Historic Bridgeport , Alabama

Once again, I was visiting my sister in Bridgeport, Alabama this weekend. I decided to run to downtown Bridgeport, to take a look around and see how it has changed over the years. I started my journey at a relaxed, easy pace, no GPS, no IPOD just my trusty Timex. I had no time goals or distance in mind. I was out for a sight seeing tour. With the price of gas these days, it really is a blessing to be able to run places. I not only get to see places close up, but I can stop and walk anytime I want. I have been giving it a lot of thought this weekend, I run in the mountains to see beautiful scenery, but why not go to historic places and sight see while getting a training run in.
I started down Lloyd road, up over some good hills. One thing about Bridgeport, it has some good hills to run. I crossed the main intersection at the traffic light. This used to be the main drag to South Pittsburg, now after the new 72, the traffic is slow. I headed down the narrow bridge, down the hill toward Charlie Smith field. This baseball field was named after one of my distant relatives, Mr. Charlie Smith who was a great supporter of kids and sports in and around Bridgeport. I cut up the hill at 7th street. The hill seemed steeper when I was a kid. Another left put me on Main Street going downtown. As I ran down the sidewalks, all the stores were abandoned. Very much like what I described about Stevenson in an earlier blog. I passed by the barber shop where Virgil and Grady Adams cut my hair (when I was younger and even had hair). On up the street, there was the building where my Uncle Wes Lyda and his wife Grace ran a hardware store back in the 60's. The old J. R. Loyd building is still standing and the sign on the side has been restored. It reads that it was established in 1865. Next to that was the space were the large gas explosion back in the 90's killed and injured several of Bridgeport's citizens, who were working on the street outside the building. I believe that they hit a gasline and gas filled the building while everyone was gone to lunch. When they came back, the gas ignited. It was a great loss to Bridgeport.
I headed up the street, I think the name is Kilpatrick Way. It always had several old houses, built in the late 1800's. The houses looked better than when I was a kid. The folks have really taken care of them. One thing I noticed about the streets of Bridgeport, they were quiet and sleepy. Even though the main town has moved towards the new highway, the people here can enjoy the peace of a small sleepy town. It hasn't changed.
I turned across the bridge towards the Old High school, I paused and walked across the football field where I played my first competitive game against Bridgeport. We lost 6-0. I remembered back in the 60's when we would come here on Thanksgiving Day to watch the ever fierce rival game between the Bridgeport Tigers and Stevenson Panthers. That was the days when it seemed like the weather was colder, gray and games were played during the day.
I headed on down the road and made another turn that took me back under the railroad trestle and back in town. Like I had said, I had no plan or route picked out. I headed north towards Battery hill. No tour of B'port would be complete without cruising around the bluff and seeing the Tennessee River. On Battery Hill, there are also old houses and a lot of Civil war history. During the war, this was an important lookout point along with artillery. As I got to the point, even with the trees and undergrowth, you can see why it was so important. On one point, you can see up and down the river for miles. To the north, I could see the blue bridge in South Pittsburg. From this vantage point, any travel on the river did not go unnoticed.
I cruised down the hill back though town. I made turns randomly, exploring. Ran the the way I felt. Freedom of choice. I came back up the street and came up the hill behind the Charlie Smith field. I stood in front of the Bridgeport Head start building. Here once stood a hospital. In fact, the very hospital where I came into this world. I thought of the full circle and what a view I must have had here when they carried me out to my Grandfather's 55 Chevy to come home. I wish i could have remembered.
By this time, I started to work my way back towards my sister's house. Retraced some of my earlier tracks. Made the round trip in about an hour. Great freedom run, lots of memories. I found a phillips head screwdriver, made the full circle from my birth, saw some historical places. I think the screwdriver probably paid for the wear and tear on my shoes.
Even if you don't/can't run, I think that everyone who is capable should take a few weekends to go and walk around some of our historic places. It saves gas, you'll enjoy it more and you'll get a little exercise in the process. Today, we all have forgotten when entertainment was visiting friends, family and going for a picnic, going sightseeing. Now we do everything online and never leave the house. Let's save that until we can't get out and see it ourselves.

Keep Exploring Life!!!