At one time, Gabriel's Plaza was known as the "Holiday Plaza." This photo from 1987 shows that and some of the businesses that are no longer located there including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Heck's, Radio Shack, Jo-Ann Fabrics and a few that can't be made out. Big Lot's is still operating at the plaza 30 years later.

Towers School, Central Junior High were demolished not too many years ago and the building itself was a historic structure with ties to the Civil War. The site was once home to the Northwestern Virginia Academy.

 

Editor's Note: This ongoing photo feature of pictures from Bridgeport and throughout the Mountain State is part of local historian Richard "Dick" Duez's collection. Duez, the unofficial historian of Bridgeport, would appreciate any scanned photos emailed to him for use here or to include in his ongoing efforts to preserve local history. You can email photos, or let him know how to acquire copies of photos you may have in your possession, to Duez at dick.do@frontier.com.