West Bridgewater, one of our oldest settlements, is situated in the northwesterly part of Plymouth County, 25 miles south of Boston. The main line of the Old Colony Railroad skirts the eastern border, with stations at Matfield and Satucket; sending from the former a branch to Easton, which bas stations at West Bridgewater centre and Cochesett. The last two places and Matfield are the post-offices. The other village is Jerusalem.

The town is bounded on the north by Brockton, on the east by East Bridgewater, on the south by Bridgewater, and on the west by Easton. The assessed area is 9,822 acres; of which 2,890 are wood-land, containing pine, maple, oak and birch. The underlying rock is sienitic and carboniferous. The surface is remarkably even, with a gentle inclination toward the south. Nearly 1,000 acres are in swale, or wet meadow, which produces a valuable hay-crop. The soil is generally a sandy loam. The town is drained by Salisbury-Plain River in the northeastern, Town River in the central, and Hockamock Brook in the western section. These streams furnish motive power of considerable value. There are good roads, and the appearance of the farms and dwellings indicates thrift and respectability.

There are two boot and shoe factories, a shovel factory, one making eyelet machines, and others of less importance. The value of the aggregate manufactures in 1885 was $134,461. The product of the 51 farms was valued at $103,043. The population was 1,707; of whom 443 were legal voters. The valuation in 1888 was $969,589, with a tax-rate of 1.45 per cent. There were 382 taxed dwelling-houses. The ten public school-houses - occupied by primary and grammar schools - are valued at $7,200. The high-school instruction is given in the Harvard Collegiate Institute, whose two edifices are valued at $115,000. Beside the school-rooms, the main building contains a large lecture hall. This institution was founded in 1883 by a bequest of $80,000 left by Benjamin B. Howard for the purpose about 20. years ago. He also left $2,000 to aid in establishing public lectures, and the sum of $20,000 to the Unitarian Church in this town. The other churches are the Baptist and Methodist.

Pp. 678-678 in Nason and Varney's Massachusetts Gazetteer, 1890  

Reprinted on: capecodhistory.us/Mass1890/WestBridgewater1890

WB COA Travel News - Great trips for Spring

TOP OF THE HUB  Omni Imax Theater at The Museum of Science  Thursday, April 16, 2015 
 
 

NEW YORK CITY  and 9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM  May 2 - 3, 2015  (2 Days / 1 Night ~ Saturday - Sunday)   

COLONIAL THEATER  "In The Mood"  Boston, MA  Tuesday, May 12, 2015  

   MYRTLE BEACH  South Carolina  May 16 - 22, 2015  (7 Days / 6 Nights ~ Saturday - Friday   

A MUSICAL SALUTE TO AMERICA  Wrights Chicken Farm  Harrisville, RI  Thursday, June 11, 2015 
 

REMINDER - ALL TRIPS REQUIRE PAYMENT AT THE TIME OF RESERVATION 

Council on Aging, 97 W Center St. 508-894-1262.

Telephone reservations will be held 3 days.  Seating is limited. If you are interested in any of these trips, please do not wait to sign up. 

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30a-4p

All trips leave from the WB Lowe's parking lot.

West Bridgewater Youth Athletics Association 

                  Field Cleanup Day & Preparation

April 18th

8 AM at the clubhouse behind the WB Town Hall. Rakes and wheelbarrows would be helpful. Many hands are appreciated.

 

The WBYAA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization run by parent volunteers to provide an opportunity for the athletic participation for the youth of the community.

The WBYAA supports the following sports for girls and boys that are residents of West Bridgewater or participate in School Choice in West Bridgewater Public Schools: 

Spring Soccer, Fall Soccer, Baseball, Softball, T Ball, and Basketball