Brockton Community Access is proud to present a feature of our

Award Winning program One North Main we call “This Month in Brockton’s History”

• January 26, 1880:  The newspaper currently known as “The Enterprise” publishes its first issue as “The Brockton Enterprise”

• January 2, 1882:  The first Mayor of the New City of Brockton Ziba Cary Keith is inaugurated at the “Opera House Block”, what would today be the corners of Main and East Elm Street.  The City’s first mayor would serve his inaugural term in 1882, then 1884 to 1885, and then again from 1891 to 1893.

• January 15, 1969:  Through efforts of many a new cultural center opens in the city and is first titled “ the Brockton Art Center – Fuller Memorial”.  Today after a renaming ceremony on January 24, 2002 we know the center as the “Fuller Craft Museum”

• February 24, 1965:  Although the stores have changed the location hasn’t the Westgate Mall opens its doors for the first time.

• February 5, 1968: The Brockton Police Department moves from its original location on the corner of East Elm and VFW Parkway to the location of the one time Brockton Train Station and its current address on Commercial Street across from the BAT Terminal

February 15, 1999:  Another landmark opens as the New Brockton Area Transit Terminal, or the BAT Station, beings serving the city anew from its location on Commercial Street.

• March 2, 1880:  Although Brockton is not yet a city, there is a political milestone as Milley Estes becomes the first woman registered voter.

• March 1, 1898:  The M.A. Packard Company on Warren Avenue incorporates.

• March 20, 1905:  A boiler explosion at the R.B. Grover & Company shoe factory sparks a massive fire.  The result devastates several city blocks while more than 150 people are injured and 58 would die.

• March 8, 1932:  The Majestic Theatre Building at 21 East Elm Street is destroyed by fire.

• March 10, 1941:  The Brockton Fire Department responds to a summons at the Strand Theatre.  In one moment thirteen Brockton Firefighters would give the ultimate sacrifice that has is memorialized annually.

• April 9, 1881:  Amongst all of the most significant moments in Brockton History, this may be the most important as the residents of the area officially vote to make Brockton a city.
• April 27, 1902:  Amongst the most notable buildings in our city today, the Messiah Baptist Church on Alton Street is dedicated.
• April 29, 1912:  Brockton’s hub status is important amongst presidents of the United States and on this day in history William Taft visits the city.

• May 23, 1881:  Although the vote from the citizens for Brockton to become a city happens in April, it is not until May 23^rd 1881 that the state approves the official charter for the City of Brockton
• May 15, 1912:  Construction for the Main Street Library is underway as this day in history the cornerstone is laid in place
• May 5, 1920:   Brockton receives national attention as Sacco and Vanzetti are arrested in the City wanted on charges of robbery and murder in one of the more infamous footnotes of our cities past
• May 31, 2002:   Celebrating six years in Brockton this May, on this date in history the Brockton Rox host their first home game

September

• September 24, 1894: Brockton City Hall is officially dedicated

• September 7, 1901:  The First Ladies Golf Tournament held at the Brockton Country Club

• September 23, 1952:  “The Brockton Blockbuster” Rocky Marciano becomes the Heavyweight Champion of the World.  A title he would hold for almost three years until September 21, 1955.

• September 6, 1972:  Massasoit Community College opens its doors in Brockton

• September 27, 1980:  "Marvelous Marvin" Hagler becomes the second Brockton Boxer to become World Middleweight Champion

October

• October 24, 1884:  The City Theatre, the first theatre with electric lights, opens its doors at the corner of Main and Ward Streets

• October 30, 1890:  The Satucket Golf Club votes to change its name to the Brockton Country Club.

• October 28, 1921:  The land of the Eldon B Keith Field is donated to the city of Brockton

• October 21, 1936:  In his whirlwind presidential campaign tour candidate for reelection President Franklin Roosevelt visits Brockton

• October 18, 1952:  Not to be out done by a previous head of state, President Harry S. Truman visits the City

November

• November 12, 1885:  The event that became to be known as the “42 Lockout” began.  Forty-two Brockton shoe manufacturers issued a combined statement that provided the show magnates the right to hire and terminate their factory workers at will.  This action caused an uproar amongst the workers and thus followed the six-week strike known as the “42 Lockout”

• November 29, 1890:  Serving the residents of Brockton and beyond for over 100 years now, the Brockton Hospital Company was formed.  Although based in Brockton this non-profit community teaching hospital has grown to provide services to 400,000 residents and 20 communities.

• November 8, 1904:  Onetime Shoe industrialist of the W.L. Douglas Shoe Company turned democratic official William Lewis Douglas is elected governor of Massachusetts and would serve from 1905-1906.

December

• December 1884:  Brockton’s Central Fire Station opened

• December the Brockton High School Boxer football team makes frequent history winning the MIAA Division One Super Bowl to date they have hoisted the State Title – a state record Eleven times

• and finally in December another example of the City of Brockton and its pioneering traditions.  What is now a global tradition of the Christmas season started right here in Brockton when when James Edgar, of Edgar's Department Store, suited up as Santa for the first time - the first department store santa.