Community Organizations
Kiwanis Club of Bridgeville
The Kiwanis Club of Bridgeville was chartered in 1939 and has contributed thousands of man-hours and funds in an effort to provide for the needs of our children and less fortunate individuals. It also sponsors and supports various community service projects. Hence the Kiwanis International Motto, “SERVING THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD”, and our mission statement, “KIWANIS IS A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED TO CHANGING THE WORLD ONE CHILD AND ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME”.
The club’s activities are governed largely by this mission statement, to help make our community a better place to live, work and play for all of its citizens. We meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month in the Fellowship Hall of Union United Methodist Church in Bridgeville at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and a program.
Like us on Facebook Kiwanis Club of Bridgeville
Woodbridge High School Key Club
*sponsored by the Bridgeville Kiwanis Club
The Bridgeville Historical Society
The Bridgeville Historical Society was founded in 1976 by a group of individuals interested in preserving the history of the Bridgeville community.
The Society purchased and restored the first firehouse (1911) and made it into a small museum. Adjoining property was purchased for a small community park complete with a bandstand for summer concerts and activities.
Old Firehouse Museum open the first Sunday of each month (April through October) from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Our book, Bridgeville – A Community History of the Nineteenth Century was published in 1985.
With assistance from the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office, an historic district has been established in Bridgeville.
Our major fund-raisers are the “Christmas in Bridgeville” craft show (First Sat. in December) and a summer auction for members and guests. Individual and corporate donations are always appreciated.
New members are always welcome. Check out their website.
For more information:
Phone: 302-337-7600
Mail: PO Box 306
Bridgeville, DE 19933
Bridgeville Senior Center
The Bridgeville Senior Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide and maintain the highest quality of life and independence by developing and providing services that meet the continuing growing needs of the senior population in Bridgeville, DE and the surrounding area.
For more information on how to become a member please visit our website: Bridgeville Senior Center 414 Market St Bridgeville, DE • (302) 337-8771. Check out their Facebook page.
Bridgeville Public Library
The Bridgeville Public Library began in October, 1896 as the Bridgeville Tuesday Night Club which was organized as a literary society. They met on Tuesdays every week between October 1st and May 15th at the homes of different members in alphabetical order. At the first meeting there were eighteen members present. By 1917 the club had grown to ninety-one members.
In 1917 for five hundred dollars this group purchased the vacant Presbyterian Church built in 1866 on Market Street. In 1919, Mrs. Margaret Richards Cannon organized a circulating library in the Sunday school room of the building. Five hundred books were collected from the community to stock the shelves. The Bridgeville Tuesday Night Club’s efforts were the chief financial support for the library until 1937 when the Bridgeville Library qualified for its first state appropriation of one hundred and fifty dollars. Mrs. Cannon retired in 1959 and was succeeded by Mrs. Fay Williams. The old Bridgeville Public Library has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library remained at the Market Street location until August, 2009.
In 2005, under the leadership of the library’s current director, Ms. Karen Johnson, a community effort was launched to build a new library. Seed money and land provided by the developer of Heritage Shores along with funds raised through the efforts of the newly formed Friends of the Bridgeville Library (grants and fundraisers) was matched by community donations and aid from the state of Delaware. The old 1,200 square foot building was replaced by the new 13,500 square foot state of the art library at 600 South Cannon Street. The ribbon cutting took place on August 13, 2009.
As in the last century, the Bridgeville Public Library remains a progressive and active participant in the social and cultural life of Bridgeville and Western Sussex County.
For a full listing of our events and programs, please visit the website, Facebook page or the library.
Karen Johnson-Kemp, Library Director
Library Board of Trustees:
- Randolph Jones, President
- Jeanine Scott, Vice President
- Tom Connar, Trustee
- Roger Hovermale, Trustee
- Nadine Bravo, Trustee
For more information:
Phone: (302) 337-7401
Fax: (302) 337-3270.
Website: www.bridgevillelibrary.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/BridgevillePublicLibraryDE/
Hours of Service:
Monday & Friday- 10 AM-5PM
Tuesday-Thursday- 10AM-7PM
Saturday- 10AM-2PM
600 South Cannon Street
Bridgeville, DE 19933
Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company
On December 14th, 1909, a meeting was held in the Opera House by the citizens of Bridgeville to organize a fire company and resulted in the appointing of Ira Lewis, William E. Dimes, and Howard E. Hardesty to secure the necessary membership.
Then on December 17th, 1909, a second meeting was held at the Opera House and officers were elected. The first President was Cornelius P. Swain; Vice President, George E. Miller; Secretary, Harry L. Cannon; Treasurer, Ira Lewis. The first Fire Chief was Harry W. Viven; Assistant Fire Chief, John Coverdale; Foreman #1, James W. Layton and Foreman #2 was William E. Dimes.
Thereafter, the chair designated Harry L. Cannon, Harry C. Layton, and William P. Short in becoming an organized By-Law Committee to facilitate a statute of documentations for the Company to follow. And so it was, on December 21st, 1909, the first set of Company By-Laws was adopted. Also integrated, was the pronouncement in holding the annual fire company meeting in January and its regular meetings to be held on the first Monday evening of each month.
The first pieces of equipment purchased were lanterns and ladders in February of 1910. In order to supplement the needs in additional equipment, the Company organized fundraising events. One of the first events was a bazaar that was held on March 7th, 1910 and profiting at $610.50.
On April 15, 1910, Fire Chief Harry W. Viven was called for the first fire drill.
Later that fall (October 15, 1910), a committee was appointed to purchase a lot and get estimates on a suitable building to assemble their first fire station.
November 17th, 1910, the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company Inc. was incorporated. On December 29th, 1910, the building committee submitted plans and proceeded to build their very first fire station at the cost of $1,100. Situated on Williams Street and Market Street, the station now known as the “Old Firehouse,” operates as a civic museum administrated by the Bridgeville Historical Society.
For more information:
EMERGENCIES
DIAL 9-1-1
www.bridgeville72.com
Phone: 302-337-7272
Mail: PO Box 727
311 Market Street
Bridgeville, DE 19933
Local Schools
Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center Grades PK-2
400 Governors Avenue
Greenwood, DE 19950
(302) 349-4539
Phillis Wheatley Elementary School Grades 3-5
48 Church Street
Bridgeville, DE 19933
(302) 337-3469
Woodbridge Middle School Grades 6-8
307 Laws Street
Bridgeville, DE 19933
(302) 337-8289
Woodbridge High School Grades 9-12
14712 Woodbridge Road
Greenwood, DE 19950
(302) 232-3333
Woodbridge School District
(302) 337-7990
www.wsd.k12.de.us
Opportunities for higher education can be found as close as 10 miles from Bridgeville at Delaware Technical and Community College, University of Delaware and Wilmington College.
