Bridgeport High School "Bulldogs"

Bridgeport High School Building

Submitted by Dennis Downey

The History of Bridgeport High School

Bridgeport (population 2,168) is located in southeastern Illinois in west-central Lawrence County. Illinois Route 250 (also known as Alternate U.S. Route 50) is the main roadway through Bridgeport. Illinois Route 250 intersects with County Highway 8 in Bridgeport. The CSX Transportation Railroad line passes through the south side of town. Bridgeport sits about 5 miles southwest of Lawrenceville.

The history of the town of Bridgeport can be found at http://www.lawrencecountyillinois.com/history/earlysettlements.html . It reads as follows:

"Bridgeport was platted by David D. Lanterman and Aaron Shaw in the summer of 1854. It was incorporated as a town in 1865. Samuel Thorn was the first merchant and George W. Cooper erected the first store after the town was platted. Other buildings were put up by Philip Gwines, Harry Gwines, James Lanterman and John and Henry Hill. The first hotel was erected in 1858 by Jackson Lamott.

Others associated with the early history of Bridgeport include Samuel H. and Rezin Clubb, Robert Drennen, William Martin, Thomas Fish, Samuel Newell, James Stewart, Dr. Samuel Hayes and Samuel L. Spencer.

A destructive fire in 1861 almost wiped out the business section of Bridgeport."

The history of the school system in Bridgeport is in need of research. We are certain there were schools in the Bridgeport area in the mid to late 1800s. Our guess is that Bridgeport residents established a high school curriculum for their older students by the late 1800s. We know that Bridgeport High School lasted for at least seven decades.

It was in the early 1970s that Bridgeport residents began consolidation talks with their neighbors to the west, Sumner. The effort was finalized at the end of the 1973 school year. The new district was named the Red Hill School district with the high school located in Bridgeport.

The fate of the original Bridgeport High School is needed.

Bridgeport High School Quick Facts

Year opened: late 1800s

Year closed: 1973

Consolidated to: Red Hill School District (Bridgeport)

Bridgeport HS team nickname: the "Bulldogs"

Bridgeport HS team colors: Blue & White

School Fight Song: unavailable

Athletics

The Bridgeport Bulldogs had some great athletes and athletic accomplishments in their time. Boys baseball, basketball, and track all had top finishes in IHSA history. School fight song, team records, and coach's names are all items we are interested in sharing.

Basketball

The Bridgeport Bulldogs were a team to be reckoned with for many years. The basketball program won a total of three District titles (all when District tournaments were the real first round). They also won four Regioinal titles. The Bulldog's best year was during the 1959-60 season. That year Bridgeport High nearly shocked the state by making it all the way to the State Championship game in the original one-class tournament. Coach Ray Estes charges had an overall record of 33 - 2, losing the championship game to Chicago Marshall, a team probably ten times their size!

Unfortunately this is all of the information we currently have on Bridgeport High's basketball program. Team records and coach's names of other great Bulldog teams are needed.

1921-22 District Champions
1923-24 District Champions

1933-34 District Champions

1935-36 Regional Champions

1959-60 33 - 2 Team Finished SECOND in IHSA Tournament Coach Ray Estes

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Super-Sectional Champions

Beat Greenville 85 - 73

Elite 8 Winners

Beat Ottawa 61 - 55

Final Four Finalist

Beat West Frankfort 74 - 60

State Championship Game

Lost to Chicago Marshall 79 - 55

1960-61 Regional Champions

1961-62 Regional Champions

*The Bulldogs were a regular participant in the annual Shelbyville High School Tournament. There best result and information on one of the best players ever at Bridgeport are listed below.

1962 - 2nd place
Individual marks
Most Pts. Game Steve Cunningham 44 (Tied for 1st), 1962
Most FG Game Steve Cunningham 17, 1962
Most Pts. Tourney (three games) Steve Cunningham 99, 1962
Cunningham would go on to become the varsity girls basketball coach at Bridgeport (Red Hill).

Track & Field

The BHS thinclads had some great success as well. A second place finish in 1923 followed by a seventh place finish in 1924 highlighted the team success of the Bulldogs. In addtion 13 individual medals were earned by 10 different athletes. Included in these were State Champs L. Molosh and M. Seed!

1920-21 Individual Medalist

? Fiscus 880 Yard Run 2ND Place

1922-23B Team Finished SECOND in IHSA State Meet Competition!!

Individual Medalists

L. Malosh High Jump STATE CHAMPION!!

M. Seed Pole Vault STATE CHAMPION!!

L. Diver 440 Yard Dash 2ND Place

                  A. Hart                 Shot Put             4TH Place

                  Final Team Standings

                  1) White Hall                                 20 1/5
                 2) BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL    15 ½
                  3) Hinsdale (Twp.)                           15
                 4) Carlinville                                    12
                  5) Havana                                       11

1923-24B    Team Finished SEVENTH in IHSA State Meet Competition!!

Individual Medalists

L. Diver 440 Yard Dash 2ND Place

A. Hart Shot Put 2ND Place

Discus 5TH Place

? Pugh 120 Yard Hurdles 4TH Place
? Seither Pole Vault 4TH Place

Final Team Standings

                  1) Girard                                        20
                  2) Chesterfield                                16
                  2) White Hall                                  16
                  4) Carlinville                                    15
                  5) Gridley                                       13
                  5) Hinsdale (Twp.)                           13
                  7) Wheaton (H.S.)                           12
                  7) BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL     12

1924-25B    Individual Medalist

? Kemper High Jump 5TH Place

1927-28 Individual Medalist

? Lake Javelin 2ND Place

1937-38 Team Won District Championship

1938-39 Individual Medalist

? Smith 120 Yard Hurdles 2ND Place

1948-49 Team Won District Championship

Baseball

Coach Ray Estes proved to be a talented coach in charge of a very talented group of athletes. The kids of 1959-60 followed up their trip to the basketball finals with a trip to the Elite 8 in baseball as well! The boys won the school's only Regional and Sectional championships in baseball but lost to eventual State Runner-up Waukegan in the Quarter-Final match-up.

1959-60 9 - 3 ELITE 8 Finalists!! Coach Ray Estes

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Elite 8 Finalists

Lost to Waukegan 11 - 1

Waukegan was State Runner-up

Boys Golf

One linkster earned a top-five individual finish for Bridgeport High. Lyle Gilliatt earned a 5TH Place finish in the 1943 State Golf Competition!!

1943 Individual Medalist

Lyle Gilliatt 5TH Place

Need your Assistance

If you have ANY further information about Bridgeport High School and its historic past, please send it to us via e-mail. Athletic accomplishments, as well as overall high school information is being sought. Photos and information can be sent to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net. You can also write to us at:

Illinois HS Glory Days

6439 N. Neva St.

Chicago, Il. 60631