Brockton was the shoe manufacturing center of the region from the late 18th century through the 1950's. In the Civil War, it was claimed that half of the Union Army wore boots made in Brockton and at the height of the shoe manufacturing in 1929, more than 30,000 people were employed by shoe manufacturers in a city which dominated the world footwear market until after World War II.
Brockton has claim to three "Firsts" in the world, and two in the country. On October 1, 1883, Brockton became the first place in the world to have a three wire underground electrical system when Thomas Edison threw a switch to activate it. For the other two firsts for electricity, Brockton was home to the first theater in world to be tied into the three wire electrical system. The City Theater opened on October 24, 1894. On December 30, 1884, the first electrically operated fire station in the United States opened in Brockton.
In addition, the department store Santa Claus, now a main-stay of the Christmas season everywhere, appeared in Brockton in December 1890, when James Edgar, of Edgar's Department Store, suited up for the first time.
Also of some note, Brockton became the first city in the country to abolish grade crossings in 1896.
The community prides itself on its diversity; of populations, of interests and of facilities. Brockton hosts the Fuller Museum of Art, felt by residents to be one of the finest small museums in the country, as well as the Brockton Historical Society Complex with museums devoted to shoes, fire fighting artifacts and Thomas Edison. Residents take special pride in their sports heros, who include undefeated world heavyweight champion, Rocky Marciano and middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler. William H. McGunnigle, less known but of great importance, was the Brockton resident credited with inventing the first baseball glove.
Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested in Brockton in 1920.
Headlines were formally posted in street-corner window of the newspaper office of the Brockton Enterprise, 60 Main Street, Brockton, Massachusetts.
** A great website about what's happening in Brockton!**
www.inbrockton.com
**Narrative compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.
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Brockton High School: Brockton High School is a comprehensive high school located in the city of Brockton, 30 miles south of Boston, MA. 4,200 students occupy the nine buildings which comprise the current high school, which opened in 1970. The building is approximately the size of an aircraft carrier (1/3 mile long) and has 13.5 acres of floor space, about half the size of the Prudential Center in Boston.Information on this page was obtained from http://brocktonmagenealogy.tripod.com/.