Cart 0
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts

BROCKTON

Massachusetts · Est. 1821
Shop the collection

It is the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts and is sometimes referred to as the "City of Champions", due to the success of native boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, as well as its successful Brockton High School sports programs. Landmarks include Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton station and Campello station. Brockton is the birthplace of Rocky Marciano, heavyweight boxing champion.

The Brockton Collection

Made for Brockton. Printed to order.

Every piece is drawn from Brockton's own map data and historic archives, then printed and shipped from the USA when you order. No two towns look alike.

Brockton Street Map Poster · Linen

Brockton Street Map Poster · Linen

Every road in town, on archival matte paper

from $34
Brockton Street Map Poster · Midnight

Brockton Street Map Poster · Midnight

The same map, in navy and silver

from $34
Brockton Landmarks Photo Poster

Brockton Landmarks Photo Poster

Nine local landmarks, archival matte

from $35
Brockton Map Placemat

Brockton Map Placemat

Map of local landmarks, washable fabric

$25
Brockton Varsity Crewneck

Brockton Varsity Crewneck

Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back

from $48
Brockton Est. Tee

Brockton Est. Tee

Soft Bella+Canvas jersey

from $28
Brockton Town Line Mug

Brockton Town Line Mug

Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe

from $19
Brockton Hometown Ornament

Brockton Hometown Ornament

Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon

$18
Brockton Garden Flag

Brockton Garden Flag

Weatherproof, for the front walk

$26
Brockton Welcome Doormat

Brockton Welcome Doormat

24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back

$45
Brockton Hometown Wood Sign

Brockton Hometown Wood Sign

12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang

$39
Brockton Map Throw Pillow

Brockton Map Throw Pillow

Soft-touch, zip cover

$36
Brockton Market Tote

Brockton Market Tote

Sturdy all-over-print tote

$32
Brockton Cork Coaster

Brockton Cork Coaster

Glossy top, cork back

$12
Brockton Street Map Throw Blanket

Brockton Street Map Throw Blanket

Soft fleece, 50″×60″

from $64
Brockton Est. Tumbler

Brockton Est. Tumbler

20 oz, double-wall stainless

$40
Brockton Fuller Craft Museum Landmark Print

Brockton Fuller Craft Museum Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Brockton Brockton station Landmark Print

Brockton Brockton station Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Brockton Campello station Landmark Print

Brockton Campello station Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Brockton Montello station Landmark Print

Brockton Montello station Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Brockton D.W. Field Park Landmark Print

Brockton D.W. Field Park Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Brockton Brockton City Hall Landmark Print

Brockton Brockton City Hall Landmark Print

Archival matte print of a local landmark, credited to its photographer

from $29
Brockton Fuller Craft Museum Postcard

Brockton Fuller Craft Museum Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Brockton Brockton station Postcard

Brockton Brockton station Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Brockton Campello station Postcard

Brockton Campello station Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Brockton Montello station Postcard

Brockton Montello station Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Brockton D.W. Field Park Postcard

Brockton D.W. Field Park Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Brockton Brockton City Hall Postcard

Brockton Brockton City Hall Postcard

6″×4″ postcard, glossy front

$6
Hometown roll

Born in Brockton

Named for Isaac Brock (British army officer and administrator, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada).

On the National Register

Historic places

Population 1830: 1,953 → 2010: 93,810 → 2020: 105,643

From Wikidata (CC0).

Since 1821

A short history of Brockton

In 1649, Ousamequin (Massasoit) sold the surrounding Wampanoag land—then known as Saughtucket—to Myles Standish as an addition to Duxbury. Brockton was part of this area, which the English renamed Bridgewater. On June 15, 1821, a portion of the then Bridgewater Township was established as North Bridgewater.

North Bridgewater was renamed Brockton, Massachusetts, on May 5, 1874, when community leaders wanted to adopt a distinctive new name to reflect the town's growing industrial importance, in order to attract customers and new businesses. When town booster and trolley-car magnate Ira Copeland (inventor and manufacturer; b. November 14, 1831 West Bridgewater) was on a business trip, he heard a Canadian train conductor announce the Brockville, Ontario station. Copeland considered the name Brockton would suit North Bridgewater. Since Brockville is named after Isaac Brock as an exemplar of leadership, bravery and duty, ergo Brockton is indirectly named after him. He was the British commanding general who was killed by an American sniper at Queenston Heights—the second major battle of the War of 1812—where invading American troops retreated in defeat. Brock was a loyalist British military officer of historical significance. Naming the town Brockton was the subject of a town vote, with several other names also offered. The name Brock primarily comes from Old English and Celtic roots, meaning "badger," originally a nickname for someone strong and tenacious like a badger, evolving from Old English brocc and ultimately Proto-Celtic brokkos. It also has Dutch/Flemish origins as a topographic name for a "water meadow" (from broek). Ultimately, "Brockton" received 1081 votes (~72%), renaming the town on May 5, 1874. Brockton officially became a city on April 9, 1881.

Several homes in Brockton were stops on the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped slaves from Southern states escape to freedom in the North and Canada. Famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass, spoke to a crowd at the Liberty Tree in Brockton during the pre-Civil War period. During the American Civil War, Brockton was America's largest producer of shoes, and until the latter parts of the 20th century, Brockton had a large shoe and leather products industry.

Since the company's 1898 founding, Brockton has been the headquarters city of office supplies retailer W.B. Mason, itself founded to provide those supplies to the city's shoe industry. The city's economy was once based on the shoe industry, but it has since diversified to include other industries such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Brockton has faced a number of challenges, including poverty, crime, and regional and local racial segregation. Despite these challenges, the city has made progress in recent years, particularly in the development of its downtown area, by highlighting its diversity and rich history, and working toward a more welcoming atmosphere for businesses and residents.

Read the full history

Historical firsts

World firsts

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.

The City Theater opened on October 24, 1894, the first theater in the world to be tied into the three-wire electrical system.

US firsts

The department store Santa Claus appeared in Brockton in December 1890, when James Edgar, of Edgar's Department Store, suited up for the first time.

World records

On November 23, 2010, Brockton set the world record for the most Santa Hat wearers in one place at one time, with 872 people participating in the event.

On November 20, 2011, Brockton doubled the city's Santa Claus hat-wearing record with 1792 people in downtown Brockton wearing Santa hats.

Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Brockton, Massachusetts, revision 1378102771 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

For local organizations

Are you with a Brockton historical society?

We share a part of every Brockton sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.

Partner with us
Nearby

Neighboring towns