Bridgewater State University history

During its history, it has also been known as Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater Teachers College, Bridgewater State Teachers College, and State Teachers College at Bridgewater. It opened on September 9, 1840, making it the oldest permanently-located institution of public higher education in Massachusetts.

In 1845, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts finally agreed to construct a building for Bridgewater State Normal School, the first building ever erected in America for the preparation of teachers.

(The original Normal School building was built in 1846 and constructed of wood; it was torn down and replaced with the larger brick building.)

Head of BSU Archives and Special Collections Orson Kingsley agrees that the unearthed foundation is the remains of the Normal School, which stood from 1890 until a fire destroyed it on Dec.

An early-morning fire on Wednesday December 10, 1924, destroyed three of the college's buildings, over half of the campus: Tillinghast Hall, the Training School, and old Woodward dormitories.

The Normal Building and Tillinghast Hall were rebuilt and opened in June 1926, now renamed as Boyden Hall and Harrington Hall.

Boyden, Arthur C., "The History of Bridgewater Normal School" (1933). Histories of Bridgewater State University.

In 1960 Pope Hall was built as an all women's dorm.

Scott Hall was built in 1961 as an all men's dorm.

The Marshall Conant Science Building was built in 1964 and was named after the school's second principal.

In 1967 Shea and Durgin Halls were built as co-ed dorms.

In 1976 the tennis courts opened and students could enjoy movies on Sundays and Tuesdays for 25 to 75 cents.

In 1992 the college established the School of Education and Allied Studies and the School of Arts and Sciences.

In 1995 the Moakley Center opened.