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First aidOverland Trail - Bridgeport, Texas LbNA #48080

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 16, 2009
Location:
City:Bridgeport
County:Wise
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Planted by:n&+2
Found by: Slow Mink
Last found:Apr 3, 2016
Status:FFFFFFFF
Last edited:Dec 23, 2015
Bridgeport, Texas, didn't have a box and I visit family in the area somewhat frequently. I started looking for what made Bridgeport stand out. After digging into the history a little bit, I found several things. Bridgeport schools are the only ones in the state of Texas with the mascot of a bull. Having been to a few games, I can attest that they are serious about their school pride!

Bridgeport was also founded because of the Overland Trail mail route passing through Wise County. Colonel William Hudson Hunt (1815-1864) was a surveyor by trade, but was was very active in the community. He came to Texas during the war for independence from New York and settled in the Bridgeport area after his wife died. He served as the postmaster of Cactus Hill. He led the residents of Wise county in a successful effort to encourage routing of the Butterfield Overland mail route through Wise County. He was buried in a family cemetery on his homestead. However, when a dam was constructed on what was his property, his burial site was moved to Bridgeport Eastside Cemetery (founded 1892) where a historical marker was erected. This is where you will begin your search.

Go to Bridgeport Eastside Cemetery. It is located by the new elementary school. Take the road on the far right. You will find Col. Hunts' final resting place on the right. Stop to read the marker. From the marker, there is an old WPA outdoor restroom facility. Unkept, but interesting. Continue around the curve until you see two pairs of multi-trunked cedars. Stop here. Walk between the first pair. You will find the mail wagon in the tree on your left. There are a lot of neat graves in the cemetery. Take a little time to do some exploring.

Please rehide well. I love to hear from finders.