USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 53
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Henry B. Packard. John Filoon.
Roland Harris.
Everett E. Reynolds.
William M. Shedd.
C. H. Dunham, jr.
O. B. Reynolds.
J. R. Perkins.
William Perry.
B. L. Clark.
Peter F. Hollywood.
Samuel MeLauthlin.
Edwin H. Blake.
I. H. Leavitt.
A. P. Hazard.
James Poyntz.
Phillip W. Cornwell.
Edward E. Bennett.
IN SENATE, Feb. 27, 1874.
I. L. Spooner.
Roland Harris.
(. F. Drake. I. W. Shaw.
569
BROCKTON AS A TOWN.
lohn W. Hayward.
John Wilde.
IS. A Trask
lohn 1 .. Hollis.
Daniel H. Donnelly.
C. H. Phillips.
Benjamin P. Davis.
lohn Sullivan.
AAlpheus Holmes.
E. II. loslyu.
Thomas C. Perkins.
Bernard Saxton.
lames C. Show.
Patrick Fitzgerald.
(". W. Phillips.
Joseph S. Smith.
B. I. Jones.
William Verry.
IS. Ellis Packard. William I. Hodges.
Isaac P. Osborne.
T. Il. Newell.
(. A. Littlefield.
N. Chesman.
F. A. Sargent.
C. B. Rounds.
R. II. Williams.
George Gurney.
J. L. Spooner.
Seth M. Hall.
Michael Lynch.
Daniel Keough.
Nahun Reynolds.
C. A. Hayward.
6. F. Drake.
IS. P. Richmond.
John Battles.
A. H. Holbrook.
Austin F. Gurney.
Sidney Perkins.
II. Shaw.
Samuel Atherton.
J. C. Snell.
F. B. Keith.
Henry French. John Sexten.
Stillman Billings.
J. Lowell Freuch. 1ª. W. Pope.
George W. Simmons.
N. W. Bradford.
Joseph Reynolds.
G. C. Reynolds.
Renel Richmond.
William Mulready.
Oliver Reynolds.
Michael Casey.
F. E. French.
Cornelins Creedan.
William Vericker.
H. C. Annis.
George K. Borden.
Oscar Dardanelle.
After a hearing in the matter, during which the above petitions were presented. and after much controversy, the result was as follows :
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 13, 1874.
The Committee on Towns, to whom was committed the petition of the selectmen of North Bridgewater that the corporate name of said town may be changed from North Bridgewater to Brockton; and the petition of C. C. Bixby and 1,021 others, of Isaac Kingman and 33 others, and of George H. Gurney and 102 others, in aid of said peti- tion of the selectmen ; and also the petition of F. A. Thayer and 314 others, for a change of the name of North Bridgewater to Allerton; together with the remonstrance of Alpheus Gurney, and 165 others, of Lyman Clark and 162 others, against the change of the name of North Bridgewater to Brockton, have duly considered the same and report the accompanying Bill.
Per order, S. S. GINNODO.
CHAPTER cxiii. of the Acts of 1874.
AN ACT to authorize the Town of North Bridgewater to change its Nanie. Be it enacted, &c., as follows :
SECT. 1. The town of North Bridgewater may take the name of Brockton, Allerton, or Avon.
SECT. 2. A special meeting of the legal voters of said town shall be held on the first . Tuesday of May of the current year, for the purpose of determining which of said three names shall be the name of said town. The voting shall be by ballot, and each voter may vote for one of said names only, and any ballot having thereon any other name or
72
William T. Robinson.
Otis C. Redding.
1 .. C. Hall.
AAsa W. Tinkham.
570
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
more than one of said names shall not be counted. The polls shall be opened at nine o'clock in the forenoon of said day, and shall be closed at seven o'clock in the afternoon of said day.
Skor. 3. It shall be the duty of the selectmen of said town to certify and return, as soon as may be, the number of ballots in favor of each of said three names to the sec- retary of the Commonwealth, who shall immediately issue and publish his certificate, declaring the name which shall be found to have the most ballots in its favor to have been adopted by said town, and the same shall thereupon become and be the name of said town.
SECT. 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 27, 1874.
Passed to be enacted.
JOHN E. SANFORD, Speaker. IN SENATE, March 28, 1874. GEORGE B. LORING, President. WM. B. Washburn.
Passed to be enacted.
Approved. March 28, 1874.
NORTH BRIDGEWATER, May 5, 1874. To the Honorable Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
The undersigned Selectmen of North Bridgewater hereby certify that in accordance with a recent Act of the Legislature a town meeting was held on this fifth day of May, 1874, for the purpose of choosing either " Brockton," "Allerton," or "Avon" as the future name of the town, their choice being by ballot. And we further certify that the whole number of ballots thrown at said meeting for that purpose was 1491. Of this number, ten hundred and eighty (1080) were for "Brockton," and four hundred and eleven (411) were for " Avon."
HENRY A. FORD, ISAAC KINGMAN, WELCOME H. WALES, Selectmen of North Bridgewater.
Filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Feb. 6, 1874.
In accordance with the act above mentioned, on the 6th day of May, 1874, the secretary issued his proclamation declaring "Brockton " to have been chosen by the town, as follows :-
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT, BOSTON, May 6, 1874.
To Whom it May Concern :
Whereas, by an Act of our Legislature, entitled, " An Act to authorize the Town of North Bridgewater to change its name," approved by the Governor, March 28, 1874, it is enacted in the first section, that the "Town of North Bridgewater may take the
571
BROCKTON AS A TOWN.
name of Brockton, Allerton, or Avon," the name to be determined at a special meeting of the legal voters of said town, to be held on the first Tuesday of May of the current year, for the purpose of determining which of said three names shall be the name of said town." The selectmen of said town to certify and return, as soon as may be, the number of ballots iu favor of each of said three names to the Secretary of the Common- wealth, who shall immediately issue and publish his certificate, declaring the name which shall be found to have the most ballots in its favor to have been adopted by the said town, the same thereupon to become and be the name of said town.
Now, therefore, having received from the Selectmen of North Bridgewater, a return, properly attested, of the doings of the inhabitants at a mecting of said town, called for the purpose before stated, on the fifth day of May, 1874, setting forth that the whole number of ballots thrown at said meeting for that purpose was fourteen hun- dred and ninety-one (1491). Of this number, ten hundred and eighty (1080) were for Brockton, and four hundred and eleven (411) were for Avon.
I do therefore hereby certify that the name of Broekton has been adopted by said town.
OLIVER WARNER, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
The following shows the feeling of the citizens, of the people of the new town, upon the adoption of the name of Brockton :
BROCKTON, May 6, 1874.
The object which has been the occasion of so much labor and effort for years is at last accomplished, and to-day for the first time in our his- tory we become distinct in name as well as in our municipal relations from all other towns in the Commonwealth. Aside from the practical benefits which must surely result to us in our postal, express, telegraph, railroad, and other public service, there is a feeling of satisfaction that any just and honorable distinction we may be able to win as a town is not to be given to others, however close may be the ties which bind us to them as sister and more than sister towns. Earning our prosperity by hard knocks, achieving whatever position we have attained to as a town less by any streak of good luck than by legitimate industry and liberal enterprise, it is not strange that our people are sensitive respect- ing their just claims for recognition, and have viewed with more or less dissatisfaction the tendency of the world at large to distribute our hon- ors among others. In this connection we would reiterate the sentiment of a most friendly and fraternal feeling for the old Bridgewater family. Although bearing a new name, we desire in heart and in all the old town associations to be reckoned one of their number still. They will always be to us different from the other towns of the Commonwealth. The
572
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
name is one we shall ever delight to honor, and the joint heritage of the past, the history and associations of the old town, we shall cherish as among our most sacred possessions. Like a newly wedded wife, we shall still claim a right to the old homestead and a place in the affec. tions of those whose name and honorable renown we have shared so long.
As for ourselves, while rejoicing in the prospect of a relief from much that has proved a source of inconvenience and of public annoyance, we cannot repress a feeling of regret in parting with the old name. Under it the town has existed for more than half a century, and to a large pro- portion of its native born citizens it is the only town name they have ever known as their own. Around it cluster only pleasant memories, and were it possible to retain it, and at the same time find exemption from the evils which seem inseparably attached to it when borne by three other towns, no consideration would have induced us to relinquish it for another. As it is, tender sentiment and practical necessity have met in conflict, and the latter has won.
The activity and earnestness displayed during the past fortnight pre- liminary to the final vote which settled the town name, has been hardly less marked and fervid than that attending some of our most warmly contested political campaigns. Frequent meetings were held by the supporters of Brockton and Avon (Allerton having for some singular cause dropped entirely out of sight), and the details of action carefully planned. The first open movement came from the Avonians, who on Thursday morning issued a circular setting forth the advantages of their favorite name and commending it to the "candid consideration " of the voters of the town. The circular was signed by about a hundred names, a goodly portion of them representing some of our most highly re- spected citizens. As a counter- irritant the Brockton men, at precisely twelve o'clock the same day, made a very pretty and effective demon- stration by hanging out a large number of flags in front of their places of business, bearing the name of their choice. The extent of this dis- play gave to the street a decidedly holiday look, and was especially sig- nificant as showing the degree of unanimity on the part of our business men in their desire for the name "Brockton." The next morning four or five large campaign flags took their old places across the streets, but
573
BROCKTON AS A TOWN.
instead of the old legends "Grant & Wilson," "Greeley & Brown," were displayed the names " Brockton " and " Avon " in conspicuous let- ters. On Friday the Brocktonians came out with a circular, which is generally conceded to have been the heaviest gun in the campaign, con- taining as it did a statement over the signatures of a large number of prominent postmasters in New England showing the mischievous effects in the postal service arising from the reduplication of town names in the country, and expressing the earnest hope that so important a town as ours would not take so common a name as Avon. The circular bore the names of fully four-fifths of our business men, and was endorsed by over two hundred other citizens, for whose signatures there was no room on the paper.
Everything remained quiet over Sunday, but on Monday evening there was a " gathering of the clans," and with music, torches, banners and transparencies one of the finest parades, considering its impromptu character, was given ever witnessed in our streets. B. O. Caldwell acted as chief marshal, and in the line were between four and five hundred torches, followed by a cavalcade of nearly a hundred horsemen, together with one or two large wagons and many other carriages stretching far to the rear. The services of both bands were brought into requisition, and thousands came out to witness the display. The procession formed on East Elm street, and after taking a tour as far north as Elliot moved through Main street to Campello, many buildings on the route being brilliantly illuminated. Of the private displays we cannot speak in de- tail. Almost every building through the business section of the street, together with a large number of residences, manifested the general en- thusiam. The exceptionably fine display, although of " Avon " tenden- cies made by C. L. Hauthaway on Montello street is worthy of especial mention. The shoe factory of Howard M. Reynolds, at Campello, made the best show on the route, every window in its four stories being bril- liantly lighted with candles, rendering it a conspicuous object in the darkness from every quarter. A number of residences in this section of the town were very prettily illuminated, and attracted much attention. Of the mottoes and transparencies shown in the procession and along the route we have not space to particularize ; it is sufficient to say that each had their point and all were heartily appreciated. It was midnight
574
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
before the street became quiet, and some later than that before the lights were all out.
On Tuesday morning at half-past eight the scene of action was trans- ferred to Music Hall, where the final decision was to be rendered through the ballot box The warrant was read by the clerk, and a ballot for moderator showed eighty-two votes for A. T. Jones, and none in oppo- sition. In response to a call from the meeting the special act of the Legislature, giving authority to the town to change its name, was read by the clerk, and at precisely nine o'clock the polls were opened. Dr. Abel Washburn Kingman led off for Brockton by depositing the first ballot. Everybody seemed in the best of humor, all save a few very enthusiastic Avonians, appearing to regard it as a foregone conclusion that Brockton was the coming name, as, indeed, the preponderance of the colored ballot seemed from the outset to indicate. Outside the hall it looked like a gala-day. Most of the shops and factories were closed to give the workmen opportunity to vote, and with the throngs upon the sidewalks and the gay colors which predominated on every hand, one would have thought that a full blossomed Fourth of July had sud- denly dropped into the spring calendar. About the middle of the fore- noon quite a sensation was created by the appearance upon the street of a procession of workmen from the establishments of Snell & Ather- ton, Warren A. Howard, Charles Howard & Co., J. W. Packard, Orr & Sears, D. S. Howard & Co, and Porter & Packard, escorted by two bands made up from their own numbers, with Capt. F. P. Holmes as drum major, who to the number of 256 marched into the hall amid many demonstrations, giving a nearly solid vote for Brockton. Cam- pello sent up strong representations at various times through the day, the larger part being of kindred faith, while from the outer sections of the town goodly numbers appeared, attesting the general interest of all classes in the question at issue. Notwithstanding the evident tendency of the public tide, the friends of Avon stuck bravely to their ticket, and when about three o'clock in the afternoon the " Avon Reserve," in the person of H. A. Brett, formed in front of Packard's block, and to the music of fife and drum, aided by Martland's skillful efforts on a tin trumpet, proceeded in a body to the polls, it was found that all the humor of the campaign had not been lost on the part of all the Avon
-- --
575
BROCKTON AS A TOWN.
men, even in the prospect of a coming defeat. As the hour approached for the closing of the polls, the public interest became more intense, and large numbers gathered to hear the result. The general prediction had fixed it at " two to one " in favor of Brockton, and when it was an- nounced that the whole vote lacked but nine of a round 1, 500, and that of these Brockton had received 1080, and Avon 411, there was an out- burst of cheers and huzzahs which it would be difficult to describe. The general feeling of satisfaction that the object for which there had been so long an effort-the rechristening of the town with a new and distinct name-was at last accomplished, excited congratulations on every hand, the church bells and the " old anvil " giving utterance to the general joy, which, as the darkness came, found still further expression in music, fireworks and illuminations. The old name, honored and beloved by all, yet having accomplished its mission, had gone into history, and the new name with a rich and auspicious heritage had been crowned as its glad successor.
The pleasantest, and in many respects the crowning feature of the campaign, was a complimentary supper given on Tuesday evening in honor of the rechristening of Washburn's hotel as the " Brockton House," at which about one hundred of the business men and other citizens of the town, embracing those who had borne a prominent part both as Brocktonians or Avonians, were invited. The company assembled at nine o'clock, and after a brief opportunity for expressing the congrat- ulations of the hour, sat down to the well-laden tables. C. C. Bixby acted as master of ceremonies, and after tendering the cordial welcome of the host, and expressing in a humorous yet felicitous manner the hope that there would be a general burying of the hatchet under the heaps of the good things provided, called upon Rev. T. M. House to invoke the Divine blessing. The next half hour was spent in a most agreeable discussion of the subject immediately in hand, all arriving in due time to the unanimous conclusion that mine host Washburn holds no second place in his ability to provide for the full satisfaction of his guests. At the close of the repast Martland's Brockton Band regaled the company with a choice selection of music, and then Mr. Bixby, after remarking that the affair was altogether impromptu, and that nothing elaborate was expected in what was yet to come, in a variety of toasts called up
576
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Mr. H. A. Ford to respond in behalf of the fathers of the town of Brock- ton, Rev. Messrs. McNeille, Eastwood and House, and C. W. Sumner, esq., to respond for the clerical and legal professions, B R. Clapp to ex- press the sentiment of an Avonian, Edward Parker, jr., to speak for edu - cation, A. P. Hazard to tell a story, A. T. Jones to speak for the press, C. Dyer, jr., of Boston, to respond for " Simon Pure," H. W. Robinson for the mercantile interests of the town, C. F. Porter for its manufactur- ing interests, and Alfred Laws for the assurance of its future growth and prosperity. W. R. Bowen responded to sentiment in the following humorous poem, which was heartily appreciated by the company.
I thought it would be just my luck here to- night,
To have some one give me a terrible fright By trotting me out to fill out a gap
While the rest of you settled yourselves for a nap;
So, lest I should flatten all out at this time,
I've writ a few words in the form of a rhyme.
We've had a good, square, stand up fight to-day ;
Each man had his choice to vote either way ;
"Avon " has shouted, and " Brockton " re- plied,
To carry their point have cach their best tried ;
Have shot at each other their best shafts of wit,
And now and then made a tremendous good hit, --
It's all over now, and somebody's won ; So, since all the fighting is over and done, Let's shake hands all round, as friends good and true,
Disappointment's sour cud in silence to chew,
Perambulate on in the same beaten path, Not letting the sun go down on our wrath ;
Make the battle just fought a thing of the past, The name we have won twice as big as the last.
No one should object to a fight that is fair,
To a punch in the ribs, if its done on the square,
And if one has got a weak spot on his frame,
Be sure his opponent will find out the same,
His foibles, his weaknesses, temper and like,
And the more one gets mad, the harder they strike .-
The man who keeps cool, and swallows the joke,
Though it goes down so hard as almost to choke ;
Who takes a home thrust with the same honest grace
That he pokes the same joke in his next neighbor's face ;
Who when a sharp hit should chance to draw blood,
Pulls his cloak round the wound, but never throws mud ;
Who swallows defeat as he swallows his dinner,
577
BROCKTON AS A TOWN.
Owns up he is licked, and shakes hands with the winner;
He's the wise politician, honest and true, One we all love to meet, as we do each of you.
Now the battle is over, the best we can do Is to each do his best to put the town through
In numbers and business, until we have grown
To be a big city, one everywhere known The synonyin of all that is noble and grand,
The pluckiest city there is in the land ;
Whose sons and whose danghters wher- ever they roam,
Shall point to with pride as their birth- place or home.
I give as a toast -- " The city to be ; May her glory extend from sea to sea."
Hon. H. H. Packard was also called up. After singing Auld Lang Syne, led by the band, the company separated with cheers for the host, and in response to the sentiment offered by R. H. Kimball-" North Bridgewater, our dear and honored mother. May she rest in peace !" As an occasion for coming together of citizens in forgetfulness of the momentary heats and acerbities which may have been awakened in the recent campaign, for recalling the fact that our interests in the welfare of the town are identical, for pledging the mutual assistance of each in the efforts of all to build up and strengthen the prosperity of the place, and to give to whatever name it shall bear a worthy character and an honorable reputation, it proved a complete and gratifying success. To Mr. Washburn is due the happy conception of the idea and the ready co- operation of all who aided in carrying it into effect fully evinced the general desire to clasp hands and to start forward again in unity and in peace .- Gazette.
The following lines published during the exciting times, while a new name for the old town was sought, are inserted as appropriate to that day.
NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
My dear old home farewell !- farewell ! I've loved thy name,-shall love it still ; None other can such mem'ries tell, Or with such pleasing raptures thrill, As thee, my natal North Bridgewater.
My fathers and my grandsires sleep Beneath thy consecrated sod ; 73
Their mem'ry, and thy name I'll keep As sacred as the truth of God,
My dear and honored North Bridge- water
Though distant far from thee I dwell, How sweetly sounds thy sacred name ; I always love thy fame to tell,
578
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
And when I'm asked from whence I came
I'm proud to say, from North Bridge- water.
No more that loved and ancient name, Sweet mem'ries of the past shall wake;
Though still the place may be the same, The cherished name we must forsake,
So fare thee well, dear North Bridge- water.
MRS. L. P. GURNEY. E. Corinth, Me., May 12, 1874.
FAREWELL TO NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
And must the dear name perish from the earth ;
That name, with all the tuneful past allied ?
Alı, quickly turns the heart from sound of mirth,
And mourns in secret, as though one had died !
Yes! changed to others, but unchanged to me ;
Thy children love that honored name too well,
Baptized with it in tears, in cloud and sea, What sacred recollections with it dwell !
The years are sweeping on -- the end will come-
My days are clouded with autumnal skies,
Yet deep within the heart, my childhood's home,
Transfigured in its summer beauty lies ; And pray I that it thus may ever be,
Though like the past, the future may be wrung
With silent sorrow, -thou wilt keep for me, Thy lilies ever fair -thy roses ever young.
And thou, oh Brockton, wilt thou faith- ful be,
To these, thy new espousals ? Hold in solemn trust
All that the sorrows of humanity
Have left so sacred ? Keep the pilgrim pride
Honest and pure ; nor ever turn aside
From friendship with high truth? so shall thou be,
Ever, Old Plymouth's best and fairest child,
And all who honor her, shall honor thee !
So all is well. Commerce must have her dues,
And all their tribute pay, to wealth and power;
And I must not too selfishly refuse
My humble greeting in thy triumph hour.
All joy go with thee,-take the friendly hand,
With silent blessings, more than words can tell,
With all the calmness at my poor com- mand ; Sweet mother of my youth, -farewell ! -farewell !
SUSAN WHITMAN COE.
Oakfield, N. Y., June 10, 1874.
NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
BY GEORGE H. FULLERTON, EsQ.
Ne'er sounded sweeter name than thine, One more beloved to our ears,
The memories of many years. Hallowed by thee, O sacred name!
Richly resounding till entwine
579
STATISTICAL.
Bright visions of the ages past Reflected from thine ancient fame, In colors beautiful, are cast, Delighting all who love thy name. Glad homage to that English town Each lover of our town so fair
Will freely give, for her renown And prestige great were ours to share. The time has come to say " Farewell "- Each heart will oft thy beauty tell, Regarding thee fore'er the same.
CHAPTER XXVII.
STATISTICAL.
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