Brockton City

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Preface

The history of Brockton has been written, and is at last presented to the public, after an unexpected amount of labor. There is no. locality in New England which has undergone more rapid changes than this. In ISOO the auth(ir wrote an extended histor)' of the town of North Bridgewater, which has long since gone out of print, containing then about six thousand inhabitants. The rapid growth of the town, the change (jf name t(j Brockton, and afterwards its incorporation into a city, rendered the necessity for a new and enlarged naiTative work under the distinctive name of Brockton. The work has been subject to unavoidable delay owing to the extra amount of work in its preparation, and it is submitted to the citizens of Brockton and vicinity, with all its imperfections, with the hope that it may not be disappointing to those who are interested in and have by their encouragement and generous subscriptions been the means of its publication. Of the importance of works of this class, we may be pardoned for quoting from an eminent writer on kindred works: *

"History, by presenting to the mind an authentic retrospect of the origin, progress and vicissitudes of celebrated communities, affords an instructive gratification to human curiosity, and among the various records of the historic pen perhaps none so strongly engages the attention as the topography of great cities, and the biography of eminent individuals.

"It is the high privilege of history to exhibit a retrospective view of mankind, to present to the encpiiring mind a faithful representation of characters and manners which have long- ceased to exist, reanimate the images of the great, and the wise, and thus conduct tlie student through the long vista of ages to a retrospection of those interesting scenes, consecrated by the presence of our venerable ancestors."

This work has been a labor of love to one who has long cherished a great regard for his native place, and has been happy to place upon the historic page many things which, in the changes of time, might ha\'e been irrecoverably lost.

Contents

To the Hon. Semite and House of Representativrs of the Commonicealth of Afassnchiixefts in General Court aasemtdeit : The undersigned Selectmen of the Town of North Bridgewater. in accordance with a vote passed liy the Town at a meeting held on the sixth day of February instant, hereby petition your Honorable body to pass an Act changing tlie corporate name of our Town to " Brockton."

The undersigned, legal voters of the Town of North Bridgewater, respectfully petition your honorable body to change the name of said town to Brockton :

Brockton As A Town

G. E. Minzy. John N. Keed. A. D. Tyler. George N. Holmes. Tabez Taber. .Mbert A. Packard. .Tames A. Tde. TTenry P. Holmes. TTcnrv F. Porcheron.

\y. D. IMeree. C. A. JOdgcomb. I At wood. L Sheets. iM-ed Wil.ler. Sylvanus Keith. Charles A. Diinltar. John Montgomery. (Jecu-ge W. Pai-kard. R. W. Dunbar. George V. Scott. William Steven.s. John N. Crossley. (^.eorge A. Wild. Daniel Dunbar. Charles W. Allen. Albert B. Drinkwater.

Iiistorv Of Ij Hock Ton Brockton As A Town

G. W. Cole. G. H. Lord. G. A. Chirke. Damon Kinj^man. G. M. Skinner. L. A. Main. Xoali Thomas. William H. Thomas. (JeorKe E. Hayw.ird. O. A. Rolins. William W. Shaw. Hiram B. Thayer. Georso A. Bird. Elias X. Osborne. John Mairuire.

Mr. Noyes, of North Brid<?ewate'-, presents the petition of C. C. Bixby and 1 02 1 others, lecral voters of North Bridgewater, in aid of the petition of the selectmen of said town for a change of the corporate name of the town, and moves its leference to the Committee on Town.«.

History Of Brockton

The undersigned legal voters of the Town of North Bridgewater, endorse the action of the town at a legal meeting held on the Gth of Feliruary, instant, in voting to petition the Lesrisiature to chanofe the name of the town :

1 voters in the town of North Bridgewater, endorse the action of ting held on the sixth day of February, instant, in voting to to change the name of the town :

Brockton As A Town

Thomas Grady. Ahner J. Clark. Dennis Buckley. Albert Coots. A. C Severance. H. A. Abbott. T. Keating. A. H. Vose. George Reed. Henrv K. Coots.

George G. Sndlh. Samu'l T. Krett. John Itidell. A. Knrges. Harrison IJoirei-s. C. A. llaldin. Wm. C. Russfll. Wni. II. Hcrton. Wm. H. ['east-. (^Tmrles Cole. A. X. PeekLam. Albert Barrows. C. Biley. Allen Eeaih. A. S. Maeov.

E. T. Stoddard. ^W'leoHie A. Ilnward. Thomas i;. \\'atrrm;in. De.xtrr .\. Keiih. -Martin .M. Keith. Herman Ilewett. .lohn F. Snnth. Patrick Goodwin.

Mr. Howard, of West Bridgewater, presents the petition of F. .\. Tliayer and .314 others, for change of the name of North Bridgewater to Allerton.

The undersigned citizens and legal voters in the town of North Bridgewater, while willing or desirous to change the corporate name of the town, respectfully beg leave to protest against adopting the name of Brockton, and ask to be heard by themselves or counsel thereon.

History Of Brockton

To the llonorulde, the Senate and House of liepreaentativcs < if the Commonwtalih of Massachusetts in Oeneral Court assembled: Respectfully petition the undersigned legal voters of the Town of North Bridgewater, in said Commonwealth, that the name of said town be changed to Allerton. Feb. 2, 1874.

ILoland Harris. Everett K. Reynolds. Geur.ne A\'. Severance Luke Reynolds. lOphraim Coiu'laml. O. B. Reynolds. T. A. Baxendale. Oscar Calkins.

House of Representatives, March 13, 1874. The Committee on Towns, to whom vvras committed the petition of the selectmen of North Bridj^ewater that tlie 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 'So others, and of G-eorge H. Gnrney and 102 others, in aid of said petition of the .'ielectmen ; 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 .Mpheus Gurney, and 10.5 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.

more than one of said names shall not be counted. Tlie polls shall be opened at nine o'clock in the forenoon of said day, and shall be closed at seven o'clork in the afternoon of said day.

Skct. 3. It shall be the duty of the selectmen of said Lown to certify and return, as soon as may be, the number of ballots in favor of each of said three names to the secretary of the Commonwealth, who shall immediately issue and publish his certillcate, 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.

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: -

Whereas, by an Act of our Legislature, entitled, " An Act to authorize ihe 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 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 6rst Tuesday of May of the current year, for the purpose of determining vi^hich of said three names shall be the name of said town." The selectmen of said tow/i to certify and return, as soon as may be, the number of ballots in favor of each of said three names to the Secretary 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 the said town, the same thereupon to become and be the name of said town.

Now, tiierefore, having received from the Selectmen of North Bridgewater, a return, properly attested, of the doings of the inhabitants at a meeting 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 hundred and ninety-one (1491). Of this number, ten hundred and eighty (1080) were for Brockton, and four hundred and eleven (411) were for Avon.

Brockton, May 6, 1874. The object which has been the occasion of so much labor and effort for jears is at last accomplished, and to-day for the first time in our history 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 respecting their just claims for recognition, and have viewed with more or less dissatisfaction the tendency of the world at large to distribute our honors 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 name is one we shall ever delight to honor, and the joint heritage of the past, the liistory 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 affections of those whose name and honorable renown we have shared so long.

As for ourselves, while rejoicing in tlie prospect of a relief f i ( m much that has proved a source of inconvenience and of public anno}ance, 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 proportion of its native born citizens it is the only town name tliey have ever known as their own. Around it cluster onl\' 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 preliminary to the final vote which settled the town name, has been hardly less marked and fervid than that attending some of our most warmlv 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 tlie 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 respected citizens. As a counter-irritant the Brockton men, at precisely twelve o'clock the same day, made a very pretty and effective demonstration 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 display gave to the street a decidedly holiday look, and was especially significant 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 instead of the old legends "Grant & Wilson," '" Greeley & Brown," were displayed the names " Brockton " and " Avon " in conspicuous letters. On Friday the Brocktonians came out with a circular, which is generally conceded to have been the heaviest gun in the campaign, containing 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 " gatiiering 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 detail. Almost every building through the business section of the street, together with a large number of residences, manifested the general enthusiam. The exceptionably fine displa}-, although of " Avon " tendencies 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 brilliantly 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

On Tuesday morning at half-past eight the scene of action was transferred to Music Hall, where the final decision w as to be rendered through the ballot box The warrant was read by the clerk, and a ballot for moderator showed eight\-t\vo votes for A. T. Jones, and none in opposition. 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 irrj' enthusiastic Avonians, appearing to regard it as a foregone cor.clusion 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-da}'. Most of the shops and factories were closed to give the workmen opportunity to vote, and with the throngs upon the sidewalks and the ga)' colors which predominated on every hand, one would have thought that a full blossomed Fourth of July had suddenly dropped into the spring calendar. About the middle of the forenoon quite a sensation was created by the appearance upon the street of a procession of workmen from the establishments of Snell & Atherton, Warren A. Howard, Charles Howard & Co.. J. W. Packard, Orr & Sears, D. S. Howard & Co , and Porter & Packard, escorted b)' 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. Campello 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 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 announced that the whole vote lacked but nine of a round 1,500, and that of these Brockton had received 1080, and Avon 41 i, there was an outburst 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 congratulations 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 />/// 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 j-et to come, in a variety of toasts called up

Mr. H. A. Ford to respond in behalf of the fathers of the town of Brockton, Rev. Messrs. McNeille. Eastwood and House, and C. W. Sumner, esq., to respond for the clerical and legal professions, B R. Clapp to express the sentiment of an Avonian, Edward Parker, jr., to speak for education, 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. ¥. Porter for its manufacturing 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 b)' the company.

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 sood

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.

History Of Brockton Farewell To North Bridgewater

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.

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 command ;

North Bridgewater Statistical

Bright visions of the ages past Reflected from thine ancient fame, In colors beautiful, are cast, Delightmg all who love thy name. Glad homage to that Englisli 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.