Brockton Historical Society

03/15/2026

The Brockton Historical Museum and the Brockton Fire Museum will be open today at 1 o’clock. Please stop by and check us out.

01/05/2026

A look back into History.

According to AI:
The Porter Congregational Church in Brockton, MA, began in 1850 as the Porter Evangelical Congregational Church, formed by members leaving the First Parish due to theological differences, meeting first in halls before acquiring a North Main Street building in 1851. It played a significant role in Brockton's growth, eventually merging with First Parish, South, and Waldo Congregational Churches in 1980 to form Christ Congregational Church, continuing a legacy of faith in the city, with its records preserved at the Congregational Library & Archives.
Key Milestones:
• 1850: Founded as the Porter Evangelical Congregational Church following disagreements with the First Parish.
• 1851: Purchased and renovated its first building on Main Street.
• 1874: North Bridgewater became Brockton.
• 1980: Merged with First Parish, South, and Waldo Congregational Churches to become Christ Congregational Church.
Origins & Early Years:
• Split from First Parish: In the late 1840s, liberal theological shifts under Rev. Paul Couch at First Parish led to a schism, with about 70 members forming the new church.
• Formal Organization: An ecclesiastical council gathered the church on March 6, 1850, with John F. Norton as the first minister.
• First Home: They met at Tyler Cobb's Hall before securing their own building.
Later History & Legacy:
• Role in Community: The church was an active part of Brockton's development, even featuring early electrification and powerful organs.
• Merger: The union in 1980 consolidated the histories of four prominent Brockton Congregational churches into Christ Congregational Church.
• Historical Records: The Congregational Library & Archives holds valuable records from the Porter Church, detailing its administration, membership, and history.

01/04/2026

On this date January 3, 1837: The South Congregation Church of North Bridgewater was formally gathered with Rev. John Dwight as the first minister. On May 23, 1853, the first meeting house was destroyed by fire; the second meeting house was constructed a year later. The South Congregational Church in Brockton merged with the First Parish Congregational Church, Porter Congregational Church, and Waldo Congregational Church to form the Christ Congregational Church in 1980.  The building located at the corner of South and Main Street was eventually torn down in 1993 to make way for Walgreens.

01/02/2026

Brockton Veterans History Project – Robert McCormack interviews Richard Wainwright former Mayor of the City of Brockton 

https://youtu.be/CS2PxINe7qk?si=iM4Y3gyzfQdb1Zn-

12/25/2025

06/23/2025

Please follow the new 1924  Seagrave Squad A restoration page. This is being changed to a page from a group.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577788528193

Brockton’s Squad A Restoration Project - This page Brockton is dedicated to Local 144's restoration of the 1924 Seagrave that ran as Squad A. This truck responded to the Strand Theater Fire in 1941.

05/04/2025

The museum will be open today from 1 to 330. Great day to take a tour.