight at the 
 lowest through rates to and from all points in the country. In addition the city is an important iiort of entry. 
 
 The tax rsite is conservative, labor reliable, diligent and available for every line of trade, and all classes of labor are content to 
 reside here. The homes of the working classes are attractive and price of rents are niodei'ate, health statistics show a vei'y low death 
 rate because adequate sewerage and strict compliance with modern sanitary laws are enforced ; every kind of recreation is easily obtained. 
 No unreasonable laws are enforced to oppress the workingman or harrass capital. There are societies and churches pertaining to every 
 nationalit}'. 
 
 The water supiily of the city is unlimited and of unusual purity. The latter fact is best attested by the condition of the boilers in 
 many of the large factories, some of which have been in use for from twenty -live to thirty years, while many have been in service for 
 
over twenty years, without deterioration. The expense of repairs has been very small, scale and incrustation being hardly perceptible. 
 The city is fortunate in being provided with gas and electricity for ilhimiuatiug, fuel and power purposes at unusuall.v low rates and an 
 extensive electric railway system of about sixty mUes, covering the principal thoroughfares of the city and connecting with its suburban 
 towns. 
 
 The large quantity of goods produced in Bridgeport factories has made her name famous and advertised lier manufactured iiro- 
 ducts throughout the world, till now their value and immense variety have caused the city to be recognized as the leading manufacturing 
 center of New England. 
 
 Bridgeport can accommodate an unlimited gTowtli of jiopulation through her natural advantages of location and surroundings. 
 It has six iniblic parks renoxxnied for their beauty, its good roads are famous throughout the State and its suburban drives are not 
 onlj- the delight of its citizens but the admiration of all visitors to the City. Seaside Park has a public half mile trotting course for 
 speeding purposes with a boulevard and sea wall drive four miles in length, admitted to be the finest on the Atlantic coast. The.se and 
 many other good reasons have induced a large number to come and reside here, who delight in good liorses, recreation, driving, cycling 
 and boating. 
 
 The city's gi-owth has V)een permanent in population and wealth ; the older manufacturing concerns have regularly enlarged their 
 plants every few years and new industries are continually seeking Bridgeport as a location, providing work for all comers besides sup- 
 plying good i)ositions for our natural increast> in ixipulation. Many of these firms locate in Bridgeport, believing, after a thorough in- 
 vestigation, that more natural inducements are ottered here for economy of manufacturing in the long run than can be found in other 
 places where a large bonus is oflered to attract them. 
 
 Booms have not been jirojected to advance real estate values Init they have shown a healthy increase without any setback for a 
 numljer of decades. 
 
 Bridgeport is a city of beautiful drives, fif attractive homes, of healthful surroundings and suburbs. The illustrations in this vol- 
 ume give just a glimpse of its manifold natural beauties and if they draw to the Park City the attention of those seeking an ideal loca- 
 tion for manufacturing or residential purposes they wdl have achieved their purpose. Any further information can easily be obtained 
 by addressing the President or Secretary of the Bridgeport Board of Trade, Bridgeport, Conn. 
 
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North and South Views from Towek uf lJRii>G£i'oKT Hospital. 
 
Frkd. C. MuLLiNS, City Clerk. 
 
 Hon. Thomas P. Tayi.ou, Major. 
 
 tuiuv L. HoLZEK, Fire Commissioner. 
 
 <OBERT WEBER, 1 own Ulerk 
 
 ES H. McElroy, Tax Collector. 
 
Bak.num Insiitute of Science and History. 
 Donated to the Bridgeport Scientific Society and Fairfield County Histoiical Society by P, T. liarntim. 
 
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 Walter Goddard. 
 
 CaI'T. John McNeil, Harbor Master. 
 
 L. D. SlILEDY, M. D. 
 
 George Comstock. 
 
 C. M. BiLTZ, Charity Commissioner. 
 
4^ Statistics, ^ 
 
 §RIDGEPORT has a population of 75,000. It is hut oue liour ami tifteeu minutes from New York, via N.Y., N. H. & H. E. E., and 
 three and a half hours via Bridgeport Steamboat Co. '.s steamers. In mode of access it has thirty passenger trains to and from New 
 
 York City, and twelve to points on the Naugatuck and Berkshire Divisions, all equipped with the most moderu coaches, and pass 
 enger service unequalled in the United States. It has an area of 13.40 square miles, 141) miles of good streets — 7:i miles of which are mac- 
 adamized. It has two Hospitals, a State Armory, a Post-Offlce and Custom House building costing .$125,000 and an aiipropriation of 
 $100,000 additional has been secured for enlargement of the same, a County Court House, twenty-nine Puiblic Schools, a High school, 
 a Training school, seven Private and Parochial schools, forty Churches, six Daily Papers, six Weekly Papei\s, one of the largest Public 
 Libraries in the State, containing over 34,000 vohunes, circulation annually, 145,1)00. Its Y. M. C. A., Historical and Scientific Society 
 buildings would be a credit to any city. 
 
 It has eleven miles of water front dredged and available for dock purposes. A second lighthouse is now finished giving double 
 security to navigation. The Harbor has two lai'ge break-waters so placed as to make a harbor of refuge which is used by thousands of 
 vessels during the year. The tracks of the N. Y. , N. H. & H. R. R. through the City are being elevated at a co.st, including the new 
 passenger stations, of |4,000,000. Bridgeport, according to the United States census reported in 18!)(), has one hundred and ninety-six per 
 cent more manufacturing establishments tlian in 1880. During the same period the capital invested in its industries increased ninety- 
 five per cent ; the value of its manufactured i)roducts one hundred and seven per cent ; its i)Oi)ulation seventy-six per cent, and the 
 assessed valuation of the property eighty-seven per cent. It was the first city in the United States to revolve its drawbridges Viy elec- 
 tricity. It has the only gTain elevator between New York and Boston. Weather Bureau Signals are daily displaj'ed at Seaside Park for 
 the benefit of coastwise shipping. Two large guns have recently been erected l)y the government near the harbor for the jjurpose of 
 defense. The manufacturing establishments number four hundred and fifty-one ; different branches represented, four hundred and 
 twelve ; corporations engaged in manufacturing, four hundred and ten. It is the only Citj' in the State having two large water fronts, 
 both of which are being improved by the government. Every gi-ade of machine work from the heaviest to the lightest is done here and 
 in no city can be found so many expert mechanics. The value of domestic commerce is more than 1100,000,000 per annum, foreign 
 commerce— imports, |250,000 annually. Average duties on same collected at local Custom House, $100,000 per annum. Assessed valu- 
 ation of property, $58,1)00, 000. Value of municipal property, $2,000,000. Five National Banks with average deposits of over $5,000,000. 
 Five Savings Banks with total deposits of about $12,000,000. Four private banks, two banks with State charters. The waterworks of the 
 Bridgeport Hydraulic Co. have storage reservoirs with a capacity of 2,200,000,000 gallons : daDy capacity of reservoir, 20,000,000 gallons ; 
 average daily consumption, 16,000,000 gaUons. 
 
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE, 1898. 
 
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 Tames Staples, Treasurer. 
 
 N, H. Heft, President, 
 
 WA^LACE A. Smith, Secretary, 
 
Barnum Statue. 
 Seaside Park. 
 
 The Late Hon. P. T. Barnum- 
 Bridgeport's Benefactor. 
 
 Bergh Fountain. 
 Seaside Parl<. 
 
James Staples & Co.'s Banking House, State Street, 
 
Hon. W. H. Marigold, Postmaster. 
 
 Post Office and Custom House. 
 
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 Bridgeport Brass Co.'s Works. 
 
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 ^TH Regiment Armorv. 
 
pATON, Cole & Burnham Mfg. Co.'s Works, 
 
Seeley Building. 
 
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 T. P. Taylor's Factory. 
 
Commodore C. H. Morris. 
 
 Park City Yacht Club. 
 
Pacific Iron Works. 
 
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I^ESIDENCE OF CoL. N. H. HeFT, 
 
Soldier's Monument. 
 
 Howe'Statue, 
 
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 Tleasure Bicach Race Track. 
 
iouR City Views. 
 
Frank H. Conneli.ey, Supt. 
 
 Bridgeport Steamboat Company. 
 
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ElRDSEY, SOMERS & Co.'s FACTORY. 
 
Court House. 
 
 County Jail. 
 
Salts Textile Mfg. Co.'s Works. 
 

 Public Schools. 
 
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St. John's Ei'iscorAi. Church. 
 
 Bapi'ist Church. 
 
 Washington Tark M. E. Church. 
 
Citizens' Gas Co.'s Works. 
 

 First Presdvterian Church. 
 
 Olivet Congregational Church. 
 
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 H. F, Greenman's Residence. 
 
 biErHEN C. Osborne's Residence, 
 
M. Moody Downer, Commisbiouci 
 
 Frank Miller, President Algonquin Club. 
 
 John P. Pinkerman, Assessor. 
 
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 Daniel M, Rowland, lildg. Inspector, 
 
 Wali'er Stapleton, hx-l'irc Conuiii.-.biont.r 
 
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 Briugeport National Bank, United Bank Building. 
 
 First National Bank. 
 
Interior Views of Algonquin Club, 
 
Peck's University School. 
 
Seaside Club. 
 
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN. 
 
 (Photos by Platt & Jahn.) 
 
 W. M. Thomas, Pres't. W. A. Lewis. 
 
 C A. SEtLEY. 
 
 Dr. C. L. Banks. Commissioner C li. Lakhr. 
 
 N. J. Phelan. 
 
 Geo. R. Osborne. 
 
 A. MORRISSEY. 
 
 Geo. Irving. 
 
 Com. Geo. M. Baldwin. 
 
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 Connecticut National Bank. 
 
 City National Dank. 
 
Fairfield County Bar 
 
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Hon. Thos. P. Taylor's Residence. 
 
 Hon. Z. Goodsell's Residence, 
 
Park Views. 
 
 Seaside. 
 
 Beardslev. 
 
 Washington. 
 
Connecticut Reduction Co.'s Works. 
 
bEAblDK UUilNG CLUB. 
 
 Group ok Memi'.ers. 
 
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 Frank W. Beers, Ex-Commissioner 
 
 Hon. D. N. Morgan, Ex. U. S. I'reasuier. 
 
 CuL. W. H. Stevenson. 
 
 Stephen C. UsiioRNE, E.\-Abbessor, 
 
 Ekkd. Ends. 
 
St. Augustine's R. C. Church. 
 
 Sacred Heart Parochial School. 
 
 St. Mary's R. C. Church. 
 
Plumb & Winton, 
 
 Emergency Hosi'ital. 
 
II lis. Zai.mdn Goodseli.. 
 
 Ex-Mayor 1-kank E. Clark 
 
 Gm). E. Hit, I., Co. Health Of 
 
 Judge P. Kane, 
 
 Late Judge Jos, J, Rose, 
 
Smith, Murray & Co., Dry Goods. 
 
 Interior of Cloak Room. 
 

 BRiDGEroRT Yacht Club. 
 
 Group of Members. 
 
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•: ^ DIRECTORY. : ■> 
 
 James Staples & Co., Bankers, Safe Deposit Vaults. Real Estate and Insurance. 
 
 Bridgeport Brass Co., Manufacturers Brass Tubing, Wire, Lamps, Etc. Branch Offices, New York. Boston and 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 American Ordnance Co., Manufacturers Guns, Torpedoes and Ammunition. 
 Union Metallic Cartridge Co., Manufacturers of Ammunition. 
 Eaton. Cole & Burnham Mfg Co.. Manufacturers Brass and Iron, Steam, Water and Gas Fittings. Branch Office 
 
 New York. 
 Pacific Iron Works, Manufacturers Steam Engines and Boilers, Hoisting and Mining Machinery. 
 Thos p. Taylor, Manufacturer of Dress Stays and Notions for Women's Wear. 
 Salts Textile Co. . Manufacturers of Silk Plushes, Seals and Velvets. 
 Birdseye, Somers & Co., Corset Manufacturers. 
 Connecticut Reduction Co., Improved Sanitary Method of Rendering and Drying of Garbage, Offal, Refuse, Brewers' 
 
 Grain, Etc., Holthaus Machinery. 
 The Holmes & Edwards Silver Co., Manufacturers of Silverware. 
 Citizens' Gas Co., Supplying Gas for Fuel and Power. 
 Warner Bros., Manufacturers of Corsets, Offices New York, Chicago, Paris and Berlin. 
 
 4- -i- BAfll^S. -^ -i- 
 
 Bridgeport National Bank, Capital $215,8^0, Surplus $ 112,000. 
 City National Bank, ' 2S0.000, " 21s. 000. 
 
 Connecticut National Bank, " 332,100, " iso.ooo. 
 
 First National Bank, " 210,000, " 105,000. 
 
University of 
 Connecticut 
 
 Libraries 
 
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