USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 59
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1866, October 25. Marcus S. Baker, of Campello, fatally injured while shackling cars at South Braintree.
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MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
1867, January. The well known private school known as Mrs. Jones's School, closed after forty - six years of constant and earnest effort of the teacher to educate the young minds. The closing of this depart- ment of education will be exceedingly regretted, and many is the one in the old town who recalls their experience at this institution of learn- ing with pleasure and pride.
1867, January 17. Great snow storm, blocking up railroads and high- ways, and shutting off all communication with other places for several days.
1867, February 9. Heavy freshet, doing a large amount of damage.
1867, March 5. Organization of the Young Men's Christian Associ- ation.
1867, April 8. Dedication of the rooms of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association.
1867. April 23. Torch light demonstration in honor of the new street lamps.
1867, August 7. The old "Sprague school house," which was after- ward converted into a residence, was struck by lightning in the recent severe tempest.
1867, August 13. Thomas J. Gurney, the well-known teacher of music for many years, was severely kicked by a horse, causing a con- tusion of the thigh.
1867, August 16. Porter's line of omnibuses (Brockton to Campel- lo), discontinued for want of patronage.
1867, September 6. Death of Bela Keith, esq., formerly of the Board of Selectinen.
1867, September 12. Child of Dennis Leary run over and killed.
1868, September 21. Opening of the public library.
1867, October 12. John McClue killed on railroad.
1867, November 19. Opening of the new Masonic Hall in King- man's block.
1867, December 17. Death of Rufus L. Thacher, esq., formerly one of the Board of Selectmen.
1868, March. Rufus P. Kingman sold his interest in the clothing business to Messrs. Embert Howard and Benjamin O. Caldwell, who have ever since been successful merchants in that line of goods.
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
1868. The property of the late William Perry, east of the railroad, was sold at auction by George A. Wheeler, for the executors, Noah Chesman and Ira Copeland. The purchasers were George A. Wheeler, who purchased the foundry building and lot, the other purchasers were Dr. Fearing, S. J. Gruver, W. De Costa, Herbert L. Hayden, J. P. Morse, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Lyons, Thomas Gegan, D. H. Blanchard, and the auctioneer. Thus the last land belonging to the Perry estate passed into other hands.
1869, February 25. Edwin Keith, of Campello, was presented with a silver pitcher and salver from his employees, as a token of regard for their employer, well deserved.
1869, May I. Elmer W. Holmes will have a business interest with A. T. Jones in the Gazette, as publisher and editor on and after this date.
1869, November I. A little daughter of John Kendall on Pleasant street fell into a pail of hot water, and was so badly scalded that she died shortly after.
1870 October 22. Mrs. Michael O'Neil was found dead in her home, cause heart failure.
1871, February. The Franklin Ames estate, north of the Porter Church, passed into the hands of Charles C. Field.
1871, March. Charles Cole put a line of public carriages on the road between Campello and Brockton, for the benefit of the numerous workmen that pass to and fro daily. He proposes to run six or seven trips a day.
1871, March 6. Frank Packard, a young man in the employ of Howard Clark & Co., had his hand badly lacerated by a circular saw, losing two fingers.
1871, March 6. Standish House at Factory Village, erected by Chandler Sprague, was christened by the adoption of the above name. A sumptuous repast and a dance were among the principal events of the occasion.
1871, April. Ground broken for brick block for Jonas R. Perkins, esq., on the site of the residence of Rev. Paul Couch, corner of Main and Green streets. Also another for a brick block, corner of Main and East Elm street, by Henry L. Bryant.
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MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
1871, May. A slate quarry has been discovered in the Snow neigh- borhood, but how good it may prove to be, remains to be seen.
1871. Rufus C. Kimball purchased in May, 1871, the store former- ly occupied by the late Benjamin R. Clapp, near the corner of Main and Centre streets, and known as the hat manufactory of Ellis J. Mor- ton.
1871, June 29. Preparations are being made for a new brick block of buildings on the corner of Main and Centre streets, by Lyman Clark.
1871. The old Keith burying ground, on the east side of Main street in Campello, was deeded to the South Congregational Church, in July, 1871, and has since been given up.
1871, August 3. The new village lots surveyed and named Hunt- ington Heights offered at auction sale to-day.
1871, August. Extensive improvements were made in Centre street, east of the railroad crossing, making it one of the best in the town.
1871, August 3. Reunion of the Hunt Academy was held to-day at the academy at the close of the fifth year, the principal exercises be- ing in Baker & Kingman's Hall. There were present two hundred and fourteen, composed mostly of young ladies. Mr. S. D. Hunt was president of the Association ; Heman Packard De Forest, vice-presi- dent ; John Goddard, secretary ; J. P. Apthorp, historian.
1871, September 10. Captain Ezekiel Packard, while at work in the steam mill of Howard Clark & Co., received a severe contusion in the groin, fracturing the hip bone.
1871. Preston B. Keith, Esq , erected a substantial brick block for stores, hall, etc., at the corner of Main and Market streets, Campello, October, 1871. It is three stories in height, and is a valuable acquisi- tion to that portion of the city. It is known as the Kingman Block, in honor of the late Josiah W. Kingman, and was the former location of a furniture warehouse.
1871, October. The name of Clark's Block appears in the new building near Centre street on Main street.
1871, Tuesday October 31. Dr. G. E. Freeman met with a severe accident to-day by being jammed between a hitching post and his
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
carriage. It was at first feared the injuries might prove fatal, but it proved otherwise and the doctor recovered after a few weeks' confine- ment to his home.
1871, November. Twenty-five new stores opened in town during the past year and still a demand for more.
1871, November. A. S. Porter made extensive additions to his livery stable, as well as to his stock, making it one of the best and oldest in the State.
1871. Huntington Heights, the high land near to Howard Crossing above Montello railway station, named in 1871 in honor of Rev. Daniel Huntington.
1871. Mercantile building, corner of Main and West Elm streets, erected in 1871. B. E. Jones and Embert Howard, owners.
1871. Charles C. Bixby purchased the old building and land known as the First New Jerusalem church, and later as Hunt's North Bridge- water Academy, near North Main street in November, 1871.
1871. Moses A. Packard erected a building for a store in 1871 in what is known as Centreville, between Campello and the center of the city.
1872, February 10. Hon. Henry H. Packard opened his new dry goods store in Clark's block, on Saturday.
1872, February II. A young man named Michael Cavanagh lost three fingers in a splitting machine at Warren A. Howard's shoe manufactory.
1872, March. Legislative committee reported leave to withdraw on their petition of Ellis Packard and others for leave to build a railroad from Brockton to Mansfield.
1872, March. A turn table was put in at Campello, the railroad company making that village a terminus for several of their trains.
1872, April 18. Charles Cole gives notice that he will run a public carriage between Campello and Brockton, making eight trips daily. Fare eight cents.
1872, May 28. Merritt French was found dead in his bed Sunday morning. He had been as well as usual up to the time of his retiring to bed.
1
649
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
1872, May. Nahum Packard purchased a lot of land east of the old Colony and Newport railway in Campello and offered 100 house lots for sale. The locality is to be known as Leyden Park.
1872. The shoe manufactory of Hon. James S. Allen, on Crescent street, commenced in July, 1872.
1872. John M. Sweeney run over and killed by a loaded cart in August, 1872. He was aged thirteen years.
1872, August. The new bridge at Montello street, near Packard's mill, was built by Arba Pratt.
1872, August 29. Last Thursday afternoon brought a storm of wind and rain which came not far short of being a regular tornado. For a time the rain fell in almost solid sheets, filling the gutters with over- flowing torrents and deluging the meadows with turbid floods, the play of the lightning being hardly less in vividness and nearness than during the violent tempest of the preceding week. While the shower was in progress, the barn of Samuel French in Campello, situated on the " old place," was struck, and almost before the neighbors were aware, was a mass of flames. The building was wholly destroyed, together with six cows and a horse which Mr. French had but a few minutes before driven in for shelter. About twenty-five tons of hay were also con- sumed, together with a hay cart and some smaller articles. The loss was about $2,500, on which there was an insurance of $500. During the height of the blow, the storehouse of Howard, Clark & Co., near the freight house, went over, falling in complete ruin. It contained a large quantity of unfinished furniture, together with the principal por- tion of the household goods of Rev. Mr. McNeille, which had been stored there awaiting the completion of the Porter parsonage. The latter were nearly all destroyed, while of the former a considerable amount was afterward got out more or less damaged. A man and boy at work in the upper story at the time were fortunately preserved from serious injury, the roof maintaining its position in that quarter of the building, while all else went over in one common wreck. The building was worth about $2,000, and is past restoration,
1872. Nelson J. Foss completed his coal yard at the north side of the railway station in Campello in August, 1872.
82
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
1872, August 7. Building owned by Jeremiah Sweeney, at the corner of Pond street, destroyed by fire.
1872, August 14. During a severe tempest this day, the lightning struck the tack factory of William B. Cross on Pleasant street ; damage slight. The lighting also struck the house of Ambrose Packard on Prospect street ; no one injured.
1872, September. O. F. Curtis has purchased the last factory water privilege, rights, etc., saw mill and other small buildings, together with the Sprague homestead, one of the most elegant and desirable places in town, and now occupied by Dr. S. J. Gruver.
1872, September. D. Bullock & Co. have sold their grocery busi- ness to Bullock &' Kingman, situated at the corner of Montello and School streets.
1872, September 5. Eleven lots of land in Leyden Park sold last week to parties to erect buildings on at an early day.
1882, September. By an official count, one hundred dwelling houses have been erected during the year ending May 1, 1872.
1872, October 14. The ice houses belonging to the estate of Chand- ler Sprague were sold at auction on Monday last to Benjamin S. Wright of Boston, for $3,400.
1872, October 11. David Cobb, a prominent merchant passed away to-day ; one who was for a long time a respected citizen of the town, aged seventy-six years.
1872, October. A. F. Hayward sold his grocery store to Huram and Edmund R. Wade, which will be conducted under the firm name of Wade Brothers.
1872, October 16. Golden wedding of Capt. Robert Packard and his wife was observed by a large gathering at his home in Campello.
1872, November. A. Willard Kingman, now' of Paris, France, and a native of Brockton, purchased the well-known Gazette Building.
1872, November. The old Gas Works are about being removed preparatory to a large shoe manufactory being erected by Peleg S. Leach on West Elm street. The new factory is to be 180x32, four stories high.
1873, January. Charles Cole, the stablekeeper at Campello, who ran a line of coaches between Campello and Brockton, has disposed of the entire establishment.
651
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
1874, March 28. The name North Bridgewater authorized to be changed.
1874, May 5 Brockton adopted as a name.
1874, June. A large lot of land at the north side of the farm of the late Turner Torrey was purchased by a company, to be laid out as a trotting park. It was surveyed and laid out by Thomas Keith, Esq., civil engineer.
1875, April 24. A portion of Brockton annexed to South Abing- ton (now Whitman) and portions of East Bridgewater and South Abington annexed to Brockton.
1876, August 12. A remarkable story is told of the fearful scene at the death of Charles Reynolds, General Custar's chief scout, the best shot on the Missouri River. He was shot off the back of his horse, and in falling caught the horse and killed him, and making a breast- work of the beast's body he commenced a terrible onslaught of the Indians. He lay behind his horse dying and still shooting, and every shot he fired sent a savage to the devil. When he was taken off the field after the fight, twenty-two dead Indians were found around him.
1876, October. The shoe manufactory of Franklin Keith, in Cam- pello, remodeled to a dwelling house.
1876, October. Stone curbing were laid in front of Keith's Block, Campello.
1877, January 1. William A. Broderick badly injured at the saw mill in Factory Village, necessitating the amputation of his arm.
1877, January 1. Mrs. Nathaniel H. Cross received a verdict from the court for $3,294.45 for land damages, in the widening of Main street.
1877, February 1. First telephone wire in Brockton stretched from the main office to the office of D. T. Burrell.
1877, February I. The heaviest snow storm of the season, blocking the travel on railroad, and much expense to the town in clearing out roads.
1877, February 12. Professor Dolbeare experiments with the public telephone for the first time.
1877, February 14. St. George Lodge, F. & A. M. of Campello held their first regular meeting.
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
1877, March 3. Death of Hon. Edward Southworth, treasurer of the N. B. Savings Bank.
1877, March 4. Rufus P. Kingman, Esq., elected treasurer of the Savings Bank.
1877, May 8. Brockton rejoices in a new town clock.
1877, March 22. Thomas J. Gurney, for nearly fifty years a leader in church choirs and teacher of music in the surrounding towns, died to day.
1877, March 29. Fair in aid of improvements in " Union Ceme- tery."
1877, April 7. Franklin Keith, of Campello, formerly one of the selectmen, died to-day.
1877, April 23. Serious accident to Rev. E. P. McElroy, while driving to Abington.
1877, April 24. The first Baptist Church of Brockton organized to- day.
1877, May 30. Decoration Day. Address by Rev. Mr. Jordan, of the First Congregational Church.
1877, May 31. Town meeting held to-day to consider the advisa- bility of constructing water works for the town.
- 1877, July 8. St. Paul's church first opened for public worship.
1877, August 29. Ground first broken for laying of water pipes was in front of Charles R. Ford's factory.
1877, September 14. Organization of the Campello Co-operative Savings Fund and Loan Association.
1877, November 15. The stable of Lorenzo D. Hervey partially destroyed by fire.
1877, November 27. Organization of the Security Co-operative Loan and Fund Association.
1877, December 6. The completion of the laying pipes for the water supply, hydrants, etc. Trial of hydrants took place at Campello.
1877, December 13. Otis Hayward, esq., for a long time a deputy sheriff of Plymouth county, died to-day.
1878, January I. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Tribou witnessed a happy gathering of a large and pleasant number of friends and relatives in Factory, or Sprague village. Among other
653
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
exercises was an original poem by Miss Elizabeth A. Kingman, recall- ing reminiscences of the past in a very happy manner. A bountiful col- lation was provided. What is quite remarkable in this case is that no vacancy has been made by death in the family.
1878, January 16. The numerous friends of Capt. Lucius Richmond (who has a grand war record,) gathered from the surrounding towns and took possession of his home, in order to celebrate the twenty- fifth anniversary of their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond soon found their apartments altogether too small for the besieging party, and they all repaired to a hall, where appropriate exercises took place, such as music and addresses of warm congratulation. A prayer by Rev. Mr. McElroy was followed by a humorous poem read by Willianı R. Bowen, which was responded to by the host, and soon after Martland's favorite band paid their respects to the host by rendering a number of choice selections, among which was "Silver Hairs Mingled with the Golden." A magnificent bridal loaf from Washburn's was a central figure in an elegant collation. Hon. Henry W. Robinson in a few well chosen words, presented Mr. and Mrs. Richmond with numerous and costly presents, mostly in silver, from the company, which they had brought as tokens of their high esteem. 1
1878, February 7. Isaac Kingman and 454 others send a remon- strance to the Legislature, against authorizing the completion of the water works.
1878, June II. Charlie Carlson, a Swede, was arrested at Campello for the attempted murder of Rudolph Modee, a boarding house keeper in Boston.
1878, June 24. Golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ford.
: 878, July 6. Golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howard.
1878, November 27. Golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Jones.
1879, May 27. The lot of land at the corner of West Elm and Main streets, belonging to Henry A. Brett, and formerly the residence of the late Dr. Nathan Perry, containing 7,775 square feet of land was sold at auction to-day for the sum of $12,750 to Embert Howard, upon which
1 Although at a late day (the writer not having been present on the above occasion) wishes to join in the general expression of regard for the worthy host and his wife.
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HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
stands a splendid brick block. The old mansion of Dr. Perry was re- moved in October, 1860, to the west of Pond street, and a residence built for H. A. Brett. Columbus Clough was the master builder.
1883, December. Ground was broken for a new block of buildings, and work commenced on the erection of the brick Academy of Music, corner of Main and Crescent and Main streets owned by Henry L. Bryant.
1879, December. The grain and flour mill of Ellis Packard fell, do- ing much damage.
1880, January 9. A young son of B. L. Clark, living in Campello, fell out of a window, fracturing his skull. He lived but a few hours.
1880, January 13. Fair for the benefit of Cunningham Rifles, a great success ; proceeds, $1,026
1880, January 23. Grand Masonic ball. under the auspices of the Bay State Commandery of Knight Templars.
1880, February II. Opening of three days' fair in aid of Union cemetery improvement.
1880, February 14. Organization of the Telephone Company.
1880, February 17. Band fair was held at Campello. Receipts about $600.
1880, February 18. Three or four coal cars smashed at the railroad station.
1880, March 2. The water committee took formal possession of the lands for the proposed reservoir in Stoughton.
1880, May I. The purchasers of the Southworth estate on Main street came into possession of the property, and commenced operations for the present City block.
1880, May I. Thomas Langley was killed by being run over at the Grove street crossing by the Cape train.
1880, May 17. Golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Wilbur.
1880, May 20. The lot where Messrs. Lilly, Brackett & Co.'s shoe factory is located was purchased at this date.
1880, June 1. The residence of William L. Field at Montello was damaged by lightning.
1880, July I. Brockton's population 13,608.
1880, July 8. Ground broken for the new Baptist Church on Bel- mont street.
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MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
1880, July 31 The freight house of the Old Colony Railroad nearly destroyed by fire.
1880, August 20. The venerable Rev. Paul Couch, of Mystic, Conn., formerly pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, preached at a union service in the Porter Evangelical Church.
1880, September 12. A young son of Thomas Eschamback was fatally burned by the overturning of a lighted lamp.
1880, September 14. Rev. John T. Blades installed pastor of the South Congregational Church, Campello.
1880, September 14. American Union Telegraph Company's new office opened.
1880, September 21. Re dedication of First Congregational Church to-day.
1880, September 25. Golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Per- kins.
1880, September 30. Norfolk conference of churches held their meeting at the South Congregational Church, Campello.
1880, October 5. Hon. Benjamin W. Harris renominated for repre- sentative to Congress at the Republican Congressional convention of the Second district held in Brockton.
1880, November 9. Legal organization of a new Universalist society in Brockton.
1880, November 12. Water was first taken from the Stoughton Basin and discharged through hydrants to-day.
1880, December 2. A public hearing was held before the Select- men to-day in the interest of a horse railroad.
1880, December 19. First public services held in the vestry of the new Baptist church.
1880, December 22. First meeting for the discussion of the question of a city charter was held to-day.
1880, December 25. Golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hewett, a very interesting occasion.
1880, December 29. A large gathering of citizens met in the Opera House to take action on the city charter question.
1881, April 9. Brockton incorporated as a city.
1881, May 23. The act of Legislature accepted by the town.
656
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
1881, May. Edwin Davis, of Swansey, purchased the estate of Elisha Washburn, on Summer street.
1881, July 6. The first car on the horse railroad was started, with Porter Richmond as driver, from Clifton avenue, Campello, to Enos H. Reynolds' house.
1881, August. Frank E. Packard, Esq., son of S. Franklin Packard, of Campello, a graduate of Amherst College, left home in August, 1881, to enter upon an engagement as an instructor in the American College at Beyroot, Smyrna. He took an extended trip during his vacation through Europe, and visited Cypress and Constantinople, crossing the Black Sea to Odeska, Russia, and back through the Mediterranean, touching at Malta and other portions of Gibraltar and Liverpool. After three or four weeks in London, will return to Beyroot and along the coasts of Africa.
1882, Monday, January 2. The first meeting of the new City Government met to-day in City Block, Hon. Ziba C. Keith in the chair. Dewitt Clinton Packard was elected city clerk, and Henry A. Ford treasurer.
1882, Monday, January 2. Inauguration proceedings of the new city of Brockton took place to-day, with exercises appropriate to the occasion, the particulars of which will be found in another part of this volume.
1882, February 6. A large number of the personal friends, relatives and townspeople of Brockton assembled at the home of Josiah W. Kingman, corner of Main and South streets, at Campello, to celebrate his eightieth birthday. The apartments were handsomely decorated, and the reception was from three to ten o'clock p. m., during which hours people were coming and going, and all enjoyed the festivities of the occasion. An elegant collation by Tufts, of Boston, was prepared, to which all were invited. During the evening the host was presented with an elegant gold-headed cane, accompanied by many expressions of good will to their respected townsman.
1882, February 6. Elmer C. and Allen E. Packard succeeded their father in the real estate, buildings, water privileges, boiler, engine, etc., known as Packard's mill, and engaged in the business of local grain dealers.
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MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
1882, May. Charles L. Hathaway, wife and grandson, sailed for Europe from New York in the steamship Italy, of the National line, Paris, Marseilles, Gena, Venice, the Tyrol, Hamburg, and back to Lon- don and Liverpool ; the fifth time he crossed Atlantic, and the third his wife went, both experienced travellers in this country and Europe.
1882, October. The new law firm of Reed & Harris was formed, consisting of Robert O. Harris, son of ex-Congressman Harris, of East Bridgewater, and the present district attorney of the southeastern Dis- trict of Massachusetts, and Warren A. Reed, now judge of the District Court of Brockton.
1882, October 19. Dr. Edgar E. Dean nominated by Bushrod Morse, esq., of Sharon, as candidate for Congress at a convention over which Hon. William L. Douglas presided.
1 882, October. The shoe manufactory of Nahum Johnson & Co., at the corner of Pond and Dover streets, erected, 100 feet by 50.
1882, December 28. A pleasant reunion of the High School of 1881 was held at the residence of their former teacher, Edward Parker, jr., esq., Thursday evening, and among the interesting features of the occasion was a presentation of two large framed photographic groups of the class, accompanied with a poem, by Miss Lucy C. Holbrook.
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