Bridgeport Public Library Mural - History of the City

Bernard Riley's final major work, The History of Bridgeport from 1836 to 1936. It is in the Bridgeport Public Library, the wall of the Reference Room, a mural 40 by 13 feet.

You can visit the Face book page to see interviews related to the mural https://www.facebook.com/bernardrileyart

"Well, I was interested more in the character of the city than the people, rather than any heroic kind of mural; one that would show tremendous heavy industry. There was some heavy industry in Bridgeport, but actually the character of the city was more technical. It wasn't Pittsburgh, although there were smelters here and there were iron factories here. The general character of the city was more one of machinists and toolmakers and dye makers and designers. This was the truth, the strength of the city. And I wanted to show the people.

There is a picture of is PT Barnum and Tom Thumb. On their return from a very successful. trip to Europe. Tom Thumb came back to Bridgeport as the "Prince of Bridgeport" He is known throughout several capitals and met Kings and Queens in several countries in Europe. And they came back with a bit of a bundle of money. And they did this special little thing for the Bridgeport Ladies Charitable Society and raised some $300. for them.

There is Mr. Bullard, who was an important part of the city. And he was in the city of Bridgeport. He started in 1888. And he built a lathe whose design spread all over the world, literally. The computerized lathe that they use today is just basically the same machine.

This was this was the earliest of hand powered dirigibles. This was flown in Bridgeport in 1901, which was ahead of the Wright brothers.

Gustave Whitehead build a plane that flew in Bridgeport. And there were there's quite a bit of evidence that it did fly