A Few Famous Dates in Brookfield's History
Please email any dates you would like to add to the list.
January
January 3, 1940 First social security checks arrive
January 7, 1786 First mail to arrive by stagecoach
January 7, 1898 Newton triple axe murder
January 16, 1741 Town of Western, now Warren, separates from Brookfield
February
February 28, 1812 North Brookfield becomes a separate town
March
March 2, 1778 Joshua Spooner murdered
March 6, 1778 Joshua Spooner buried, Grass will not grow on his grave
March 11, 1869 Unitarian church dedicated (This church building burned in 1911)
March 12, 1808 Brookfield & Charlton Turnpike Corp. established
March 12-14, 1888 Blizzard of 88
March 22, 1692 Samuel Owen granted a license to keep a house of public entertainment and to sell strong liquor
March 24, 1920 East Brookfield becomes the 'baby' town of the Commonwealth
March 27, 1920 Salvaged furnishings of Town Farm sold at auction
March 28, 1868 The first and last edition of the Brookfield Expositor hits the stands
March 30, 1675 William Prichard appointed Clerk of Writs at Brookfield
April
April 1, 1778 Spooner murder trial held in Worcester
April 5, 1825 Brookfield author Mary Jane Holmes born
April 15, 1756 First church in modern day Brookfield, Third Church of Christ
April 19, 1775 Two companies of Minutemen, from Brookfield to Boston
April 21, 1830 Otis Twitchell voted first librarian
April 22, 1717 Tax levied for construction of Meeting House
April 24, 1668 Richard Coy sworn into office as first constable
May
May 15, 1667 19 Adults & 34 children at Quaboag Plantation
May 18, 1900 Rules & Regs. were adopted for the Brookfield Fire Dept.
May 19, 1938 First airmail from Brookfield leaves Edson Field
May 23, 1691 Joseph Hawley was appointed and empowered to join persons in marriage
May 30, 1868 First Memorial Day
May 31, 1660 Quaboag Plantation granted to citizens of Ipswich
June
June 19, 1812 Universalist Society of Western and Brookfield established
June 24, 1891 Dr. Laurance Newhall hosts the Brookfield Medical Club on his pleasure steamboat
June 30, 1998 Last day scheduled for Brookfield Landfill
July
July 2, 1778 Bathsheba Spooner executed in Worcester
July 8, 1940 Elsie the Cow leaves for Hollywood
July 10, 1934 Connie Mack Day celebrated in North Brookfield
July 12, 1978 Brookfield Community Club organized
August
August 1, 1675 Capt. Thomas Wheeler arrives in Brookfield
August 2-4, 1675 Siege & burning of Brookfield
August 2, 1675 Wheeler's Surprise
August 23, 1775 New Braintree established as a separate town
August 24, 1827 Evangelical Religious Society formed (now Congregational Church)
August 6, 1665 John Warner, the 'Father of Quaboag' sells his property in Ipswich and heads west
September
September 3, 1997 Brookfield's Home Page is created
September 5, 1902 First Town Hall burns
September 10, 1920 Aeroplane passes over South Pond and dips its propeller into the water
September 18, 1960 A play, "The Book of Quaboag" is presented on Foster Hill commemorating the 300th Anniversary of Quaboag Plantation
September 25, 1666 Priscilla Warner becomes the first child born at Quaboag
September 25, 1671 Goodman Ayres granted first tavern license
October
October 1, 1839 Western RR begins operation with a stop in Brookfield
October 6, 1979 First Apple Country Fair
October 7, 1907 Brookfield author Mary Jane Holmes dies
October 9, 1773 Solomon Banister deeds the Common to the Town
October 10, 1673 Brookfield becomes a town
October 12, 1932 Dr. Milman Pease & family welcomed to Brookfield
October 14, 1957 First sighting of Sputnik
October 15, 1887 Voted to allow the Quaboag Steamboat Co. to erect a drawbridge
October 16, 1717 First church 'gathered'in Brookfield
November
November 9, 1676 Day of Thanksgiving for the success of the Indian War
November 10, 1665 Deed from Shattoockquis the Satchem of Quaboag transfers certain lands at Quaboag to English Planters and their associates.
November 11, 1919 Town welcomes its returned veterans with a parade
November 15, 1882 Union Chapel in Podunk dedicated
November 18, 1883 U.S. Standard Time established
December
December 3, 1719 General Court accepts official 8 square mile survey of Brookfield
December 20, 1940 Elsie the Cow comes home to Brookfield
December 22, 1862 Cornelius McGillicuddy (Connie Mack) born in North Brookfield
December 24, 1930 New state police barracks completed and occupied