The Rock Island Railroad sent Charles Hardcastle of Marion , Kansas to Bridgeport in May of 1893, as townsite agent. He assisted in surveying the town, and erected the first building in Bridgeport. The building was a two-room structure to be used as a real estate office. The sale of town lots began in June of 1893. A few years later the School Board elected him superintendent of the first grade school when the man contracted for the position resigned at the last moment. Mr. Hardcastle served two terms in that capacity. He was postmaster of Bridgeport from 1900 through 1906. He was followed by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hardcastle, in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle and children moved to Oklahoma in 1908 and remained there about thirty years. In later life he and his wife returned to Bridgeport . He died March 1, 1942.