The story of Bridgeport, Part 21

Author: Danenberg, Elsie N. (Elsie Nicholas), 1900-
Publication date: 1936
Publisher: Bridgeport, Conn. : Bridgeport centennial, Inc
Number of Pages: 188


USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > The story of Bridgeport > Part 21


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27


Bryant School, 865 Maplewood Avenue, built in 1912; number of pupils, 509; principal, Anna Rickard. Columbus School, 281 North Washington Avenue; built in 1913; number of pupils, 895; principal, Euphrosyne Bown. Edison School, 115 Boston Terrace, built in 1932; number of pupils, 301; principal, Bessie Jacobs.


Elias Howe School, 287 Clinton Avenue, built in 1889; number of pupils, 846; principal, Elizabeth McGrath. Franklin School, 263 Nichols Street, built in 1886; number of pupils, 586; principal, Agnes Dennis. Garfield School, 655 Stillman Street, built in 1911; number of pupils, 600; principal, Elizabeth Roche.


Hall School, Clermont Avenue, corner Pixlee Place, built in 1915; number of pupils, 553; principal, Florence Blackham. Hallen School, Reservoir Avenue, built in 1922; number of pupils, 382; principal, Anne Sherman. Island Brook School, 118 North Avenue, built in 1876; number of pupils, 166; principal, Margaret Mills.


Jackson School, 455 Bostwick Avenue, built in 1915; number of pupils, 113; principal, Mary A. Stapleton.


Jefferson School, 327 Myrtle Avenue, built in 1884; num- ber of pupils, 447; principal, Dr. Margaret Kiely. Lincoln School, 1260 Stratford Avenue, built in 1897; number of pupils, 949; principal, Saidee Caldwell.


Longfellow School, 555 Bostwick Avenue, built in 1900; number of pupils, 619; principal, Mary A. Stapleton. Madison School, 376 Wayne Street, built in 1917; number of pupils, 927; principal, Jane Anderson. Maplewood School, 434 Maplewood Avenue, built in 1894; number of pupils, 592; principal, Katherine Fitzpatrick.


Maplewood School Annex, 235 Linwood Avenue, built in 1902; Mckinley School, 345 Logan Street, built in 1908; number of pupils, 600; principal, Mary Luby. Nathan Hale School, 1430 Capitol Avenue, built in 1927; number of pupils, 217; principal, Ada Bennett.


Prospect Street School, 58 Prospect Street, built in 1860; number of pupils, 482; principal, Mary Barry. Read School, 709 North Avenue, built in 1915; number of pupils, 646; principal, Luella Callahan. Roger Sherman School, 405 Newfield Avenue, built in 1906; number of pupils, 384; principal, Edith Scofield.


Roosevelt and City Normal School, 505 Warren Street, built in 1922; number of pupils, 571; principal, Dr. Margaret V. Kiely. Sheridan School, 24 Tesiny Avenue, built in 1884; number of pupils, 652; principal, Augusta Mendel. Staples School, 388 Jane Street, built in 1887; number of pupils, 586; principal, Mary Foley.


Summerfield School, 244 Grant Street, built in 1891; number of pupils, 470; principal, Bessie Jacobs. Walters- ville School, 167 Steuben Street, built in 1902; number of pupils, 745; principal, William McAndrew. Washington School, 117 Pequonnock Street, built in 1860; number of pupils, 336; principal, Julia Fenton.


Webster School, 1375 North Avenue, built in 1884; number of pupils, 437; principal, Margaret Dorsey. Wheeler School, 115 Highland Avenue, built in 1893; number of pupils, 318; principal, Julia Fenton. Whittier School, 86 Whittier Street, built in 1913; number of pupils, 240; principal, Grace Anderson.


Parochial Schools-Bridgeport has more parochial schools than any other city in the state, although the regis- tration of Hartford is greater. Hartford's registration this year is 6,414, while Bridgeport's is 5,207. Under the direction of Rev. Adelard Jalbert the thirteenth elementary parochial school in Bridgeport is now being constructed.


Bridgeport's parochial schools as of 1936, with their pastors, principals, dates of establishment and number of pupils today are as follows:


Blessed Sacrament School, built in 1923, Rev. Alexander Mitchell, pastor; principal, Sister M. Fidelis; teaching community, Sisters of St. Dominic; number of pupils, 426. Sacred Heart School, built in 1895, Rev. John F. Moore, pastor; principal, Rev. Edward P. Farrell; teaching com- munity, Sisters of Mercy; number of pupils, 652.


St. Ann School, opened in 1935, Rev. Henry Coleman, pastor; principal, Rev. George B. Curtiss; teaching com- munity, Daughters of Charity; number of pupils, 124. St. Augustine School, built in 1884; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter H. McClean, pastor; principal, Rev. Thomas Henahan; teach- ing community, Sisters of Mercy; number of pupils, 842.


St. Charles School, built in 1905, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. McGivney, pastor; principal, Rev. Francis S. Morrissey; teaching community, Sisters of Mercy; number of pupils, 508. SS. Cyril and Methodius School, built in 1910, Rev. Stephen Panik, pastor; principal, Sister Mary Magdalen; teaching community, Sisters of SS. Cyril and Methodius; number of pupils, 397.


St. John's School, built in 1913, Rev. Michael J. Carnicke, pastor; principal, Sister Mary Onesima; teaching community, School Sisters of Notre Dame; number of pupils, 472. St. Joseph's School, built in 1901, Rev. William A. Krause, pastor; principal, Rev. William A.


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Krause; teaching community, School Sisters of Notre Dame; number of pupils, 163.


St. Mary's School, opened in 1880, Rev. Leo M. Finn, pastor; principal, Rev. Leo M. Finn; teaching community, Sisters of Mercy; number of pupils, 348. St. Michael's School, built in 1907, Rev. Charles B. Ratajczak, O. M. C., pastor; principal, Sister Mary Elizabeth; teaching com- munity, Franciscan Sisters; number of pupils, 660.


St. Patrick's School, built in 1923, Rev. John C. Lynch, pastor; principal, Rev. John C. Lynch; teaching community, Sisters of St. Joseph: number of pupils, 362. St. Stephen's School, built in 1927, Rev. Stephen Chernitzky, pastor; principal, Rev. Stephen Chernitzky; teaching community, Sisters of Divine Charity; number of pupils, 253.


St. John's Commercial School, Rev. Michael Carnicke, pastor.


Other Schools-Junior College of Connecticut, 1001 Fairfield Avenue, opened Febuary 1, 1928; has approxi- mately 150 pupils today; E. E. Cortright is head of college. City Normal School, located in Roosevelt School, 505 Warren Street, organized in 1879; Dr. Margaret V. Kiely, principal; 66 students. Bridgeport State Trade School, 401 Kossuth Street, organized in August, 1910; Kossuth Street building erected in 1926; L. B. Sperry, head of the school; approximately 450 pupils. Unquowa School, Stratfield Road, private elementary and high school grades; Unquowa School Association organized in 1917, co-operative under- taking of parents with Norman Leeds as president; Carl Churchill is headmaster; graduates number 140. Fannie A. Smith, teachers' training school and kindergarten, 1124 Iranistan Avenue, founded in 1885, Fannie A. Smith, head. Booth and Bayliss commercial school, 432 State Street. Butler Business School, 211 State Street. St. John the Baptist Greek Catholic School, 1059 Pembroke Street. German Lutheran Parochial School, 600 Grand Street. University School, 894 Fairfield Ave., college preparatory courses, founded 1892.


CLUBS


Bridgeport offers a diversified club life in the form of 600 organizations of all kinds, including the following, with their dates of organization and their present heads.


Kiwanis, first service club to be organized, February, 1917; Arthur W. Rowe, president. Bridgeport Rotary Club, March, 1919; Raymond French, president. Lions Club, first of such in the state, organized November, 1921: Charles W. Stubbs, president. Civitan Club, chartered November 5, 1924, Abner Mitchell, president. Exchange Club, chartered December 8, 1922, Walter C. North, presi- dent. Unico Club, 1930, Joseph Lucarelle, president. Bridgeport Quota Club, 1925, Mrs David Greenbaum, president.


Algonquin Club, founded 1892; new home at 385 Golden Hill built in 1931; Judge James C. Shannon, presi- dent. Brooklawn Country Club, organized 1895; H. L. Morehouse, president. University Club, 1905; Judge Samuel C. Shaw, president. Black Rock Yacht Club, founded 1894; W. M. Paxton 3rd, president.


College Club, November, 1916; Elizabeth Alison, presi- dent. Community Chest and Council, Inc. organized 16 years ago by industrial leaders, prominent among whom was Norman Leeds; David S. Day, president; Sumner Simpson, honorary president. Jewish Community Center, commenced in 1915 with the Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association. This gave way to Community Center at 836 Fairfield Avenue in 1924; Joseph I. Spector, president.


Family Welfare Society, first meeting October 9, 1913; Miss Margaret R. Warner, executive secretary. Salvation Army, 30 Elm Street, 1883; Major F. L. Keller, present head. Red Cross and other World War organizations dis- cussed in World War chapter. Connecticut Humane


Society, 1880; opened Bridgeport office 15 years ago; Leslie Barlow district agent in Bridgeport.


Lieut. N. W. Bishop Camp No. 3, United Spanish War Veterans, instituted in February, 1902; George L. Schneider, present head. The auxiliary is called Major Charles H. Bonesteel, No 3, and Mrs. Esther Persson is head. Elias Howe Jr. Post. No. 3, G.A.R., organized 1867; Russell Van Deusen, present commander; Elias Howe Jr. Women's Relief Corps No. 53, organized 1909; Mrs. Mary Yale, present head; Frederick Bartlett Post, Charles Munich, head; Angeline Bartlett Auxiliary No. 4, Grace Munich, head.


Employees Tuberculosis Relief Association founded 1914; William Ashcroft, president. Catholic Charitable Bureau, 224 Washington Avenue, founded 1916; present quarters bought by Bureau in 1922; Rev. Thomas B. Gloster, director and Alice M. Burns, executive secretary.


Daughters of the American Revolution founded Mary Silliman chapter here in 1894; Mrs. Russell Wilmot, regent today.


St. John's Lodge No. 3, Freemasons, commenced 1762; Oscar G. Exner, head. Independent Order of Oddfellows, established June 11, 1841; Pequonnock Lodge, founded February 2, 1869, and followed by Arcanum Lodge; there are now seven Oddfellow Lodges in the city and seven subordinate ones; also three Oddfellow Encampments and six Rebekah Lodges for women, the first lodge being organ' ized in 1869. Grand Master, Randall C. Frink.


Dimaryp Court No. 66, Royal Order of Jesters, chartered 1923; J. Alex H. Robinson, director. Knights of Pythias, organized 1867; Lewis Budington is head of the Joseph Dowall Lodge; Otto Benson, head of the Bridgeport Lodge; and Norris Rossinoff, head of Harry Cutter Lodge.


Park City Council, Knights of Columbus, organized 1885; present home, Congress Street and Washington Avenue, opened 1914; John E. Cotter, Grand Knight. Bridgeport Anchor Club, formed 1929; John Moran, presi- dent. Seaside Council, Royal Arcanum, organized 1882; now in Citizens building, 1023 Main Street; Ralph Kain, regent.


Foresters of America: Nathaniel Wheeler, No. 92, organized in 1895, James Gannon, head; Court Marina No. 53, organized 1890, John Postizzi, head; Court Roma No. 153, organized 1900, Amedo Giannattasio, head; Court Pequonnock No. 62, organized 1891, Daniel Roviello, head; Court Park City No. 99, organized 1895; George Kerr, head; Court Norden, No. 129, organized 1899, Eric Olson, head.


Bridgeport Lodge of Elks, No. 36, instituted September 20, 1885; Alexander Elson, exalted ruler. Konckapo- tanaugh Tribe of Imperial Order of Red Men, instituted March 13, 1895; Clarence Friedman, present sachem.


Pioneer Lodge of American Order of Sons of St. George, founded December 26, 1881; Joseph G. Pow, present head. Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1905; Thomas Condon, worthy president. Loyal Order of Moose, chartered May 10, 1911; seven years ago organization was installed in present home at 840 Main Street; W. J. Boushey, present head.


Boys' Club of Bridgeport, founded 1887; Elmer H. Havens, head; Mrs. Lena Turney Hart, director; Abraham Lodge of the B'Nai Brith, instituted February 3, 1867; Bernard Trager, head. Rakoczi Hungarian Sick Benefit Society, organized 1888; Stephen Vargo, head. Hungarian Aid Association, started September 4. 1892; John Dezso, head. Sons of Italy founded 20 years ago; Joseph Russo, head.


Bridgeport Ladies Charitable Society organized 1813; Mrs. Walter B. Lashar, president. English Literary Club, 1879; Mrs. Wilbur A. Smith, honorary president. Wednes- day Morning Art Club, 1890, Mrs. James Gold, president. Pride of America No. 3, Daughters of America, 1897. Present councillor-Mrs. Mae Reldeif. Daughters of Union Veterans, celebrated 25th anniversary, June 15,


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1936; Mrs. Grace Munich, president. Calvert Club, organ- ized, spring of 1933; Francis J. King, present head.


Associated Charities for Industrial Relief, 1886, affiliated with Bridgeport Community Chest and Council, Inc .; Mrs. C. Nathaniel Worthen, head. Royal Neighbors of America, Star of Sea Camp, chartered 1907; Mrs. Jennie Dusty, present head. Bridgeport Firemen's Sick Benefit Association founded 1916; Lieutenant Edward J. Keating, present head.


Engineers Club, 1922; Robert Canfield, head. Export Managers Club, 1920; Robert Eames, head. Police Sick Benefit Society, 1907; Detective Sergeant John Quinlivan, president. Police Benevolent Association commenced March 1, 1926; Lieut. John Browne, present head.


Bridgeport Oratorio, started in 1911, Lucien Warner, present head; Bridgeport Symphony, started in 1933, Mrs. Frederick B. Granniss, present head.


Bridgeport Art League, started in 1895; Mrs. Frank Ostrofsky, president. Altrusa Club, November, 1929; Miss Flora Marcil, president. Bridgeport Mothers' Club, started 1910, Mrs. Lewis H. Corbit, head. Bridgeport Business and Professional Women's Club, started 1916, Mrs. Carl Lawson, head. Delphia Society, founded December, 1919, Mrs. F. A. Daniels, president.


Girls' Service League, started January, 1936, Norman Leeds, president. Music Study Club, started February 14, 1922, Mrs. David Hays, president. National Council of Jewish Women, started 1915; Mrs. Aaron Wittstein, presi- dent. Senior Hadassah, started in January, 1927, Mrs. Meyer Dworkin, president. Junior League of Bridgeport, organized in 1920, Mrs. Horton Spitzer, president. Visiť- ing Nurses Association, oganized November, 1909, Mrs. William H. Ham, president.


Bridgeport Girl Scout Council, Inc., charted December 8, 1921; Mrs. Olive S. Styer, commissioner. Bridgeport Boy Scout Council, Inc., chartered in May, 1912; Arthur M. Comley, head. Wednesday Afternoon Musical Club, organized October, 1898; Mrs. Frederick R. Silliman, president.


Women's Christian Temperance Union, started 1875; Mrs. Janet Blackford, head. Young Women's Christian Association, started 1894, Mrs. Harry H. Read, head. Young Men's Christian Association, started 1883; William B. Spencer, head. Author's Club, organized 1894, Mrs. William H. Comley, head.


Junior Guild started in 1928, Mrs. Alfred Gilbert, presi- dent. Junior Council founded in 1925, Frances Brauner, president. Bridgeport City Council, a branch of the Connecticut Congress of Parents and Teachers, started in 1929, Mrs. William Cohn, president. Travelers Aid Society, started in 1917, John L. Christie, present head. International Institute, started in 1918, Miss Lena Kelly. executive secretary; New England Home for Littic Wanderers, founded in 1915, L. M. Strayer, present head; Mental Hygiene Society, started in 1925, Dr. Geo. K. Pratt, medical director; Kings Daughters, Fanny Crosby Circle, started in 1900, Mrs. Orville Rector, honorary president.


BRIDGEPORT INDUSTRIES


There are in Bridgeport today, nearly 500 manufacturing establishments of various types. Nineteen are listed as employing 500 or more men and women and these are dis- cussed in Chapter 23. The following listings include those employing from 100 to 500 and those employing from 50 to 100.


ONE HUNDED TO FIVE HUNDRED: Acme Shear Company, 82 Hicks Street, shears. American Chain Com- pany, Inc., 920 Connecticut Avenue, auto parts, repeating razors, bed springs, mattresses. American Record Com. pany, Barnum Ave., records. Bay Company, 304 Bishop Avenue, surgical dressings. Belknap Mfg. Co., 800 Union Avenue, brass valves. Braunworth and Co., 2 Main Street, book publishers.


Bridgeport Coach Lace Company, 194 Holland Avenue, elastic webbing. Bridgeport Coach Lace Company, 805 Wood Avenue, auto trimmings and elastic webbing. Bridgeport Hardware Mfg. Co., Inc. 469 Iranistan Avenue, shears, pliers, tools. Bridgeport Screw Company, Union Avenue, wire screws, nails. Burritt, A. W. Co., 401 Knowl- ton Street, woodwork.


Cameo Hand Bag Company, 743 Main Street, Ladies' hand bags. Canfield, H. O. Company, 191 Housatonic Avenue, molded rubber goods. Commercial Shirt Co., 2 Main Street, shirts. Connecticut Company, 39 Congress Street, repairs and electrical power. Connecticut Web and Buckle Co., 71 Knowlton Street, elastic webbing and metal goods.


Cornwall and Patterson Mfg. Co., State St. and Faifield Ave., piano and organ hardware; Crane Co., South Ave., valves and fittings. Crawford Laundry, 435 Fairfield Ave., laundry. Dictaphone Corp., Cherry St. and Howard Ave., dictaphones, cylinders, accessories.


Hawie Mfg. Co., 729 N. Washington Ave., wire and sheet metal buckles; Heppenstall Forge Co., 99 Howard Ave., drop forgings.


Jennings Brothers Mfg. Company, 219 Elm St., art metal goods; Jordan Mfg. Company, 74 Oak St., shirts and blouses.


Lindstrom Tool and Toy Company, 50 Silliman Ave , dies, tools and toys; Locke Steel Chain Company, 1085 Connecticut Ave., sprocket chains; Metropolitan Body Company, Inc., 434 Grand St., truck bodies.


Mitchell Bros., Inc., 345 Railroad Ave., women's under. wear; Nichols Mfg. Company, 35 Benham Ave., underwear, corsets, bias bindings; No Fade Shirt Company, 2 Main St., men's shirts.


Parkley Shirt Company, 352 Myrtle Ave., shirts; Producto Machine Company, 990 Housatonic Ave., machine tools and castings.


Remington Typewriter Company, 1087 Railroad Ave., typewriter ribbons and carbon paper.


Seaside Blouse Company, 2 Main St., blouses; Siemon Company, State and Dewey Sts., phonograph records, telephone supplies; Sprague Meter Company, 33 South Ave., gas meters.


Style Craft Leather Goods Company, 352 Myrtle Ave., ladies' hand bags; Taylor, Thomas P. Company, 140 James St., children's underwear, aprons, etc .; Venus Lingerie, 32 Benham Ave., ladies' undergarments.


Weidlich Bros. Mfg. Company, 1313 Connecticut Ave., sterling silverware, white metal novelties.


FIFTY TO ONE HUNDRED EMPLOYES: Arm- strong Mfg. Company, 305 Knowlton St., plumbers' and steamfitters' tools; Automatic Machine Company, 113 E. Washington Ave., gas engines and special machinery.


Beacon Leather Goods, 62 Cherry St., leather goods; Blue Ribbon Garage, Inc., 283 Fairfield Ave., auto repairs; Bridgeport Castings Company, 250 North Ave., castings.


Bridgeport Chain and Mfg. Company, 964 Crescent Ave., steel and aluminum wire chains, metal stamping; Bridgeport Deoxidized Bronze and Metal Company, 457 Iranistan Ave., brass and bronze castings.


Bridgeport Gas Light Company, Howard Ave., coal and water gas; Bridgeport Ideal Laundry; 61 Hurd Ave., laundry; Bridgeport Paper Box Company, 304 Kossuth St., paper boxes.


Bridgeport Shirt Company, 2 Main St., men's shirts; Canfield Rubber Company, 710 Railroad Ave., rubber goods; Carpenter, E. W. Mfg. Company, 1565 Railroad Ave., tool and sheet brass stamping; City Lumber Com. pany, 75 Third St., wood work and house finish.


Clark Metal Products Company, 300 Myrtle Ave., metal goods; Compressed Paper Box Corporation, 128 Thompson St., paper boxes; Congress Dress Company, 113 Congress St., dresses.


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Connecticut Dress Company, 27 Harrison St., dresses; Cooper, Leo M. Company, 856 Broad St., women's dresses; Coulter and Mckenzie Machine Company, 771 Water St., machinery and iron castings.


Cudahy Packing Company, 508 Water St., sausage; Curtis and Curtis Company, 188 Garden St., pipe cutting and threading machines; Forsberg Mfg. Company, 125 Seaview Ave., tools and stamped goods.


Glem.Bogdonoff, Inc., Norman St., corsets; Hatheway Mfg. Company, 1500 Railroad Ave., sheet metal and wire goods; Hemco Electric Company, 1105 Railroad Ave., moulding products.


Hollander Bros., 1321 Railroad Ave., novelties; Hubbell, S. W. Building Company, 589 Knowlton St., house finish; Huber Ice Cream Company, Inc., 800 Seaview Ave., ice cream.


Kanarek and Forschner-Max Kanarek, 300 State St., house dresses; Krupka, S. G. Company, Inc., 350 George St., mattresses and upholstery; L. and I. Dress Company, 175 Stratford Ave., ladies' dresses.


La Resista Corset Company, Railroad and Myrtle Aves., corsets; Leather Products Company, 347 Railroad Ave., leather coats; Lorraine Metal Mfg. Company, 80 Cherry St., metal novelties.


Lowe Laundry, Inc., 1000 Seaview Ave., laundry; Manufacturers Iron Foundry Company (2), 785 Union Ave., gray iron castings; McNamara, Thos. J. and Son, 368 Coleman St., sausage.


Miller, Frank Lumber Company, 155 E. Washington Ave., house finish; Miller and Kaufman, 74 Oak St., ladies' underwear; Mitchell Dairy Company, 743 North Ave., pasteurizing milk.


Neon, Claude of Conn., Inc., 2929 Fairfield Ave., signs; N.Y., N.H. and H. R.R. Company, Water St., bridge building, engine repairs; Nilson, A. H. Machine Company, 1525 Railroad Ave., tools, jigs and inachinery.


Parisian Garment Company, 902 Crescent Ave., coats; Peerless Unit Ventilation Company, 810 Union Ave., venti- lators; R. and T. Shirt Company, 395 James St., men's shirts.


Red Star Company, 27 Harrison St., hose supporters, arm bands; Scharf and Wolfe, 27 Harrison St., underwear; Schwartz Bros. Company, 95 River St., house finish.


Sprague Ice Company, 270 E. Washington Ave., ice, wood and coal; Standard Oil Company, 154 Admiral St., gas and oil.


United Illuminating Company, Broad St., light and power; United Illuminating Company, Station A., E. Main St., light and power; United Slipper Company, 2 Main St., slippers.


Victor Undergarment Company, 27 Harrison St., under- wear; Wheeler Insulated Wire Company, 378 Washington Ave., insulated wire; Wolverine Motor Works, Union Ave., gasoline and heavy oil motors.


BRIDGEPORT STATISTICS, 1936


The city proper covers 141/2 square miles; city is 3rd in size, in Connecticut and 54th in size in U.S .; population according to last federal census (1930) 146,716.


Houses, one and two family types favored; 25% of people own their own homes: there are 42,114 dwellings of which 10,209 are single family houses and 28,864 are two, three and four family houses. Schools, 61.


Churches and missions, 107 in all; theaters, 23 with total seating capacity of 35,000; hospitals, three private hospitals; also two municipal, one for contagious disease and one for emergency cases. Jails, one-the Fairfield County Jail, 1106 North Ave. In 1870, jail moved from Broad Street to present site. In 1929, cell capacity was 310. Renova- tions now being made. Edward A. Platt is sheriff.


Port of entry: Bridgeport is headquarters port for Con- necticut District No. 6; has complete customs facilities; value of goods passing through local customs in 1935 was


about $1,000,000. Water borne commerce large: 1934 government statistics set the amount at 1,072,665 tons with listed value of $24,953,948. Principal items: coal, oil and petroleum products, iron, stone, lumber and other building materials and package freight.


Banks, 12 in all: including 5 commercial banks with 3 branches; 3 savings banks and one privately owned bank. Building and Loan Associations include: Bridgeport Sav- ings and Loan Association, Fairfield Building and Loan Association, Home Building and Loan Association, Park City Building and Loan Association, Federal Building and Loan Association, West End Building and Loan Associa- tion, North End Building and Loan Association, with total membership including all associations of 6,000.


Labor: classified as 15% skilled; 53% semi skilled; and 32% non skilled. Stores: total of 2293 stores (1933) employing 5108 men and women full time with yearly pay- roll for above employes of $5,484,000 for full time employes only. Annual business-$44,337,000 according to 1933 retail census.


Hotels: 60 in all. · Stratfield hotel is largest, corner of Main Street and Chapel; 400 rooms in main hotel and 125 in the annex; hotel opened September 5, 1908; Frank A. Cantwell, president. Barnum hotel, erected in 1928, 200 rooms, located at 140 Fairfield Ave. Morehouse, formerly the Admiral, 86 Pequonnock Street, 52 rooms. Old Atlantic Hotel, northwest corner of Water Street and Fairfield Avenue, torn down in 1936 to make way for new bus terminal and hotel.


Business associations: Chamber of Commerce, organized in May, 1915; and Manufacturers' Association, including employers of 80% of Bridgeport's industrial labor.


Grand list for 1935-36, was $232,613,300. According to interim report (1933) of U. S. census, per capita wealth for the 94 cities of from 100,000 to 300,000 population was $1220.61 while for Bridgeport, the figure was $1636.51.


Tax rate for 1935-36 was 30 mills; budget was $10,647,459 and the net bonded debt, $15,570,072.


Streets: Bridgeport has 206 miles of street of which 157 miles or more than 75% are either paved or improved.


City Plan Commission organized August, 1913 and re- organized in 1935; comprehensive city plan developed in 1936. Zoning ordinance adopted June, 1926; there are 7 zones, 3 for residence, 2 each for business and industry.




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