Town of Easton
Incorporated - December 21, 1725

The present town of Easton was originally a part of the Taunton North Purchase which was acquired by a land company for 100 pounds. The first settlers, Englishmen, did not arrive until 1694 although the purchase was made in 1668.

The first settlers were attracted by the three streams capable of providing water power, bog iron, and farming.

Although Norton separated from Taunton in 1710 it was not until 1725 that the "East-end of Norton" was incorporated as the town of Easton.

Easton supported the Revolutionary War with both men and products. Cannons for George Washington's army were made here as well as muskets. Supposedly the first steel produced in America was forged in Easton and charcoal pits can still be seen all over town.

George Washington reportedly spent at least two nights in Easton, while negotiating for cannon and shot, one of them being spent at Benjamin Williams Tavern which still stands today.

Oliver Ames moved to Easton in the early 19th Century and set up a shovel manufacturing business that ultimately became the largest in the world. In 1852 a fire destroyed the buildings and brought about the erection of stone shops at the shovel plant. These shops still stand as does a row of homes built on Elm Street.

Being philanthropists, the Ames family hired Henry Hobson Richardson to design several buildings for the town: a railroad stations, now home of the Easton Historical Society (1881); Memorial Hall (1877-1881), the Free Library (1877-1879). Other buildings designed by this famed architect were a gardener's cottage and the Gate Lodge. The Railroad Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Many other buildings were built by the Ames family including those on several estates such as "Borderland", now a state park, and "Stonehill" which became a college.

Easton has two historic districts: the southern part of Bay Road and the North Easton Village District. The town has beem described as having "a visual town core with masterful landscape design, cohesive layout." Frederick Law Olmstead designed many of the grounds and gardens in Easton. There are numerous historical markers, milestones and other historic indicators scattered through the town.

Due to the Ames family's interest, Easton became the second town in Massachusetts to have a public kindergarten.

Other interesting facets of Easton's history include the fact that the morse automobile was made here, there was a millstone quarry in the town, King Phillip's cave is located near Stonehill College, and early Easton was said to be apparently a rough and tumble sort or place in its early days as two sets of stocks had been worn out by 1786.

A detailed map and description of historic sites in Easton is available thru the Easton Historical Society.

www.easton.ma.us


Historic Sites

Southern part of Bay Road - historic district

North Easton Village District - historic district

Shingled house designed by H.H.Richardson (1884), 149 Elm St.

Richardson-designed Gate Lodge (1880-1881), Elm St.

"Langwater" (1859), Elm St.

Town Offices, former "Wayside", Elm St.

Easton Historical Society, former North Easton Railroad Station, (1882) - on National Register of Historic Places

Lockup, Mechanic St. - 1897

Original Oliver Ames High School (1890)

Rockery (1881-1884), Frederick Law Olmsted-Designed as the public square. Plaque honoring Olmsted and monument to those who lost their lives in World War II and the Korean conflict

Oakes Ames Memorial Hall (1879-1881) - H.H. Richardson-designed, landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted

Oliver Ames Free Library (1877-1879) - Richardson- designed, landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted

"Queset" (1854) - private property - grounds designed by Olmsted

Ames Shovel Company Shops, approximately 10 buildings, oldest built in 1882

Park, at intersection of Main and Oliver Streets, location of bust of Oliver Ames, Sr.

Unity Church of North Easton (1874-75)

Militia Park, Lincoln Street - location of marker dedicating area to the several militia companies who represented Easton in military action during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

Milestones, Bay Street - four mileage markers dating to the 18th Century

"Borderland State Park", Massapoag Avenue - former estate of Oakes and Blanche Ames, mansion named "Borderland", approximately 1250 unspoiled acres.

Furnace Village Marker on Private Lawrence Swift Square - site of very early forges and furnaces which served the colonial cause during the Revolutionary War.

Josiah Keith House (1717), 20 Bay Road - Oldest house in Easton.

Bay Road Marker, marks line of historic district

Civil War Monument (1882) corner Depot and Center Streets

Easton Center Market, Dedicated to heritage of area: early meeting-houses, congregational churches, the almshouse, town powder house, town pound, and Devil's Footprint

Easton Green Marker, Washington Street - Momument to those who gaves their lives in World War II and historical marker near which wear sites of the first two industries, a sawmill and a gristmill (c 1694 and 1700)

Stonehill College, "Stonehill" estate (1876-1921) former mansion is administration building of college

World War I Marker, Route 138 - Two-room schoolhouse built in Richardson style has marker in front