THIS is one of the most enterprising towns in the county. It was formerly a part of Abington and East Bridgewater, and was incorporated into a town March 4, 1875. The history of South Abington, like that of Rockland, will be largely found in the article on Abington. There is here a spirit of push and enterprise that is seldom met with, and there is a greater variety of manufactures than in any other part of the town of which it formerly constituted a part. Coffins, caskets, steel shanks, packing-boxes, boots and shoes, tacks, and nails are some of the articles manufactured. South Abington is a pioneer in the tack and nail business, which is still carried on to a great extent by Messrs. Dunbar, Hobart & Whidden, and by D. B. Gurney, Esq. H. H. Brigham, now deceased, was for many years also extonsively engaged in this business.

Benjamin Hobart, A.M., engaged in the tack business early in the present century, and has contributed much to the prosperity of this town. Mr. Hobart was a lawyer by profession, and a liberalhearted, public-spirited gentleman of culture. He will long be remembered as the author of Hobart's History of Abington."

Probably no town in Plymouth County has grown more rapidly during the past five years than the beautiful town of South Abington.

Six large and elegant new factories have been erected, and are running to their full capacity. New avenues and sidewalks have been laid out and finished; a large park has been laid out in the centre of the town; water has been introduced into all the principal streets; a water-tower, built of iron, has been erected, which has a pressure of sufficient power to throw water over the highest building.

The tower can be seen miles away, and is a great ornament to the town.

A fire department has been organized, with four elegant hose-carriages under command of Maj. Allen. Two fine hotels have been built and supplied with all the improvements of a city hotel, and are well

patronized. Many large and elegant houses have been erected, and several blocks of stores are now under

contract.

Among them is the fine block being built by a former citizen of the town, who takes great pleasure in seeing his native place in such a flourishing condition, and no resident has taken a deeper interest in the improvement of South Abington than Jacob P. Bates, Esq. His new block will not only be an ornament to the town, but will reflect credit upon his good taste and judgment. Plans and specifications have been made by Mr. John R. Hall, architect, of Boston, and the building will be built under his immediate supervision.

The block will have a frontage of sixty-five feet on Washington Street, and a depth of seventy-five feet, and will be three stories high, and divided into three large stores well lighted and high studded. The second story will be devoted to offices; the third story will be used for a hall with large anterooms and closets attached, all dadoed and finished in the best manner. The building will be supplied with all the modern improvements.

The outside will be built of pressed brick, iron columns and Long Meadow brownstone from the Ohio quarries, with one large projection in the centre. There will be five windows on each story, with carved caps and finishing above the roof, with gable and ornamented pilasters, and under the gable four large round panels, with carved heads in stone, representing different animals. Each end will be finished with projections, with large windows in the centre and a circular arch turned in fancy brickwork above, and finished at top with stone pedestals and panels between them.

The store fronts will be finished in cherry, and the glass in store-windows will be in one large light of French white plate.

The building will be built both inside and outside of the best materials. The contractors are Peasley & Bonney, carpenters, of South Abington, and Faunce