Bridgewater began as part of the Township of Sangerfield in what was then Herkimer County. The Town of Bridgewater was taken from Sangerfield in 1797. Community life had begun, as the Masonic Lodge was in being by that time and in 1798 the Congregational Church was organized.

The construction of the Utica to New Berlin plank road made a four-way point at the center of the village where today’s Route 20 intersects Route 8. It became a stage coach station with several inns, blacksmith shops, sawmills, stores, and small industries. The roads permitted the shipment of grain, hides, pork, and whiskey. Large droves of cattle and hogs passed through on their way to Utica and Albany.

The high water mark of the town was in the 1830s, with a population of more than 1600. A decline set in with the opening of the Erie and other canals. This decline was increased later by the building of railroads. The spread of manufacturing in factories gradually led to the disappearance of many craft shops. By the outbreak of the Civil War the area’s population was down to 1258.

The Civil War period was a trying one, as the township furnished at least 100 men for the Union forces, of whom 13 or more lost their lives while in service. The townspeople were involved in the national issues, particularly slavery. There was a station on the “underground railroad” run by Dr. Trowbridge in the village.

Soon thereafter the town had a railroad built through it to Richfield Springs. To facilitate the project the locality sold $50,000 worth of bonds. This railroad became part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western system. Another railroad was completed from here to New Berlin in 1893, known as the Unadilla Valley Railroad.

Agriculture has always been the life of the town and has taken several overlapping forms. In the early years some grain was converted into whiskey and some into food for hogs and cattle. Sheep raising soon was quite prevalent. Beginning in the early 1800s and steadily growing was the hop-raising industry. Dairy stock became more numerous by 1850, with butter and cheese for market. This led to cheese factories.

The social life of the town was lively, with plenty of music, dancing, and sports. For many years the town fielded good baseball teams, beginning in early 1880. There was a band also.

World War I failed to change the town much. World War II followed, with approximately 125 area persons seeing military service. Three young men did not return. Quite a few were in service in Korea, one of whom was killed in action.

Over the years the numerous district schools consolidated. In the 1890s the Bridgewater Union School, later known as the high school, came into being. In 1929 a central school district was established and a new school built. It was dedicated in 1932. It was taken into the Mount Markham District in 1969. The building is now a grade school in the larger district.

The need for fire protection led in 1914 to the formation of a local fire company. This organization, beginning with little equipment, has steadily grown to become a well equipped force, capable of protecting the town.

Within the last 25 years considerable but not generally recognized changes have come upon the townspeople. The widespread practice in the past of many family-sized dairy farms has largely disappeared. A small number of larger farms operate instead. Large area s of former dairy farms have gone into comparatively few enterprises devoted to crop farming such as grains, beans and potatoes on a large scale.

Beginning about 1965 the generally stable population of the area began to increase. From a figure of roughly 800, which it had been for many years, by 1973 the population increased to about 1260. The reason for this was the appearance of mobile homes here in the early 1960s.

Bridgewater today remains mostly agricultural. It has some of the most fertile flat lands around. The village has raised many of the old abandoned and fire damaged buildings and they are now being replace with profitable business. The town population is at a slow but steady growth. The Bridgewater Historical Society was formed in 1992 with the interest centered on gathering and preserving the towns history.