Section 3 - Community Setting
B - History of the Community
East Bridgewater was settled around 1649. In 1723 it was incorporated as the East Precinct of Bridgewater. One hundred years later on June 14, 1823 the Town was incorporated under its present name. In 1875, after 29 years of territorial exchanges with Bridgewater, Whitman, Halifax and Brockton, the Town established the size and shape recognized today.
Bog iron ore, of which the area contained an abundance, stimulated the Town’s industrial development. It quickly became an industrial town with much of the 18th and 19th century activity centered in the southern part of town. 22 mills and forges scattered the area along the seven rivers flowing through town.
The first trip hammer shop in the country was established in East Bridgewater. Some of the other locally inspired technological innovations included the spring nipper invented by Melville Otis and a nail making machine developed by Samuel Rogers. Very important to the economic development of the town into the 20th century was the Carver Cotton Gin Company started by Eleazer Carver in 1843. By the end of the 19th century, the northern part of town was primarily agricultural and industry was located in and around the center of town.
Much of the Town in rich in Indian history. There are Indian camp grounds on Robins Pond, Indian burial grounds on Pond Street, fish weirs and fording places on the Satucket River, and Sachem’s Rock. Sachem’s Rock is the site of a meeting between the Indian Sachem Massasoit, and Miles Standish in 1649. During the meeting Miles Standish purchased the original Bridgewater lands for trade good worth about $30.
Early residential settlements were located at Joppa (Elmwood) and in the center. As trolley lines came to the area, more residential growth occurred along the lines. The Town’s Historical Commission has identified more than 200 homes and buildings of historical and architectural significance in the Town that were built in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
After World War II the Town began to grow more and homes were built in response to the changes experienced by small towns throughout the region.