To several members of the community, preserving and researching the history of Bridesburg was a fascinating and important project to undertake.  Because of this interest, a group of local residents, led by Dave Dorman, decided to form the Bridesburg Historical Society.  The first meeting was held at historical Tetonka Hall in December 1989 and attended by Donald and Edna Rosenberg, Vi Chalfont, Robert Chalfont, Richard Kratowicz, Howard and Theresa Pyott, Tom Pomanger and Helen Anderson.  Meetings were moved to the Civic Association about a year later, because of the difficulty of attaining entrance to the building due to high steps.

Like most groups just beginning, the society had growing pains, but despite the setbacks the members moved on diligently, doing research, conducting educational projects and played an active role in hosting Bridesburg Historical Pride Week on alternate years.

Since its founding, the Society has been collecting information, photographs and memorabilia of Bridesburg’s past.  Historic information has been collected in documented form and by way of oral information from senior citizens with a lifetime in the community.  Photographs of long gone and few still existing landmarks have been collected, and memorabilia like old clothing, baby shoes, toys and newspapers have been contributed by citizens who searched old photo albums and attic trunks and shared them with society.

The collection captures the heritage of Bridesburg in its history and culture.  As the Society did not have a permanent facility in which the collection could be kept safely, it was being stored with several current and former members.  Not being gathered in a single location, it could not be readily available to the community, was not inventoried or catalogued, and it was likely that with the passing of time, the material would become scattered or lost.

To remedy this situation, the Society’s Board of Directors put together a plan to establish a permanent home for the Society; one that would include space for archive storage, a small reference library, a memorabilia display, and space for educational presentations and meetings.

Finding a building that was available and fell within the means of the Society, which operates largely on membership fees and donations, was not a simple task.  Many prospective locations were examined, each one found not to be available or to be cost prohibitive.

A chance conversation between employee of Rohm and Hass and Fred Siegle, Society president, turned out to a window of opportunity.  The employee, Dennis Hengstler, suggested the vacant guardhouse at Richmond and Brill Streets.  Graciously, he mentioned the Society’s need to the then Plant Manager, Barry Crawford who had been looking to find a meaningful use of the building.  A meeting was arranged to discuss the possibilities, and it was immediately recognized as a viable project with benefits for both parties.  There were some drawbacks however; as the building has been vacant for a considerable time and major renovations were needed.  Also, the Society was neither incorporated nor listed as an official non-profit organization.  But these things were not monumental. 

Crawford discussed the prospect with several corporate managers and it was warmly received.  Syd Havely, Senior Communications Manager had the task of selling the idea to other corporate managers and the Rohm and Haas Legal Department, who would prepare a lease agreement.

At the same time, the Society processed the necessary paperwork to become incorporated and recognized as a non-profit organization.  This was a long and arduous process.  The Society finally became incorporated in November 2000, and finally eight months later, received their non-profit status from the IRS. 

With approval from the Rohm and Haas Company to proceed and the Society being an official non-profit organization, the project got underway.  In mid April 2001, a project team was formed consisting of Barry Crawford, Dana Graves (newly appointed Plant Manager upon Crawford’s promotion) Bob O’Brian, Bob Lewis and Tom Fowler, who was designated project coordinator.  Fowler would be responsible for coordinating all renovation activities with the JJ White Company, the Rohm and Haas on-site contactor.

Charles Walker and several other employees of the JJ White Company performed the renovation work.  Demolition of the interior building included removing the entrance turnstiles, unneeded partitions, piping and the remnants of the carpeting from a former office area.  The work to build the new interior could now begin.  New walls were put in place giving plenty of space for mounting historical displays.  The rest room was altered to allow for handicapped use at the main entrance to the building.  The railing used around the entrance ramp was constructed from piping salvaged from the old Bridge Street Wharf.  A new suspended ceiling was put in place along with new lighting fixtures with adjustable switching to allow for both highly lit displays and for the semi-darkness needed for slide and film projection.  Next came the installation of carpeting in the main area and tile in the rest room and kitchen area.  Everything was coming together!

Renovations were finally completed in mid-July 2001, whereupon it was time to prepare exhibits for a grand opening to take place as part of the Bridesburg Pride Week celebration in the new BRIDESBURG HERITAGE CENTER.  With the equipment donated by the Retired Employees Organization, the building was ready for occupancy and on July 16, 2001 the lease agreement between Rohm and Haas Company and the Bridesburg Historical Society was signed.

The Bridesburg Historical Society has a new home!

Captions (left to right)
The new Bridesburg Heritage Center

Dana Graves, left, Plant Manager and Fred Siegle, president of the Historical Society, make it official; the deed is signed.

As seen in the Bridesburg Bulletin October 2001