History
BSU was founded by Horace Mann as a normal school styled Bridgewater Normal School. It opened on September 9, 1840. As one of the first normal schools in the nation, its initial mission was to train school teachers. Since the 1960s, the school has expanded its program to include liberal arts, business, and aviation science. Throughout its history, it has also been known as Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater Teachers College, Bridgewater State Teachers College, and State Teachers College at Bridgewater.
An early-morning fire on December 10, 1924, destroyed three of the college's buildings, over half of the campus. The cause was thought to be "rats or mice."
As of July 22, 2010, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate have voted to change BSC to University status and its name to Bridgewater State University. The measure was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on July 28, 2010.
Read more about this topic: Bridgewater State University
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—Ruth C. D. Havens, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 4, ch. 13, by Susan B. Anthony and Ida Husted Harper (1902)
“Don’t give your opinions about Art and the Purpose of Life. They are of little interest and, anyway, you can’t express them. Don’t analyse yourself. Give the relevant facts and let your readers make their own judgments. Stick to your story. It is not the most important subject in history but it is one about which you are uniquely qualified to speak.”
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–1966)