Bridgewater, Pennsylvania

Bridgewater, Pennsylvania
—  Borough  —
Motto: None The Bridgewater / Rochester Bridge spans the Beaver River
Location in Beaver County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 40°42′14″N 80°17′48″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Beaver
Settled	1798
Incorporated	April 2, 1835
Government
• Type	Borough Council
• Mayor	Heidi Paul
• Council	Councilmembers Dennis Bevington, Pres. Judith C. Bert Nancy Egan Bill Rains (Vacant)
Area
• Total	0.8 sq mi (2 km2)
Elevation	1,024 ft (312 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	704
• Density	1,005.7/sq mi (391.1/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Zip code	15009
Area code(s)	724

Bridgewater is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 704 at the 2010 Census. It is best known as the home of the Bruster's Ice Cream chain. A few scenes in the 1986 movie Gung Ho were also shot in Bridgewater. Much of Bridgewater, including its two major streets, is included in the Bridgewater Historic District.

Geography

Bridgewater is located at 40°42′14″N 80°17′48″W (40.703827, -80.296715).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (10.39%) is water.

History

Early Native Settlements

The northern area of Bridgewater, at the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers, was a well used and well known Indian crossing and settlement of the Delaware Indian tribe. The settlement was known as Sawkunk established around 1725. Two notable native warriors, Chief White Eyes and Chief Killbuck, had lodges in Sawkunk as late as 1762. Sawkunk was the origin of two major transportation arteries in the frontier, the Tuscarawas Trail that went west to the Tuscarawas River and the Sandusky Trail that went north, following the Beaver River before veering west to the Upper Sandusky. In the 1740’s, a larger settlement called New Sawkunk was established in neighboring Beaver. New Sawkunk was abandoned in the spring of 1759 in favor of a new village called Kuskuskie located at the headwaters of the Beaver River. However, the original Sawkunk was still occupied until 1763, consisting of seven cabins. Moravian missionary John Heckewelder met with Chief White Eyes here during the spring of 1762. Sawkunk was abandoned in 1763 after the victory of Colonel Henry Bouquet at the Battle of Bushy Run, Pennsylvania on august 5th and 6th. On October 6, 1764, Bouquet would cross at Sawkunk on his mission to retrieve white captives on the Muskingham River in the Ohio Territory.

Two Towns

Another settlement was established around 1798 and was called Sharon. This town was located about one mile north of the Ohio River around the mouth of Brady's Run Creek and had a modest river boat building industry. It was in Sharon in 1805 and 1806 that Vice President Aaron Burr had constructed several flat boats for use in his ill-fated expedition to establish an empire in the southwest. It is believed that he visited Sharon himself to inspect the work.

The area to the south of Sharon was part of the town of Beaver. The Harmony Society owned the property at the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers, an area known then as "Beaver's Point". The Harmonists sold the property before their departure for Indiana. Stephen Stone purchased and later sold lots on this site around 1831 and owned a large hotel that would cater to river traffic on the Ohio River with steamboats docking at the popular resort. On April 2, 1835, Bridgewater was incorporated under the General Borough Act of 1834. Bridgewater and Sharon were consolidated into one town on March 19, 1868.

Industry

In 1836, the Darragh Foundry became the largest business in town. Two years later, Major Robert Darragh operated the business which now had two large structures in Bridgewater and a machine shop and office in the neighboring town of Fallston. This business operated until July 17, 1902. The other long term large business in town was the bakery on Bridge Street operated by Frederick Walters. In 1892, his oldest son Charles A. Walters assumed control of the operation and, in 1901, chartered the business “F. Walters & Sons, Keystone Bakery”. In 1902, a new building was erected on Market Street. In 1926, the bakery was acquired by the Braun Baking Company of Pittsburgh and, three years later, was established as an independent company as long as it did compete with the Pittsburgh operation. After the bakery was sold to the Stroehmann Brothers Company, Keystone Bakery was closed in 1985. The 1902 building still exists as an office complex and restaurant. It was named “Stone Point Landing” in honor of the original 19th century Stephen Stone’s Point on the Ohio and Beaver Rivers. Bridgewater had other industries including the aforementioned boat building, pottery and glass making, a brewery and river barge construction.

Education

Bridgewater has had four schools. The first operated in Sharon at the north end of Market Street, standing on property now occupied by the Masonic Lodge. In 1860, another school was constructed mid-town on property purchased by the Borough School District from Thomas and Jane Campbell. The third school was built at 1001 Market Street, high above the flood plain. This school was closed in the 1970’s causing the borough's students to attend school in the neighboring town of Beaver. In the 1990’s, this vacant building was converted into apartments and can be seen to this day. The 1860 building was converted into the home for Bridgewater Volunteer Fire Department and Social Hall, the Bridgewater Borough Building and Bridgewater Street Department. The fire department moved into a new building in 2001 and the borough offices and street department were relocated into new facilities not long after. Although standing, this building is now vacant. The social hall wing was demolished in 2009. The fourth school was the Peirsol Academy, established in 1875 by Professor Scudder H. Piersol and was located on Bridge Street, next to the Presbyterian Church. A stone marker is located at this site.

West Bridgewater

The first post office was opened on April 1, 1879 and the borough was referred by the post office as “West Bridgewater” as not to confuse it with Bridgewater Township, Pennsylvania in Susquehanna County. The post office was discontinued in 1961. The borough currently gets mail delivered through the Beaver Post Office and shares the zip code 15009 with Beaver, Vanport and Brighton Township. Many older residents of the borough still refer to the town as West Bridgewater. Some of the current fire services equipment have that name decaled on their sides.

Demographics

As of the 2010 Census, there were 704 people in 351 households, residing in the borough. The population density of the borough’s land mass was 1005.7 people per square mile (391.1/km2). There were 395 total housing units in the borough.

The racial make-up of the borough was 93% White, 5% African American, .5% Asian and 1.5% identifying themselves as “two or more” races. Further breakdown of the data shows that 47% of the population is male and 53% female. 16% are under the age of 18, 62% are of standard working age and 21% are over the age of 65.

According to 2009 data, the median household income was $39,276.00. The estimated house or condo value was $113,575.00.

See Also

• William B. Dunlap Mansion
• William B. Dunlap

External links

• Official website