"Hats Off to Charlie!"
Charles C. Bridge, longtime resident of Dingman Township, shared a vision with his wife, Florence, and mother Cornelia, that the family property should remain intact and protected for future generations to enjoy. Determined to make this vision a reality, Charlie first placed a Conservation Easement on the 300-acre tract through the North American Lands Trust, and then donated the property to Dingman Township in August of 2007. After Charlie's death in December 2008, the Bridge Family's generosity continued through the bequest of substantial funds from Charlie's and his late wife Florence's estates to assist the Township with the development and maintenance of public access to the property.
While the financial value of Charlie's donation is easily several million dollars, it is the enjoyment of the natural features of the property — primarily the woodlands, meadows, viewsheds and wildlife — that Charlie, his mother, and wife wanted to share with generations to come.
Site History
Charlie's grandparents, Charles and Mary (Stark) Bridge, lived at the present-day address of 600 Sawkill Road in Dingman Township, beginning in 1874, and which is located in the current Southern Parcel of the Bridge Preserve. Their residence also served as the post office for "Sawkill Village" with grandfather Charles appointed as postmaster in 1895. The "Sawkill School," a one-room schoolhouse, was located on Route 6 next to the maintenance entrance to the Northern Parcel of the Bridge Preserve.
The Bridge farmstead continued with Charlie's parents, Charles P. and Cornelia Bridge, and then with Charlie and his wife Florence. Through the years the Bridges have served as tax collector, constable, and county auditor. "Our" Charlie was one of the original members of the Dingman Township Planning Commission formed in 1962, and had a popular gas station on Route 6 near the intersection of Sawkill Road for many years.
On behalf of Charlie and the entire Bridge family, we hope you enjoy the beauty and trails of the Bridge Nature Preserve. We also ask that you honor and respect their generosity by "paying it forward" and leaving the Preserve as pristine as it was when Charlie gave it to us all.
Dingman Township Board of Supervisors
Charles C. Bridge, longtime resident of Dingman Township, shared a vision with his wife, Florence, and mother Cornelia, that the family property should remain intact and protected for future generations to enjoy. Determined to make this vision a reality, Charlie first placed a Conservation Easement on the 300-acre tract through the North American Lands Trust, and then donated the property to Dingman Township in August of 2007. After Charlie's death in December 2008, the Bridge Family's generosity continued through the bequest of substantial funds from Charlie's and his late wife Florence's estates to assist the Township with the development and maintenance of public access to the property.
While the financial value of Charlie's donation is easily several million dollars, it is the enjoyment of the natural features of the property — primarily the woodlands, meadows, viewsheds and wildlife — that Charlie, his mother, and wife wanted to share with generations to come.
Site History
Charlie's grandparents, Charles and Mary (Stark) Bridge, lived at the present-day address of 600 Sawkill Road in Dingman Township, beginning in 1874, and which is located in the current Southern Parcel of the Bridge Preserve. Their residence also served as the post office for "Sawkill Village" with grandfather Charles appointed as postmaster in 1895. The "Sawkill School," a one-room schoolhouse, was located on Route 6 next to the maintenance entrance to the Northern Parcel of the Bridge Preserve.
The Bridge farmstead continued with Charlie's parents, Charles P. and Cornelia Bridge, and then with Charlie and his wife Florence. Through the years the Bridges have served as tax collector, constable, and county auditor. "Our" Charlie was one of the original members of the Dingman Township Planning Commission formed in 1962, and had a popular gas station on Route 6 near the intersection of Sawkill Road for many years.
On behalf of Charlie and the entire Bridge family, we hope you enjoy the beauty and trails of the Bridge Nature Preserve. We also ask that you honor and respect their generosity by "paying it forward" and leaving the Preserve as pristine as it was when Charlie gave it to us all.
Dingman Township Board of Supervisors
