East Bridgewater Bicentennial

As we plan our commemoration of East Bridgewater’s 200th Anniversary in 2023, we look back on our long and storied past. It was here in 1649, at Sachem Rock the site that Wampanoag Chieftain Massasoit (Ousamequin), signed a document deeding land to Myles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, which became the basis for the area known as Olde Bridgewater. This historic document still exists and can be viewed at the Old Bridgewater Historical Society. East Bridgewater was known as the “East Parish” until its incorporation as a town on June 14, 1823.

While primarily agricultural the town also developed various industries including an iron works that supplied cannon for the American Revolution and the Carver Cotton Gin Company. A Carver gin can still be seen at the original Slater Mill site in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. During the Civil War Abraham Lincoln signed a document establishing a Post Office in Elmwood, so that locally manufactured shoes could more easily be shipped to Union soldiers.

While we continue to remember our long history, which was highlighted in the publication of David Wilson’s The East Bridgewater Sesquicentennial, 1823-1973, we plan during the Bicentennial, to place particular emphasis on the past 50 years of our history. The Bicentennial Committee is planning a yearlong celebration and we encourage any local groups that wish to be part of the commemoration to contact the Committee so we might incorporate their events into the commemoration. Incorporating the widest possible participation of our citizens into this event will make it a truly memorable historical celebration.