HISTORY
OF WAREHAM
The Town of
Wareham was incorporated in 1739. Originally named Agawam for the tribe of
friendly Indians encountered by its discoverer, Bartholomew Gosnold in
1602. The Agawam (meaning "a place where fish are caught") land
was used by a tribe of Indians called Agawam of the Federation of
Wampanoags.
The town of
Plymouth purchased Agawam from the Indians in 1666 for their exclusive
use. The right was written into the Agawam Purchase and intended to
exclude all past Indian rights to occupy, hunt or fish on the property.
Following the Indian War, Plymouth used the land of Agawam to settle debts
to the soldiers with each receiving 60 acres for his services.
Wareham was
created by uniting the easterly portion of Rochester, formerly called the
Sippican Grants, and the Agawam purchase. Its economy has always been
closely connected to its natural resources. Early settlers used water to
power the manufacturing mills for grain, cotton goods, paper, nails,
rails, and other iron products. A popular site to visit in Wareham is the
Tremont Nail Company (founded in 1819), the nation's oldest nail
manufacturer still in operation today.
Today,
Wareham is home to 23,899 year-round residents and remains the top
producer of cranberries in the state. Other major employers in the
community include Commonwealth Electric, Tobey Hospital, Stop and Shop,
Springborn Life Sciences and Verizon Telephone.
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Builders projects in Wareham :
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