History
Southern Massachusetts was inhabited by a tribe of Native Americans called the Wampanoags. They were a powerful tribe of the Algonquin race. They were sometimes known as the Poconockets as well as the Massasoits, after their Chief's name. There were 30 villages and at one point a population of 20,000. In his later years Chief Massasoit was also known as Ousamequin, as it was common for Native Americans to change their names to suit their current position. Massasoit was an ally of the early settlers and was known for his honesty, integrity, and his loyalty. The land where Brockton presently sits was originally deeded to Miles Standish and John Alden as well as others from these local Native Americans in 1649. It was purchased for, "7 coats, a yard and a half in a coat, 9 hatchets, 8 hoes, 20 knives, 4 moose-skins, 10 yards and a half of cotton" all told approximately $30!!! The transaction is believed to have taken place at Sachem's Rock, in East Bridgewater.  The area was then part of Bridgewater, and on June 15, 1821 it became North Bridgewater. Suprisingly, the original reason for North Bridgewater's arrival was to accomodate the problem of some citizens distance from the place of town meetings. Several members of the North Parish of Bridgewater petitioned the legislature stating as there reason, "nearly 300 voters belong to the North Precinct and have to travel from five to seven miles to attend town meetings over a piece of way very bad in the months of March and April." Later, on Jan. 26, 1825 the bounds between North Bridgewater and West Bridgewater were established. The name of Brockton was adopted by North Bridgewater under the Act of Mar. 28, 1874 and the city was incorporated on Apr. 9, 1881.  The area was mostly farmland originally. However, this town became one of the most important industrial manufacturing centers in America from the 18th century to the 1950's. The great expansion was prompted by advances in the manufacturing methods of shoes primarily with the invention of the McKay Sewing Machine. This new machine made it possible to sew together the soles and uppers of shoes without pegging them. U.S. Government orders for Army shoes during the Civil War made Brockton the largest shoe producing center in America!!! It was rumored that half of the Union's Army boots were made in Brockton! Hence the name "the shoe city". The growing need for workers drew thousands, and by 1880 the population of the area had tripled! By 1929 60 shoe factories in Brockton employed over 30,000 workers!!! The industry also attracted many plants and manufactories that made tools and supplies used in footwear production. Virtually every working citizen was in one way or another working in the shoe industry. Even today many of the old factories still stand, although their useage now is quite different.  Brockton also lays claim to one of the first central power stations in the US. In 1883 power was distributed through 3-wire underground conductors and was copied and used by cities all over the world! The first electric powered street railway was developed in Brockton and Thomas Edison came here to see a demonstration of the railway in 1884. Edison also visited the first city theater to be lighted from a central electrical power station here in Brockton. Brockton also built the first electrically powered fire station. In 1893, Brockton developed a sewage disposal system for inland cities which was incorporated by many communities all over the country and even abroad. Today Brockton is no longer the bustling manufacturing giant of yesterday but is now rather a strong service and retail oriented city. It is still growing as witnessed by it's new Court house, Commuter Railway, new schools, new 'Rox' team and stadium, the renovations to our library and Marciano Stadium, and numerous new businesses. Brockton is still a model city with a bright future just as it was in it's inception. Click here for detailed histories of the area |
Brockton High School Class of 1895:
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George Safford BEAL, Clarence Lovell JOY, Henry Preston WHITE, Maud Beatrice KANE, Bessie Burr THOMAS, Margaret GODDARD, Melitia Clifton HOWARD, Bessie White KEITH, Jennie Elizabeth McLARTY, Alice Morton PACKARD, Ida Grace PACKARD, Mabel Edna PACKARD, Estelle Langdon REYNOLDS, Emma Josephine ROGERS, Alice Emily RUSSELL, Harry Sumner DAMON, Willard Franklin JACKSON, George Lindsay JORDAN, Charles Walter LOW, Charles Milton AMES, Horace Holmes CHASE, Theodore Francis JOHNSON, Frederick William MURPHY, Wellington Henry NILSSON, Arthur Linwood RICH, Annie Wilhelmina ANDERSON, Ethel Gertrude CROCKER, Ida Mae GIBBS, Alice Belle HOLMES, Ruth Bryant HOWARD, Alberta JAMESON, Menetta Abbie STEVENS, Julia Etta SULLIVAN, Mary Otis THAYER
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George Safford BEAL, Clarence Lovell JOY, Henry Preston WHITE, Maud Beatrice KANE, Bessie Burr THOMAS, Margaret GODDARD, Melitia Clifton HOWARD, Bessie White KEITH, Jennie Elizabeth McLARTY, Alice Morton PACKARD, Ida Grace PACKARD, Mabel Edna PACKARD, Estelle Langdon REYNOLDS, Emma Josephine ROGERS, Alice Emily RUSSELL, Harry Sumner DAMON, Willard Franklin JACKSON, George Lindsay JORDAN, Charles Walter LOW, Charles Milton AMES, Horace Holmes CHASE, Theodore Francis JOHNSON, Frederick William MURPHY, Wellington Henry NILSSON, Arthur Linwood RICH, Annie Wilhelmina ANDERSON, Ethel Gertrude CROCKER, Ida Mae GIBBS, Alice Belle HOLMES, Ruth Bryant HOWARD, Alberta JAMESON, Menetta Abbie STEVENS, Julia Etta SULLIVAN, Mary Otis THAYER
Brockton Theatres
Brockton Drive-In Theatre
Brockton Theatre
Centre Theatre
City Theatre
Colonial Theatre
Dankantas Theatre
Empire Theatre
Globe-Photo Playhouse
Hathaway's Theatre
Keith's Campello Theatre
Loew E M Center Theatre
Majestic Theatre
McCue & Cahill
Modern Theatre
New American Theatre
New Orpheum Theatre
Olympia Theatre
Opera House
Park Theatre
Rialto Theatre
Scenic Theatre
Sheedy's Theatre
Skyview Drive-In Theatre
Strand Theatre
Ward Street Theatre
Brockton Drive-In Theatre
Brockton Theatre
Centre Theatre
City Theatre
Colonial Theatre
Dankantas Theatre
Empire Theatre
Globe-Photo Playhouse
Hathaway's Theatre
Keith's Campello Theatre
Loew E M Center Theatre
Majestic Theatre
McCue & Cahill
Modern Theatre
New American Theatre
New Orpheum Theatre
Olympia Theatre
Opera House
Park Theatre
Rialto Theatre
Scenic Theatre
Sheedy's Theatre
Skyview Drive-In Theatre
Strand Theatre
Ward Street Theatre
Brockton High School Class of 1921:
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{Ladies First!}
Marion Leslie ALDEN, Priscilla Howard ALDEN, Irma Adelaide AUGUSTINE, Delphine Barron AVERY, Doris Evelyn BEAL, Charlotte May BERGER, Barbara BERGSTROM, Elizabeth BLUMBERG, Kathryn Marguerite BROWN, Anna Calnan BURKE, Bernice Bradshaw CAMPBELL, Alice Frances Mary CARROLL, Grace MacCgregor CARSON, Esther Alice CHAMBERLAIN, Rhoda Ruth COHEN, Stella May COOPER, Verna Ethelyn COX, Margaret Mary CREEDON, Emma CROKE, Grace Ellen DANIELS, Mildred Phips ELLIS, Meredith Churchill FARNUM, Clara Louise FARREN, Jessie Banks Jeanette FERGUSON, Dorothea Agnes FLOOD, Edith Ingeborg FORSBERG, Ruth Elizabeth FREEMAN, Arlene Linnea FROEBERG, Arlene GARDNER, Gladys Myrtle GARDNER, Helen Regina GILMORE, Esther Rita GIZZARELLI, Frances GRADY, Teresa Nora GRADY, Hannah GREEN, Helen Gertrude GREENWOOD, Kathleen Gibbs GUNDERSON, Dorothy GURNEY, Helen Kasmier HANSON, Florence Edith HEACOCK, Grace Frances HODGSON, Esther Pauline HOLMES, Edna Marie JOHNSON, Florence Evelyn JOHNSON, Hazel Gudrun JOHNSON, Ruth Dagmar JOHNSON, Mary Angela KANE, Margaret Denise KELLEHER, Edith Howes KELLEY, Mary KESS, Margaret Marcellina KING, Constance KINGMAN, Bernice Louise KNOWLES, Marie Louise LaMONTAGUE, Amy Gertrude LAWSON, Lillie Elizabeth LAWSON, Anna Catherine LIND, Ellen Rose LINEHAN, Alice Leah MacDONALD, Sadie Winifred MacDOUGALL, Mary Regina MACKEDON, Doris Mildred MACKIE, Ellen Frances MARTIN, Grace Doris MARTIN, Ruth Luella MATSON, Blanche Irene MAVER, Alice Mae McCARTHY, Helen Josephine McCARTHY, Alice Virginia McCORMICK, Norine Gertrude McKENNEY, Camille Agnes MITCHELL, Louise Gertrude MONGEAU, Florence Louise MONKS, Blanche Pauline MOREAU, Margaret Gertrude MULLEN, Katherine Louise MURPHY, Ruby Marion NELSON, Mary Catherine NOONE, Miriam NORRIS, Grace Edith NOYES, Celia Agnes NUGENT, Alice Marie ODDIE, Lola Shepard PACKARD, Florence Katherine PAPINEAU, Hilda Cornell PERCY, Amity Ruth PERKINS, Katherine PERKINS, Bessie REISER, Alleine Marion RICARD, Stella Beatrice ROLLINS, Anna Virginia ROSEQUIST, Theodora Gladys ROYSTER, Minnie RUSACOW, Alice Frost SHAW, Viola Gretchen SHAW, Gladys Goldie SMALL, Evelyn STONE, Ina Sara STONE, Mary Margaret TAYLOR, Constance Rebecca TRAVIS, Doris Adeline TRIPP, Laurene Mildred TURNER, Louise Ellington Turner, Marguerite Emma VARNUM, Madge WAINWRIGHT, Rose Alice WHELAN, Eleanor Agnes WILSON, Elsa Anna WOLLIN, Alice Fyrn WOODS, Ella Louise YOUNG, Martha Ingeborg YOUNGGREN
{Boys}
Tony Ralph ALEXANDER, Frederick Emmel ALLEN, Alvar Emmanuel ARONSON, Charles Weldon BEAN, Frank Gerald BENDELL, William Joseph BULMAN, Ernest Nelson CHAMBERLAIN, Lloyd Frances CHURCHILL, John Shaw COOLIDGE, George William Edward COOTS, Ion Henri De Arcost CORNWELL, Herbert Timothy CREEDON, George Frederick DENNEHY, Edward Joseph DEROSIER, George Francis DONOVAN, Lewis Robert DRETLER, Eugene Wynford DUNBAR, Howard Hunter DUNBAR, John Francis FORD, Franklin Leroy FOSTER, Clark Kimball FRENCH, Otto FROEHLICH, Howard Merton GARDNER, Lewis GLAZER, Charles Carl GOLDING, Sebastian Abraham GOLDSTEIN, Joseph Gale GURNEY, Chesley Frank HAMMOND, Chester Elmer HARRIS, Charles Edward HENNESSY, Ralph Edward HIGGINS, Herbert Turney HILL, David Stanley HOLMES, John Patrick HORRIGAN, Daniel Alexander HUNTLEY, Vincent Carl HYLEN, Paul Lincoln JONES, Earl Laurier KEMPTON, Melvin Mason KING, Albert Liguori La CHAPELLE, Stanley Clark LANE, Antonio Astuto LAURIA, Evald Benjamin LAWSON, Kenneth Winslow MacGREGORY, Edward Joseph MAHONEY, David Palmer MATTHEWS, John Joseph McGEE, Ralph Francis McGLONE, Isaac George MILLER, Lewis MILLER, Arthur Malachi MOYNIHAN, Emory Raymond NEAL, George John NELSON, John Jeffrey O'BRIEN, Charles Frank OLIVER, Jr., Arthur Neal PARMENTER, Paul Francis PERRIER, William Martland PERRY, Anthony Edward PETERS, Isadore RAFKIN, Louis Creed ROLAND, Allie ROSEN, John Peter SAKAS, Guy Lawrence SCANLAN, John Joseph SHEEHAN, Murray SHULTZ, Bernard Francis SMITH, Chester Merle SPEAR, George Edward TANNER, Harry TENSER, Raymond Woodruff TURNER, Balfour Stirling TYNDALL, Joseph John Van RIPER, Hubert Gordon WALL, James Francis WELCH, Ernest Houghton WHITE, Arthur Joseph WILDE, Frederick Allen WILDE, William Roland WINSOR, Leroy Reynolds WOODARD
{Three-year Course}
Sarah Theresa CONNELLY, Rose FELDMAN, Rena FERRANTI, Esther FOSTER, Ida Louise HALL, Alice Ingaborg HAMMERQUIST, Elsa Clara Magdalene LINDBERG, Lillian Claire MADDEN, Sarah Poole McCOLLIGAN, Ruth Elizabeth McGEE, Mary Agnes McSWEENEY, Agnes Cecelia REARDON, Ethel Veronica REARDON, Mildred Louise TILLMAN, Etta ZELINSKY, John Robert DUNN, William LEAVITT, Joseph Alexis MININI, Helge Skotfrid PERSSON, Harold Carl SUNSTROM, Louise Martha FICKETT
(To search for a name press "control" and "F" on your keyboard)
{Ladies First!}
Marion Leslie ALDEN, Priscilla Howard ALDEN, Irma Adelaide AUGUSTINE, Delphine Barron AVERY, Doris Evelyn BEAL, Charlotte May BERGER, Barbara BERGSTROM, Elizabeth BLUMBERG, Kathryn Marguerite BROWN, Anna Calnan BURKE, Bernice Bradshaw CAMPBELL, Alice Frances Mary CARROLL, Grace MacCgregor CARSON, Esther Alice CHAMBERLAIN, Rhoda Ruth COHEN, Stella May COOPER, Verna Ethelyn COX, Margaret Mary CREEDON, Emma CROKE, Grace Ellen DANIELS, Mildred Phips ELLIS, Meredith Churchill FARNUM, Clara Louise FARREN, Jessie Banks Jeanette FERGUSON, Dorothea Agnes FLOOD, Edith Ingeborg FORSBERG, Ruth Elizabeth FREEMAN, Arlene Linnea FROEBERG, Arlene GARDNER, Gladys Myrtle GARDNER, Helen Regina GILMORE, Esther Rita GIZZARELLI, Frances GRADY, Teresa Nora GRADY, Hannah GREEN, Helen Gertrude GREENWOOD, Kathleen Gibbs GUNDERSON, Dorothy GURNEY, Helen Kasmier HANSON, Florence Edith HEACOCK, Grace Frances HODGSON, Esther Pauline HOLMES, Edna Marie JOHNSON, Florence Evelyn JOHNSON, Hazel Gudrun JOHNSON, Ruth Dagmar JOHNSON, Mary Angela KANE, Margaret Denise KELLEHER, Edith Howes KELLEY, Mary KESS, Margaret Marcellina KING, Constance KINGMAN, Bernice Louise KNOWLES, Marie Louise LaMONTAGUE, Amy Gertrude LAWSON, Lillie Elizabeth LAWSON, Anna Catherine LIND, Ellen Rose LINEHAN, Alice Leah MacDONALD, Sadie Winifred MacDOUGALL, Mary Regina MACKEDON, Doris Mildred MACKIE, Ellen Frances MARTIN, Grace Doris MARTIN, Ruth Luella MATSON, Blanche Irene MAVER, Alice Mae McCARTHY, Helen Josephine McCARTHY, Alice Virginia McCORMICK, Norine Gertrude McKENNEY, Camille Agnes MITCHELL, Louise Gertrude MONGEAU, Florence Louise MONKS, Blanche Pauline MOREAU, Margaret Gertrude MULLEN, Katherine Louise MURPHY, Ruby Marion NELSON, Mary Catherine NOONE, Miriam NORRIS, Grace Edith NOYES, Celia Agnes NUGENT, Alice Marie ODDIE, Lola Shepard PACKARD, Florence Katherine PAPINEAU, Hilda Cornell PERCY, Amity Ruth PERKINS, Katherine PERKINS, Bessie REISER, Alleine Marion RICARD, Stella Beatrice ROLLINS, Anna Virginia ROSEQUIST, Theodora Gladys ROYSTER, Minnie RUSACOW, Alice Frost SHAW, Viola Gretchen SHAW, Gladys Goldie SMALL, Evelyn STONE, Ina Sara STONE, Mary Margaret TAYLOR, Constance Rebecca TRAVIS, Doris Adeline TRIPP, Laurene Mildred TURNER, Louise Ellington Turner, Marguerite Emma VARNUM, Madge WAINWRIGHT, Rose Alice WHELAN, Eleanor Agnes WILSON, Elsa Anna WOLLIN, Alice Fyrn WOODS, Ella Louise YOUNG, Martha Ingeborg YOUNGGREN
{Boys}
Tony Ralph ALEXANDER, Frederick Emmel ALLEN, Alvar Emmanuel ARONSON, Charles Weldon BEAN, Frank Gerald BENDELL, William Joseph BULMAN, Ernest Nelson CHAMBERLAIN, Lloyd Frances CHURCHILL, John Shaw COOLIDGE, George William Edward COOTS, Ion Henri De Arcost CORNWELL, Herbert Timothy CREEDON, George Frederick DENNEHY, Edward Joseph DEROSIER, George Francis DONOVAN, Lewis Robert DRETLER, Eugene Wynford DUNBAR, Howard Hunter DUNBAR, John Francis FORD, Franklin Leroy FOSTER, Clark Kimball FRENCH, Otto FROEHLICH, Howard Merton GARDNER, Lewis GLAZER, Charles Carl GOLDING, Sebastian Abraham GOLDSTEIN, Joseph Gale GURNEY, Chesley Frank HAMMOND, Chester Elmer HARRIS, Charles Edward HENNESSY, Ralph Edward HIGGINS, Herbert Turney HILL, David Stanley HOLMES, John Patrick HORRIGAN, Daniel Alexander HUNTLEY, Vincent Carl HYLEN, Paul Lincoln JONES, Earl Laurier KEMPTON, Melvin Mason KING, Albert Liguori La CHAPELLE, Stanley Clark LANE, Antonio Astuto LAURIA, Evald Benjamin LAWSON, Kenneth Winslow MacGREGORY, Edward Joseph MAHONEY, David Palmer MATTHEWS, John Joseph McGEE, Ralph Francis McGLONE, Isaac George MILLER, Lewis MILLER, Arthur Malachi MOYNIHAN, Emory Raymond NEAL, George John NELSON, John Jeffrey O'BRIEN, Charles Frank OLIVER, Jr., Arthur Neal PARMENTER, Paul Francis PERRIER, William Martland PERRY, Anthony Edward PETERS, Isadore RAFKIN, Louis Creed ROLAND, Allie ROSEN, John Peter SAKAS, Guy Lawrence SCANLAN, John Joseph SHEEHAN, Murray SHULTZ, Bernard Francis SMITH, Chester Merle SPEAR, George Edward TANNER, Harry TENSER, Raymond Woodruff TURNER, Balfour Stirling TYNDALL, Joseph John Van RIPER, Hubert Gordon WALL, James Francis WELCH, Ernest Houghton WHITE, Arthur Joseph WILDE, Frederick Allen WILDE, William Roland WINSOR, Leroy Reynolds WOODARD
{Three-year Course}
Sarah Theresa CONNELLY, Rose FELDMAN, Rena FERRANTI, Esther FOSTER, Ida Louise HALL, Alice Ingaborg HAMMERQUIST, Elsa Clara Magdalene LINDBERG, Lillian Claire MADDEN, Sarah Poole McCOLLIGAN, Ruth Elizabeth McGEE, Mary Agnes McSWEENEY, Agnes Cecelia REARDON, Ethel Veronica REARDON, Mildred Louise TILLMAN, Etta ZELINSKY, John Robert DUNN, William LEAVITT, Joseph Alexis MININI, Helge Skotfrid PERSSON, Harold Carl SUNSTROM, Louise Martha FICKETT
North Bridgewater
Belleview Park, Brockton Heights, Bumpus Corner, Bush, Campello, Cary Hill, Centreville, Clifton Heights, Douglas Park, Ellis Park, Elmhurst, Factory Village, Happy Hollow, Highland Terrace, Hovendon Park, Intervale Park, Leyden Park, Marshall's Corner, Menlo Park, Montello, Morse's Corner, Oak Hill, Pleasant Park, Pleasantville, Prospect Hill, Prospect Park, Porter's Pass, Rangeley Park, Ridge Hill, Salisbury Heights, Sawtelleville, Shaw's Corner, Sunnyside, Sylvester Corner, Thomaston Park, Tower Hill, Walnut Bottom, Wheeler Park, Winchester Park, Winter's Corner, NOTE THE NAMES STILL IN USE TODAY!