Bridgeport, Connecticut: Then & Now

Using old photos from prints and postcards, I attempted to reshoot the scene from the same spot now. In no way comprehensive, it does feature many prominent Bridgeport landmark. A photographic and musical trip back in time.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Bridgeport
• Connecticut
• Pleasure
• Beach
• Beardsley
• Park
• Steeplechase
• Island
• Stratford
• Avenue
• Fairfield

[sockhop921]

An amusement park was there, a big attraction in its day called Steeplechase Island or Pleasure Beach & ran at least 60 years. I vaguely remember it as a very young child. It closed in the early 60's, a victim of neighboring urban decay & an influx of city dwellers that the locals looked upon as undesirables. No longer accessible by car as the only bridge to the "island" burned in the 90's. It's a peninsula & can be walked from Long Beach in Stratford. Only WICC's xmitting facilities remain.

[cjphoto23]

Connecticut need to investgate on ebt

[sockhop921]

Electronic Bank Transfers???

[Interview1998]

sockhop921--.Thank you, I am now in California, and seeing this made me feel back home in Connecticut. Thanks .First of all, I must say the rich history of Bridgeport -- amazing. Just amazing. Now, Bridgeport needs corporate America, to create amazing opportunities so close to NY.. As for gangs, violence, don't come to California , you will cry. The best about Bridgeport, the core, is both the Catholic and Jewish communities. It is New England. And I for one, miss that , Bridgeport can be better

[sockhop921]

Thanks for the compliments and thanks again for one of the more intelligent replies.

[RLhockey203]

bridgeport is honestly not bad, I have lived in the state since the day I was born and have made friends in bridgeport while i've been here. everyone is raving about how the east side is the worst part of bridgeport, this happens to be where I usually hang out with my friends, after visiting there appartment countless times the only fight i've ever seen was a small fight between two girls in front of subway, and the city is a little bit dirty but hey, its a fucking city

[silvadolla07]

all of Bridgeport isn't like that. so please do not go there stereotyping all of Bridgeport as the "ghetto" Wesport has its parts that can be classified as the ghetto its self. Maybe if Bridgeport had some type of good schooling maybe all these teens would stop stealing your damn cars. but right now as it is over crowded no body wants to go to school or there getting kicked out because it is over crowded. Bridgeport is not the ghetto!.It just happens that our mayor doesn't give a SHIT TO FIX IT!

[josmaydi16]

i would off loved to live in bridgeport back then it looks so nice i love it

[manchester2000ful]

Excellent job and the music was so fitting. Thank you

[PineapplesRcrunchy]

Wait so did Bridgeport used to have an amusement park or was that just a small boardwalk with a ferris wheel?

[dreadfulcreation]

@wrrn411 its dead stratford bulldozed all of the remaining buildings off of it, buildings that were not on their property

[dreadfulcreation]

im happy to see so many positive comments, i wanted to become a bpt historian but its kind of hard when people treat us second rate. This city is an old work horse and i cantwstand watching her die around me...

[LegendaryBerry]

This is so sad but so true .. I live in Bridgeport, CT right now.. Born and raised. This is exactly what I think of it now.. It was different even when I was growing up.. Now it's a real mess.

[Chevymonster203]

I have lived in Norwalk, Ct all my life and to look back at the way Bridgeport and Norwalk and Stamford were and to look at them now is just disgusting. Norwalk alone had like 5 factories to build stuff from train parts to locks and tires and now there are no jobs they are shipping them all out to other countries. It is sad to see the beauty that was Connecticut and to look at it now.

[SYRUPnSPRITE]

@cjphoto23 everyone i know has ebt cards..if its food stamp cards your talking ct is abundent trust me

[wrrn411]

Thank you for sharing this video. Would like to know more about Pleasure Island do you have any videos or information?