Why Bridgeport?

 

Chance, destiny, or providence? No one knows for certain which directs the course of our lives, but I am inclined to lean toward the latter. Having grown up in South Charleston and traveling I-79 to attend WVU, Bridgeport was just a flash of a green highway exit sign as we sped up or down the interstate. That was true until I graduated when a job opportunity with Dominion Transmission for my now ex-wife suddenly landed me in a garage apartment in Clarksburg’s Goff Plaza.

 

After close to a year, the time came, in 1986, to consider purchasing a home. I asked our local real estate agent extraordinaire, Gerry Ross, “Where is the best place to live around here?” Her response was quick and to the point; Bridgeport. That simple question and response forever altered my life’s journey. 

 

Thirty-six years later, I’m still here. Having lived and worked in Bridgeport for three and half decades, I am blessed to have found my wife, raised my family, built a successful career, and become immersed in this amazing community. Over that time, the city has grown and undergone many changes, but the true essence of Bridgeport remains steadfast. The charm of small-town America, forward-thinking civic leaders, and a strong sense of community pride is our starting point in achieving that ever-elusive “Quality of Life” that so many other towns seek.

 

The question of ‘Why Bridgeport?’ has been asked of me many times by numerous people, in a variety of different contexts. The question “Why Bridgeport?” is usually the same, but the undertones can have significantly different meanings. Generally, the true intent is one of curiosity, as in “Why did you move to Bridgeport?” or “What makes Bridgeport so successful?” However, sometimes it is steeped in jealousy, “Why does Bridgeport get everything?” Occasionally, the query is out of indignation, “What’s so special about Bridgeport?” 

 

No matter the circumstance or parties involved, my answer, typically was and still is, the same. Bridgeport is a special place, plain and simple. How and why it is special is the reason I am writing this series of blogs. With the gracious permission of the Connect-Bridgeport staff, I hope to enlighten those from beyond our borders and remind those who live here why this town is just so unique and wonderful. 

 

Did I arrive here by chance, destiny, or providence? The answer to that question is forever shrouded in mystery. Whichever it was, I am glad that it brought me to this community and gave me a new hometown and a blessed life.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows one of the many exit signs off of Interstate 79 for Bridgeport, while the bottom photo is a view of Bridgeport from Point of View. Photos courtesy of Jon Griffith.