Butterfield Stage Days

May 4th-6th 2006

When the Butterfield Overland  Mail passed through Wise County and beyond in  1858 - 61, crossing the West Fork of the Trinity River was a necessity.    Colonel W. H. Hunt obtained a charter to  build a toll bridge constructed of cottonwood timbers.  
However, his bridge soon collapsed.    By this time a small settlement had begun at this crossing.    Charles D. Cates, a Decatur merchant, constructed an iron bridge.   It is assumed that the town of Bridgeport got its name because it served as a  port for those traveling up and down the river.  Bridgeport soon became a bustling community.  The Butterfield Stage Days was initiated to preserve the spirit of the past.
Photographs from 2006 Butterfield Stage Days
Heritage Museum Benefit Event

May 20th 2006
The Museum Benefit party is an annual event to raise funds for the Heritage Museum. David & Sue Ray host the party which includes a five-course dinner. The party is set up around the Ray's swimming pool which over looks beautiful Lake Bridgeport.
Photographs from 2006 Heritage Museum Benefit Party
Coal Miner's Heritage Festival

Sept 16th

While drilling a water well, Mr. Cates struck a rich vein of coal  sixty feet below the earth’s surface.  Unknown to him at
that time this would be the forerunner of an industry that supported  the town of Bridgeport  for about forty years.

The Wise County Coal Company was  chartered August 23, 1882, by C.D. Cates, J.C. Carpenter, J. H. Halsell,   J. J. Long, Sam Levy, Henry Greathouse, J. M. Holmes, and Dan Waggoner.    In 1900, the firm was purchased by Colonel William H. Ashton of Virginia who changed the name to Bridgeport Coal Co., which employed five hundred employees at its peak.   In 1929, the mines closed due to the increase of  oil and gas.  During this time the town moved one mile  east.

With the closing of the mines, many people left, but some stayed and worked at the brick plant , rock crusher, and railroad.  The very last mine, the Singleton Mine, closed in 1942. Even though the mines are gone,  coal remains buried under the town of Bridgeport.

Realizing how important coal mining was to this community, the Bridgeport Historical Society’s Arts and Crafts Fair  and Coal Mine Day  were fused together to become the annual celebration now know as Coal Miner’s Heritage Festival.
Wise County Sesquicentennial Celebration
September 29 to October 7 2006
Wise County's 150th Birthday
Wise County is celebrating it's 150th Birthday this year. A schedule of events is shown below. Bridgeport events are shown in maroon. For more information on details contact Angie Tyson at 940-683-2127.

Friday, September 29 DHS Homecoming Parade, Decatur

Saturday, September 30 Bridgeport Fun Run 8:00 a.m.

Saturday, September 30 Paradise Festival 10:00 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Saturday, September 30 Runaway Bay Fireworks Display 8 p.m.

Sunday, October 1 Slidell Old Time Gospel Festival

Sunday, October 1 Bridgeport Sesquicentennial Pageant 5:00 p.m.

Monday, October 2 Alvord Festival will host a chili cook-off  6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 3 South Wise County Alien Landing at Aurora

Wednesday, October 4 Bridgeport Gospel Jamboree 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 5 Chico Town Square Festival

Friday, October 6 Wise County Heritage Museum Style Show 7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 6 Greenwood Store Fish Fry & Open House 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 7 Decatur Sesquicentennial Parade 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 7 Wise County Festival- Downtown Decatur- All Day

Saturday, October 7 Cruise Night on the Courthouse Square 4:00 p.m.

 
The Wise County Festival was held on 7 October 2006 in Decatur. The Festival was an all day affair. A parade was held during the day and consisted of floats from around the county. Photographs of the parade and some of the other activities can be seen by clicking your computer mouse on the photograph below. When the slideshow opens use the navigation bar, that is just to the right of the title, to advance the photos.
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