USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Bridgewater > Old Bridgewater tercentenary (1656-1956) : June 13-17 1956 > Part 2
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In the Town Report of 1868, Simeon J. Dunbar, school superintendent, submit- ted the following: "For some time our citizens have had a desire, and seen the increased neccessity for a High school. This has been supplied by the wise and generous provision of the late Captain Ben- jamin B. Howard, a native and citizen of this town. Although the entire manage- ment of this contemplated school is very wisely left in the hands of eleven competent trustees, yet the school committee should be largely interested and recognize the excellent means which has come to our benefit."
"Captain Howard should be held in grateful remembrance for his munificent bequest for the educational and religious purposes in this, his native town." His will in part reads: I give and bequeath to my sons (and several others) the sum of $80,000, to be paid to them by my execu- tors in 60 days after the probate of my will, in trust and for the foundation and endowment of a High school, to be called the Howard School, in West Bridgewater, and to apply the income thereof, but no part of providing secondary education to the support of said school."
The report goes on, "Whatever the trus- tees in their wisdom shall make the char- acter of this institution, its instruction is expected to be free, by the interest of the will, to scholars of the town. These schol- ars are to be taken from our public schools."
The Howard High school (and Semi- nary) was built and served its purpose of porviding secondary education to the young people of town; until the disastrous fire in the mid-century which razed the well-loved structure. West Bridgewater was now faced with the problem of erect- ing a high school and shouldering the full
OLD BRIDGEWATER TERCENTENARY-1656-1956
AERIAL VIEW OF WEST BRIDGEWATER HIGH SCHOOL ON ROUTE 106
burden of expense. The Seminary, housed in other buildings, continued as a private enterprise, under the supervision of How- ard trustees.
The new Junior - Senior High school, with elementary wing, was built at an ap- proximate cost of one and a quarter mil- lion dollars and students first used it facil- ities in September of 1952. At the town meeting n March of 1953 the name was changed to West Bridgewater High school but the first class to graduate insisted on continuing to commencement as "Howard High chool, Class of 1953."
The one-room buildings are now all gone, with pupils attending Sunset ave- nue, front and rear Centre schools and the new school. Nevertheless, space became crowded and double sessions were neces- sary as soon as two years after the open- ing of the new school. A survey showed that at least fourteen more rooms were mandatory and in 1955 an elementary school on Spring street was commenced. This building, of a new construction with a "cluster" design, will be ready for oc- cupancy in September, the year of Old Bridgewater's Tercentenary - 1956.
THE CENTRE
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OLD BRIDGEWATER TERCENTENARY-1656-1956
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BRIDGEWATER TERCENTENARY -1656 -1956
WEST BRIDGEWATER -1956
West Bridgewater remains a rural area, with pleasant suburban homes, well- kept farms and about seventy-five busi- ness establishments, ranging from grocery stores and service stations to light manufacturing and heavy transportation. Among the articles produced are electronic equipment, rubber molds, wooden clothes racks, automobile batteries, rear-view truck mirrors, electric controls, braided rugs and sportswear. The extent of dairy and poultry farming may be judged by the assessed value of livestock of $115,335.00 in 1955, consisting of 30 horses, 920 cows, yearlings, bulls and heifers, 39 swine, 69 sheep, 45,770 fowl and 58 chinchilla. There are several large market gardens, each specializing in produce.
The population as of January 1, 1955, was 4,559. 1,169 dwellings and 8,610.17 acres of land were assessed in 1955. The Board of Assessors reported a total value of all assessed property of $6,478,392.00 for 1955, and indications are that this fig- ure will be increased by over $320,000.00 by the end of 1956. The total value of all exempted property was $1,111,033.00. The 1956 tax rate is $60.00 per thousand, which is broken down into a School Tax Rate of $36.00 and a General Tax Rate of $24.00.
Howard Seminary, founded in 1875, has an enrollment of 80 girls from a num- ber of states and several foreign coun- tries. A gymnasium has recently been added to the various dormitory and class- room buildings on the campus. Mrs. Vida S. Clough has been headmistress since 1951, and the present teaching staff numbers fif- teen.
Our own school facilities are dealt with elsewhere, and we can be glad that the town has never treated this ever-present problem in the manner deplored by the Sec- retary of the State Board of Education in
1856, "I would not object to making a school house a costly ornament to a village, if it is so built with the understanding on the part of those who pay for it, that much of their money is expended for show." Bert L. Merrill is Superintendent of Schools un- der the West Bridgewater - Raynham School Supplementary Union No. 50. Total enrollment as of October 1, 1955, was 1,002 pupils, with forty-seven teachers. The 1956 High School graduating class is the larg- est in our history with fifty-seven mem- bers. Of the thirty-six graduates of 1955, sixteen are continuing their education.
The Public Library occupies a small building (formerly a school) conveniently located near the High School and Ele- mentary School Buildings. Miss Jean Murdock is Librarian and Mrs. Hazel Fletcher is Assistant Librarian. The total circulation in 1955 was 23,083 books, and 390 books were added by purchase.
On February 19, 1955, the new Police and Fire Station on West Center Street was dedicated. It has proved to be ample for our present needs, and adequate for the foreseeable future.
The Police Department consists of the Chief, Douglas Eaton, Sr., two regular patrolmen, Edwin T. Gibson and Ervin G. Lothrop, two reserve officers and seven spe- cial policemen. The Police Cruiser is a 1956 model, equipped with a two-way radio connecting with Brockton and vicinity. An Auxiliary Civil Defense Police Force was organized in 1956, and holds regular week- ly drills with about 30 men enrolled.
The Chief of the Fire Department is Antoine Sousa, with one Deputy Chief, three Captains, three Lieutenants and twenty-six privates, all on call. There is a Master Electrician, Five Deputy Forest Wardens, and an Alarm Operator, James Peterson, who has served in this confining capacity for fifteen years.
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WEST BRIDGEWATER OLD HOMESTEADS
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McDONALD
KEITH 177
KEITH
SURETTE 1799
SURETTE
LA BIPACHE TI40.
LABRACHE
EMERSON 1668
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SNELL 1768
SNELL
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The Tree Department is now housed in the former fire station in the rear of the Town Hall. Thomas B. MacQuinn, Tree Warden, and Superintendent of the Insect Control Department, has two full-time em- ployees. The principle concern today, as it has been for the past fifty years, is control of the Dutch Elm Disease. 37 elms were in- fected and removed in 1954, and after the damage caused by the hurricanes in that year the disease rapidly spread, and 76 elms had to be removed in 1955. A shade- tree nursery has been established as part of the Town Forest behind Memorial Field, and there are now about five hundred young trees in the nursery, to supply replace- ments for the Town trees as they are re- moved. A Poison Ivy Eradication Project has been carried on for the past four years, with excellent results along our roadsides. By state law, towns are now allowed to proceed 100 feet in on private property to spray poison ivy, and this program will be started this summer. The Tree Depart- ment is now caring for five old Town-owned cemeteries; Alger and South, on South Street; Cochesett, next to the Methodist Church; Manley Street, and the Tucker cemetery off Union Street. The Insect Pest Control Department sprays all roadside trees each Spring. Very beneficial results have been achieved by an aerial spray of swamp areas for mosquito control. Japa- nese beetles have become a very serious nuisance in recent years, and the depart- ment will step up its control program against them.
The Highway Department is also lo- cated behind Town Hall, in its own build- ing. Richard Berglund is Superintendent, with a working force that varies with the need. The town has thirty-seven miles of paved roads, two miles of gravel roads, mostly in the Hockamock Swamp area, five miles of sidewalk, and eleven bridges,
excluding State roads, bridges and side- walks. The State roads, Route 106, East and West Center Streets, and Route 28, North and South Main Streets, carry heavy seasonal automobile traffic. The Amvets Highway (also called the Fall River Expressway) through Cochesett is now in use between Fall River and Brock- ton.
Our War Memorial Park on River Street, dedicated in 1936, is a beautiful spot, not only for the townspeople, but for hundreds of visitors each summer. It was photographed for the National Geographic Magazine several years ago, stressing the beauty of its waterways, the old mill stones and the flowering shrub- bery. It was designed by Evelyn C. John- son, and the Custodian is Antonio F. Sil- veira. We hope it's still a part of our town a hundred years from now.
Our Town Clerk, Anna E. Brown, is the first woman to be elected to that of- fice and has served since 1949. Marjorie E. MacDonald, elected in 1956, is the first woman member of the Board of Selectmen. In 1952 Hastings Keith was elected State Senator for the Plymouth Senatorial Dis- trict.
After more than fifty years of public service, not only in the town, but in the state government, Orvis F. Kinney was not a candidate for re-election as Town Treas- urer, an office he had held since 1937. Mr. Kinney was active in the celebration of the 250th anniversary.
On March 21, 1949, Howard High School, a famous landmark for many years, was totally destroyed by fire. For a full report of this disaster, the help of- fered, and the emergency measures taken, we refer you to the Principal's report in the 1949 Town Report. Also in 1949, the town put into operation its own water system.
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WEST BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
FIRST GRADUATING CLASS WEST BRIDGEWATER, 1883.
POSTER COMMITTEE ELIZABETH WHELAN, Chairman, Brockton
ROBERT DANSTEDT Bridgewater LUICE MONCY West Bridgewater
GLORIA GLASER East Bridgewater HAZEL MERRIMAN Brockton
OLD BRIDGEWATER TERCENTENARY POSTER CONTEST PRIZE WINNERS Grand Prize: Jeanne Burnham, East Bridgewater High School.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL :
First Prize: Julia Bassett, West Bridgewater High School. Second Prize: A. Robert Thorburn, Jr., Brockton High School. Third Prize: Patricia Smith, Bridgewater High School.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL :
First Prize: Joan Arms, North Junior High School, Brockton. Second Prize: Kareen McDonnell, North Junior High School, Brockton. Third Prize: Katherine Monaghan, North Junior High School, Brockton.
GRADES 4, 5, 6. : First Prize: Marcia Phaneuf, Grade 5, Kingman School, Brockton. Second Prize: Cathy Semeter, Grade 4, Center School, West Bridgewater.
Third Prize: Connie Hale, Grade 6, Lincoln School, Brockton.
JUDGES MR. FRED PATRONE Brockton
MISS MARY WALKER East Bridgewater
MR. JOSEPH DRISCOLL Brockton
COMMITTEE ON HISTORAL DATA MR. WILLIAM T. SHINNICK, Chairman, Brockton
MRS. ETHEL B. CHANDLER REV. WILLIAM L. MCKINNEY East Bridgewater Bridgewater
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EAST BRIDGEWATER
SATUCKET INCORPORATED. 1649
SELECTMEN
MYRON H. HAYDEN, GEORGE A. RIDDER, CHARLES LELAND
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EAST BRIDGEWATER
The Town of East Bridgewater, the original territorial center of Bridgewater at the time of the purchase of Bridgewater from the Indians, was settled about 1660. In 1722 the inhabitants of the east end of the North Precinct of Bridgewater peti- tioned the legislature to be set off as a separate precinct, and on December 14, 1723, the East Precinct was incorporated. Later it became known as the East Parish and on June 14, 1823, it was incorporated as the Town of East Bridgewater, having then a population of about 1,500. The first Town Meeting was held July 4, 1823, with Nahum Mitchell as moderator.
Samuel Allen, Jr., the first settler, is said to have settled here in 1660, on the east side of the Matfield River near the present plant of the Brockton Edison Com- pany. His land included that in the cen- ter village, the two central burial-grounds, the Common, and what is known as the Plain. Nicholas Byram and his son-in-law, Thomas Whitman, came here in 1662. Byram, who was the moderator of the first meeting held by the Parish, owned five of the fifty-six shares of the original proprietors, including the west part of the village. He settled on the west bank of Snell Meadow Brook near what is now North Central Street.
Thomas Whitman owned the peninsula between the Satucket and Matfield Rivers and built his house near the present junc- tion of Bedford and Whitman Streets in Elmwood. Robert Latham, the fourth set- tler, came from Marshfield in 1663 and be- came the owner of a large tract of land on the south side of the Satucket River, including Sachem Rock. Arthur Harris and his sons, Isaac and Samuel, owned land adjoining Latham, on the north. Latham built a saw-mill on the river, just below the Indian herring-weir. In 1726
Isaac Harris, Thomas Whitman, and Jonathan Bass built a new mill at what later became the Carver Cotton-gin Com- pany's dam.
During King Philip's War in 1676, nine houses, all the homes except that of Nicholas Byram, were burned by the In- dians. After King Philip's death, the population increased rapidly. Experience Mitchell, one of the passengers in "The Ann" in 1623, came from Duxbury with his son, Edward Mitchell ,about 1680.
They built a house in what was then known as Joppa, now Elmwood. A tan- nery was located on their estate as early as 1700. Elisha Hayward, Nathaniel Hay- ward, Jr., Jonathan Hill, and John How- ard also settled in Joppa.
Isaac Alden, a grandson of John Alden, the Pilgrim, settled here about 1685. He owned a large tract of land on Beaver Brook, and built a house near Jones's Mill Pond. Joseph Shaw settled here in 1699 at what was later known as Shaw's Mills at the present intersection of Pleasant and Summer Streets.
The parish grew in population during the next 15 years, and became one of the most important manufacturing centers in the state. In 1700 there was a saw mill built by John Whitman on Snell Meadow Brook. In 1726 this mill-site was over- flowed by the Forge Pond, Capt. Jonathan Bass having built a dam and a forge far- ther down the stream. Hugh Orr owned mills on Matfield River near Vinton's cor- ner. As early as 1748 he made muskets for the Province of Massachusetts; at the out- break of the Revolution he made muskets for the Patriot cause and successfully pro- duced a great number of iron and cylin- drically bored brass cannon. While a mem- ber of the Massachusetts Senate he per- suaded that body to encourage the estab- lishment of textile mills in the state.
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About 1788 Samuel Rogers established a machine shop near the brick store now owned by the Swanson-Wallin Company. He invented a tack machine, successfully made a machine which would cut and head a nail at one operation, and in 1802 made two silver watches complete except for mainsprings, supposed to be the first made in America.
Josiah Whitman, living on Whitman Street, manufactured shoes. Cushing Mitchell and Seth Bryant, descendants of Experience Mitchell, in 1822 formed a partnership to manufacture "sale shouse" in Elmwood.
Before the Revolution a slitting and rolling-mill below Orr's Works on Mat- field River was owned by the Keith family. In 1935 the Keith Iron Company built a new rolling-mill above where the old roll- ing-mill stood. This company sold out to the East Bridgewater Iron Company, op- erated by Rogers and Sheldon.
Many other iron manufacturers were located in East Bridgewater. A chain- works firm did a prosperous business here in 1870. Gen. Silvanus Lazell employed a great number of men from various neigh- borhoods to manufacture wrought iron nails in his mills on Forge Pond. James Brown and James Eaton built on iron foun- dry in 1850 which later became the Mat- field Manufacturing Company. The Brown Locomotive Works which built locomotive engines in 1851, four years after the rail- road was put through town, stood beside the foundry. The foundry became the property of Joshua Dean in 1880 and was bought in 1902 by the Old Colony Foundry. Kebuilt after the disastrous fire of 1903, this property was sold to the Eastern States Steel Company in 1950.
From 1828 the water power at Satucket was used for the weaving of cotton cloth; Nathaniel Wheeler, Wallace Rust and Al-
len Whitman were incorporated as the East Bridgewater Manufacturing Com- pany for this purpose. In 1843 E. Carver Company bought the privilege and began the manufacture of cotton gins. For many years known as the Carver Cotton Gin Company it is at present owned by the Murray Company of Texas, Inc.
Late in the 18th Century there was a brick kiln near the park at Central and Bedford Streets. Records show that sev- eral other brick yards were located in town. About the year 1820 Josiah Need made a piano-forte. In 1822 Samuel Keen who operated a mill on the Matfield River in Elmwood and made shoe machinery, also made the first clothes wringer having rubber rolls. The inventor of the twist drill for boring holes in metal was Stephen A. Morse.
In its earliest days East Bridgewater was an industrial community, devoting it- self largely to metals. For generations iron and brass castings, tack machines, cotton gins, caststeel shovels and hoes, nails, brass pins, building supplies, bricks, cotton and woolen goods were manufactured here. To- day while agriculture and dairying are as important as manufacturing in East Bridgewater, cotton machinery, iron and brass castings, bricks and shoe lasts are among the articles still produced.
A Post Office called Bridgewater Post Office was established in the East Parish as early as 1799 in the law office of Judge Nahum Mitchell, who was the first post- master. The mail was brought from Bos- ton once a week by horse-back. In 1831 the name was changed to East Bridge- water Post Office. It was moved in 1909 from Union Street to its present location in Central Square. In 1940 the interior of the office was completely remodeled, and in 1956 the number of boxes was increased.
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CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, LIBRARY, BANKS
T. HE HISTORY of the First Parish ( Unitarian) in East Bridgewater begins on December 14, 1723, when an Act of the General Court incorporated the East Pre- cinct of Bridgewater.
The meeting-house was begun in 1721 on land given by Samuel Allen, Jr .; the first meeting of the Parish was held in the meeting-house on January 27, 1724, and Precinct officers were elected: Captain Nicholas Byram, moderator; Ebenezer Byram, clerk; Nathaniel Hayward, Sam- uel Allen, Recompense Cary, assessors ; Josiah Allen, collector; Samuel Allen, treasurer. In the forty feet square meet- ing-house there were eleven "pues" next the wall, an open space in the center for long benches, and nine pews in the gallery. Indians were allowed to worship in the church but sat by themselves under the stairs.
On April 14, 1724, John Angier, a Har- vard graduate, was chosen as pastor of the church; he was ordained on October 28, 1724, over a church of thirty-three mem- bers. His ministry extended over sixty-two years until his death at the age of 85.
The original church building was re- placed in 1754 by a larger one built a little to the east of the first. The lumber from the first building was purchased by Hugh Orr.
In 1787 Samuel Orr Angier, son of the first minister, succeeded his father as pas- tor after serving with him as colleague for
twenty years. His pastorate represented thirty-eight years of service. During his ministry in 1794 the church in use today was built. It stands in the exact position of the first church erected. The second church stood until the third was occupied; it was then sold to General Sylvanus Lazell.
In 1805 the Parish installed a bell cast by Paul Revere and weighing 931 pounds. It bears his name and the date 1804, Bos- ton. This bell still hangs in the belfry but it is cracked and no longer has its fine resonance.
In 1824, one year after the incorpora- tion of the Town of East Bridgewater, the congregation was authorized by the legisla- ture to be called "The First Parish in East Bridgewater".
Rev. Eliphalet Crafts, whose ministry began in 1828, started the Sunday School of the church. Also, during his ministry, the church finally severed all ties with the town government when the Parish voted to refuse the town the use of its meeting- house for the purpose of holding town meet- ings. Parishes were now separated by law and all religious societies were put on equal footing.
In 1844 Nathaniel Whitman was in- stalled as minister. He is believed to be the only native son to become pastor of the First Parish. In 1850, during his ministry, the church then facing west was turned one quarter round to face the south, its present position. Also, during this period, the in-
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terior of the church was remodelled and a fence was placed around the Common.
On September 7, 1871, the Reverend John W. Quinby was ordained. Until his coming the church had a morning and an afternoon service on Sunday. He accepted the call on the condition that but one serv- ice be held on a Sunday. In 1900, during his ministry, the Parish House adjoining the church, was dedicated.
Several parsonages have been owned by the Parish. The present parsonage at 353 Central Street was a gift of the late Joseph W. Strong.
The hurricane of 1938 caused consider- able damage to the church structure. The steeple was blown off and broke through the roof of the building. To the present day the steeple has not been replaced.
At the 200th Anniversary Celebration of the Parish in 1924 there was still alive a man who could remember when all the men of the Parish waited outside the church until the women and children had entered and were seated. This custom was stated to have continued from the days when the men sat at the outer ends of the pews with guns ready in case of an Indian attack.
Many interesting customs still persist in the church. For example: the congrega- tion, during the singing of the hymns, turns to face the choir situated in the rear bal- cony as was the custom nearly two cen- turies ago.
At present the Parish is in the process of selecting a new minister and looks for- ward to an uninterrupted teaching of the liberal doctrine for centuries to come.
UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH REV. M. JAMES WORKMAN, Pastor.
The Union Church of East and West Bridgewater was organized June 20, 1826, by an Ecclesiastical Council which con- vened at the request of 19 persons whose names are first on Church Roll. A legal parish, the Union Trinitarian Society, had already been formed on April 29, 1826.
The meeting-house was dedicated Octo- ber 24, 1827. It was 49 by 50 feet in size, and contained 58 pews. The entry was seven by twenty-four feet. A bell was added in 1835. On Sunday, July 28, 1844, this meeting-house was entirely destroyed by fire. A new house of worship was started at once, and on January 1, 1845, the completed building was dedicated. During the building of this church, Sab- bath services were held in the Beaver school house.
A vestry was added in 1883,; a par- sonage opposite the church building was built in 1886. The church was re-dedicated November 8, 1891, after extensive repairs were made and the auditorium remodeled.
The steeple was lost in the gale of No- vember 27, 1898.
On January 24, 1928, the church was incorporated as "The Union Congrega- tional Church".
There have been many bequests and gifts during the years - consisting of trust fund, memorial windows and cash do- nations of considerable amounts; a memo- rial gift of an electric organ blower and a memorial addition of two class rooms on the south side of the vestry.
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EAST BRIDGEWATER METHODIST CHURCH
ELMWOOD NEW CHURCH
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EAST BRIDGEWATER CATHOLIC CHURCH
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
SENIOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
CENTRAL SCHOOL
SENIOR - JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
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EAST BRIDGEWATER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS, EAST BRIDGEWATER, 1956.
OLD BRIDGEWATER TERCENTENARY-1656-1956
ELMWOOD NEW CHURCH
"East Bridgewater Society of the New Jerusalem" Minister, REV. PAUL ZACHARIAS Elmwood, Massachusetts
1820 - Meetings in homes to study writ- ings of Emmanuel Swedenborg.
1831 -Legal Society organized under Massachusetts laws.
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