This project has concluded, but please feel free to browse the videos and read a bit of history about Bridgeton!
Day 27: Did you know… Bridgeton is one of the three cities located within Cumberland County. Cumberland County has a rich history centered on industry including glass making, food processing, textiles, and maritime trade. You can click here to learn more about Cumberland County.
Click on the picture to listen to County Clerk Celeste Riley provide a bit more Cumberland County history and read her story.
Weekend Reading: Did you know… The more you read, the more you know! Reading 20 minutes per day will expose you to 1.8 million words per year compared to reading 5 minutes a day which would be 282,000 words in a year! As the weather warms up, grab a good book, head outside, and get reading!
Click on the picture to listen to Ms. Castro and Mr. Sminkey read!
Day 24: Did you know… Richard Hancock was the first European settler of the city. In 1685 he established a sawmill along Mill Creek, which is now Pine Street and East Broad Street's current location. Hancock's sawmill provided much of the lumber for Philadelphia's emerging city and led to increased settlers to the area.
Click on the picture to listen to Ms. Carrasco and Mrs. Mendolera read their story in English and Spanish!
Day 23: Did you know… The city became "Bridgeton" after a printing error at the Cumberland Bank in 1816. Before that, the town was known as Cohansey Bridge and then Bridge Town. All of the names were derived from the bridge that spanned the creek, allowing travel over King's Highway (now Route 49), a once major roadway for people traveling from Philadelphia to the southern shores.
Click on the picture to listen to our district transportation team read!
Day 22: Did you know… The Nail House Museum was once the location of the office for the Cumberland Nail and Iron Works. The factory had many buildings and operated from 1815 to 1899, during which time they produced up to 4 million nails per year! The non-profit group CHABA is currently working to restore the building.
Click on the picture to listen to Mrs. Wilchensky read the story!
This story was also read at the Bridgeton Public Library. The library's main section was built during the mid-1900s, but one section of the library, referred to as the "Bank Building," dates back to 1811. The George J. Woodruff Museum of Indian Artifacts is also located at the library.
Click on the pictures to listen to the story read in English or Spanish!
Day 21: Did you know… The Historic Broad Street Church was built in 1792 and is considered one of the best-preserved historic churches in New Jersey. Within the cemetery, you can find graves dating back to the Revolutionary War.
Click on the picture to listen to Ms. Fahber read the first chapter of Midnight Sun!
Day 20: Did you know… Bridgeton's Main Street Association is the oldest in the state. The association supports and promotes businesses in the area and declared the downtown area a Culinary Arts district. You can find various restaurants around town, new and old, including Big John's Pizza that has been located in Bridgeton since 1969.
Click on the picture to listen to Mr. Macchia read his story!
Weekend Reading: Did you know… Learning another language can sharpen your memory and increase your communication skills. Studies have also shown that students who learn two languages at an early age develop stronger literacy skills!
Please enjoy the following weekend stories from bilingual teachers Mrs. Morales and Mr. Howard.
Day 19: Did you know… In August of 1934, heavy rains caused the dams at Mary Elmer Lake and Sunset Lake to burst, flooding the city. It is known as the "Great Flood of 1934." The dam at Sunset Lake broke again in August of 2011 after two days of heavy rains. The rebuilding of the damage in 2011 cost over 5 million dollars!
Click on the picture to listen to Mrs. Albanese read her story!
Day 18: Did you know… Cumberland County is known as the "Garden Spot of the Garden State." Vegetables have always been so plentiful that there were 13 canneries established in Bridgeton from1860- 1890, such as Phillip J. Ritter Company that made ketchup and canned vegetables in Bridgeton for nearly a century.
Click on the picture to listen to Ms. Torres read her story!
Day 17: Did you know… On August 14, 1949, the City of Bridgeton honored local World War II veterans with a monument located at the front of Broad Street School. The memorial contains the names of youth that "gave their today, for our tomorrow."
Click on the picture to listen to Mr. Thrbak read his story!
Day 16: Did you know… The City of Bridgeton has over 1,000 acres of recreational land dedicated to parks, including walking and fitness trails! Another large portion of the town includes the Historic district with over 2,000 properties, the largest in New Jersey.
Click on the picture to listen to Mr. Zoyac read!
Day 15: Did you know… The Cohanzick Zoo was the FIRST zoo in New Jersey! It was established in 1934 with a herd of deer and is now home to hundreds of animals, including Tigers!
Click on the picture to listen to Mr. Dolente read his story!
Weekend Reading: Did you know... 1 in 3 high school graduates never read another book in their life after high schoolL One of our readers today, Ms. Robaina, is a Bridgeton High School alumni who not only kept reading but also wrote a children's book!
Click on the pictures below to listen to Mrs. Ordille, and Ms. Robaina read. Then grab a good book and enjoy your weekendJ
Day 12: Did you know… Morningside Park in Bridgeton is on the former site of Cumberland Nail and Iron Works. The City of Bridgeton purchased the 1,100 acres in the early 1900s after the factory shut down. The land is now home to many of the city's recreational activities, including Sunset Lake, the Zoo, and Splash Park.
Click on the picture to listen to Ms. Cintron read "¡Cuán lejos llegarás!"
Day 11: Did you know...Canoeing on the Raceway was popular as early as 1905. The location of the current canoe house was once known as the "Jersey Girl" Raceway Boathouse, then as the Bridgeton Pleasure Boat Company. Bridgeton City Park visitors could rent canoes well into the mid-1980s.
Click on the picture to listen to Mr. Devan Blackwell read!
Day 10: Did you know… The City of Bridgeton's first inhabitants were the Lenni-Lenape, followed by European settlers arriving in the late 1600s. The City of Bridgeton now has a population of over 24,000 people. Click here to read more about the history of Bridgeton's inhabitants.
Click on the picture to listen to Bridgeton Police Chief Gaimari read!
Day 9: Did you know…The Broad Street School is almost 100 years old! It originally served as the city's high school, then as a middle school. Today it is home to over 900 Kindergarten-8th grade students!
Click on the picture to listen to Mrs. Porch read!
Day 8: Did you know... The Cumberland County Superintendent of School's office is located behind the Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton. Bridgeton has been the seat of Cumberland County since 1748 when the town was called Cohansey Bridge.
Click on the picture to listen to our County Superintendent of Schools, Ms. White-Coursey read her story.
Weekend Reading! Did you know... Reading reduces stress! Reading as little as 6 minutes per day can slow your heart rate, loosen the tension in your muscles, and ease your mind. If you need a book, you can visit the library or access online books for kids with Tumblebooks!
Click on the pictures to listen to Mrs. Ramsey and Mrs. Linen do their weekend reading.
Day 5: Did you know... The Historic Bethel Othello has the distinction of being the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church in the State of New Jersey and was involved in the Underground Railroad. It is located just outside of Bridgeton.
Click on the picture to listen to Mrs. Douglas read her story.
Day 4: Did you know...Bridgeton was the first urban area in NJ to set up a public school system. In 1847, the Bridgeton Township Free Public School, a three-story frame structure with ten rooms, was erected on Bank Street. Currently, it is known as the Thomas C. Lane IV Administration Building.
Click on the pictures to listen to Dr. Merriweather and Dr. Ajayi read their stories.
Day 3: Did you know… the Johnson Reeves Playground has been a part of the Bridgeton Community for decades and was refurbished in 2015. It is named after resident, and business owner Johnson Reeves resided in Bridgeton throughout his life, from 1799-1860. Many of his descendants still live in the city.
Click on the picture to listen to Mr. Ferrara read Jorge el Curiosco.
Day 2: Did you know... Sunset Lake was once the home of Tumbling Dam Park, situated at the southeast corner of Sunset Lake in Bridgeton. The park was located on the shore of the lake and started out as a boat rental and pavilion area for picnics during the Victorian era.
Click on the picture to listen to Cumberland County Commissioner Director Mr. Derrella read at Sunset Lake.
Day 1: Did you know... Bridgeton City is 156 years old! You can find out more on the City of Bridgeton Website.
Click on the picture to listen to Dr. Miles read at the Welcome Center, home of the Office of Development & Planning.
This project was made possible by the hard work of the Ready, Set, Read Community Committee: Timothy Zoyac, Christina Mendolera, and Diana Cintron, and under the direction of Barbara Wilchensky, Director of Curriculum LAL/SS. Many of the readings were recorded by James Boner.