One zip code, two is silly...i've lived in "north easton" for over 20 years, when I moved in I was informed my home was "technically" in the town of Easton, yet a north easton zip code would speed my mail........ my experience is very few people truly know the dividing lines, and does a town really need three post offices (at one time), two libraries (at one time) and further confusion.

We have been discussing this issue on my Easton online discussion forum website for years. Here's the latest:
http://www.eastonmass.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8020

I was born, raised and still live in N. Easton, have lived here for almost 40 years now. yet, have no idea where the dividing line is. There is a difference though. N. Easton has more expensive homes and like only 10 businesses total. There is more woods here in the North xD. I have no idea why its not just 1 town though.

Its strange, because there isn't really a north or south.
Look at the Bridgewaters... West Bridgewater, East Brigdewater, and just plain Bridgewater... they all have independent governments, police, fire, etc. They are literally separate towns. In Easton, you will never see a N. or S. Easton police cruiser or Fire Truck. There is only 1 town govt. for both N and S. I guess Both N and S Easton have unique Zip codes, and that's about it. They are not separate towns. Brockton has a few Zip codes, but we don't call it "South Brockton", "East Brockton", etc..

So.. Its just what we call the 2 half's. Other than the Post Office there is no other split. I guess the issue is whether the post office will recognize 1 town with 2 zip codes.. Just Plain EASTON? Other than that there really is no N or S..

PS: I once was told that Brocton used to be called North Bridgewater xD.

Lighten up tara. I think you are the one who has the complex. This is not a divisive article. Quite the contrary.. Please read the article first before commenting.

Just a zip code.

We are a single town that is organized as such- police/fire, schools, library, services, etc. We are residents of a single town who behave as such- athletics, performing arts, development/construction, "neighborly" assistance, etc. Simply stated, we are a single community.

In fact, this divisive issue only arises when asked as an unhealthy leading question.

Easton Patch runs a "Question of the day" every day. I wouldn't really call it a story - It's just a short blurb followed by a question to promote discussion between the readers. There is nothing irresponsible about the question that was asked here. Easton has two zip codes. That's a fact. As a journalist or editor, it would be irresponsible to take down a piece that has generated this much discussion. There's nothing malicious going on here at all - just friendly discussion.

I appreciate this question and enjoyed all comments...... my view is that this is an opportunity to be "inclusive" and not about creating division....... i belive there is also an "Easton" and "Stonehill" zip code...... I would suggest we have only one zipcode which represents our entire community not several with "arbitrary" splits...... by the way, I love being an easton resident.

Thank you. I noticed on a prior post, this has been a town discussion "for years"... I would charge the town with creating a decision vs. continual discussions which may take time away from other important concerns.

Perhaps if the USPS goes the way of privitazation, this could be considered a wonderful opportunity to conclude this discussion and satisfy the needs of the entire township. Efficiency often dictates hesitancy.

I agree... enjoy your weekend :) "ignore the snow"

There are actually 4 zip codes in Easton. 02334, 02356, 02375 and 02357 (Stonehill College) Bizarre!

Nono we all need to use 02356 ;D

Good luck everyone.... this is where I exit..... see you in "easton" sometime :)

JL
Thanks for the comment. I'm glad everyone is having the dialogue. Just wanted to jump in for the record... Olmsted and Richardson are combined with students from both North Easton and South Easton. The change occurred at the beginning of the '10-'11 school year and continued in Year 2 this year. Thanks!

I would like to just change the name of North Easton, where I live, to Ames Easton and maybe use CPA money to fund the new signage.

"ames easton".. omg.... let me know when this question gets added to the ballot :)

LOL, Right on.. Maybe we should just remove the "Easton" part too. We can call both parts.... um.. "South Bridgewater" haha

You'll only understand this if you've read Catch 22. How about, 'Easton Easton'.

This is a post I did on Eastonmass.com'
"I don't get it either, Burt. The current South and North designations are Postal Service constructs, merely zip codes. In fact there are parts of "North Easton- 02356" that are further south than "South Easton - 02375". My home is in 02356 and my business in 02375, but I use the term "Easton, MA" for both.

By the way the postal code 02334 is for "Easton" which only serves boxes, no street addresses. So, if someone looks up the zip code for Easton and uses it for a street in 02375, it will go to the depot Street office before it is sent to the Washington street office. Thus an extra day.

A few years back we had a committee that worked with the Postmaster of 02356 to try to make sense of the mess. He proposed that all street addresses in town be changed to one zip code and that the Main Street office be enlarged to accommodate all the activities associated with the change. It got so far as to negotiating with an Ames trust to lease/purchase land adjacent to the office and plans were actually drawn. He got transferred to Brockton as a promotion, and the plan died because there was no longer a leader for it."

As for the comments from Tara, The geographical identity that many feel is real. It is learned at home not the schools or news outlets. Commenting on it here will not make it worse, and probably not better. I wrote an article in the Journal 20 years ago about this and was vilified by many.

My vote is for 02356. It follows the historical value of the town, the founding of the town, and so forth. North Easton.

Would you happen to be from North Easton?

Yes, I am from North Easton. Born and raised there, and love it. Educated at OA too. Love the history of each of the zip codes, and wouldn't have it any other way. One high school, one community. And love the many libraries that form a "campus" environment. My family is long-standing in the community too, going back decades...perhaps even longer. I would have to check the Easton historical society, but could -easily, go back to the 1800's. In North Easton, there were other manufacturing businesses too -not just the Ames shovel shop. Perhaps that is a column for Ross Muscato to write on next.

"The history of each of the zip codes". Actually thats pretty funny. I am born and raised here as well, North Easton to be exact, and never thought about the "history of each of the zip codes". This really is funny. And this is why these types of discussions arent productive. This is crazy. One town. One great community. One "neutral" zip code to just start over. Or leave it the way it is. Just stop making it such a huge issue. Why can't we all just get along. "The history of each of the zip codes". Im going to think about that all day. Thank you!

You are welcome! And by all means, think about it all day! Talk to some other "townies" -and you can see why we feel that way. 02356. My father would have enjoyed hearing your thoughts, with amusement. He loved 02356. My grandmother too, the former secretary of OA-Oliver Ames High School -was she.

You're right, Cooper. This whole discussion is pretty silly. Hmm, I think I smell a column brewing here. Oh, sorry! I misspoke. It's just my dog. He's a little gassy today.

By the way "Cooper Bella" - I see no listing, at all -for you under that name, in the OA-Alumni Directory. I have it at my fingertips. Is that your real name, or do you for some reason -post under a different name?

Considering how it is bleeding money, It is just a matter of time before the USPS consolidates the Easton, North Easton, and South Easton post offices. This will eliminate the confussion.

Janet,

If you love 'one' community, then why not start over with one zip code? You might be a townie, and there is nothing wrong with that, but instead of looking at it with a closed mind, look at it from an outsiders point of view. A town with multiple names and zip codes, and with residents who specifically say which side they are from, doesn't exactly scream unity. And relax with the OA-Alumni Directory, are you in 5th grade?

Sean Paul.

No interest, at all -in starting over with a new zip code. Read my earlier post(s). Talk to other Easton townies, we like the history that has already been written. And we are still writing it. If you are looking for a town with just one zip code -"makeitclap" -then why don't you move there? Get the point....those of us who are happy with Easton the way it is, see it that way. And no, cute of you on the "are you in the 5th grade" -comment, no -I'm not. But you can find me in the U.S. Patent Office, patent no.: 5,759,118.

North Easton-Sidewalks.
South Easton-No Sidewalks.

How about combining all the zip codes and calling it East Mansfield Extension?

South Easton, quicker access to Rte 24-shorter commute to the cape. In which case, good for you! -that comment, by the way...is geared to a close personal friend of mine, who reads these comments, and always gets to the cape, much quicker than me!

Thank you makeitclap. Janet, you are missing my point. I appreciate that you are proud of where you are from. So am I. But in the same paragraph you say "02356". Its plain and simple for you. But what about the people who grew up in South Easton who are also proud of their heritage and roots. Are they not "Townies" as well? Aren't they continuing to make history? How can we discount that. I just don't think its fair to others in the town. Changing one's zip code does not discount the history of their town. People don't recognize you by your zip code. You're from Easton. And that's what counts.

Cooper Bella -use your real name, if you want any credibility -at all, here in this column. To hide behind a fake name, is just that -fake. Take up some of your points with members of the Ames family: David, Fred, Bill. And first look up their zip codes, and second -ask any of them, if they would like to change their zip codes. For instance, if living in Cambridge -near Harvard University, do you think he wants to change his zip code? Simply because some anonymous poster in an Easton.com/Patch column wants him to? How silly is that! Then let us all know what you discover, and talk to the other Ames'. And on your point on South Easton, I have many friends from 02375. And my point, is still the same as above -02356. They are happy with 02375, and don't wish to see it changed. And none of them, can understand your point. They are happy, and so am I.

Do you get it yet? We like 02356. They like 02375. And Stonehill, has it's own zip code too. When we all get together, it's comical -and we enjoy those chats too!

To the rest of the readership on this email-thread, please keep in mind that children may be reading through these email-postings. So, to the "wise-guy" above who asked me if I was in 5th-Grade, you read my answer already. But please keep in mind that a real 5th-Grader, located 3/4's-of-the-way around the world, may just be reading this email-thread. Hence why I put my patent no.: 5,759,118 -into the digital-thread. Try reading/discovery at: 1) http://www.twlc.org -The Tiger Woods Learning Center, or The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. My regards to you, from 02356.

What is in a zip code? Perhaps nothing. Perhaps something. Those looking for unity, perhaps you will find it here. When this woman wrote to me from this zip code: 28704, to 02356-is how she got ahold of me. And we spoke on the phone, on more than one occasion. She is: Pamela Norment Washington, Discovery Associate c/o The Cliffs Communities at: 1) http://www.cliffscommunities.com -view the website; inquire if interested further. Tell her, I have said hello. Tel. 828.684.5151; Mobile: 828.275.4027; Toll Free: 888.247.3466; Fax: 864.371.1566 or email: pwashington@cliffscommunities.com c/o 158 Walnut Valley Parkway, Arden, NC 28704.

My opinion: There is much in a zip code. So thank you Pamela at 28704, from Janet at 02356.

This is the dumbest thread in Patch history and that's saying a lot.

Golf -as an Olympic sport, coming in the year 2016. Let's see how the rest of the world feels, Bill "The Swede" Anderson.

Patch - Great question! It certainly points out how the town gets it's reputation as pompous!

I'm not sure what a fifth grader halfway around the world has to do with this? Also, yesterday is history. History happens everyday. How would you feel, Janet, if the entire town was renamed North Easton? Would you be offended that South Easton was apart of your town now?

"makeitclap" -use your real name. And direct your questions, and let's hear from -those in 02375.

And to the writer above, I've never really thought of the town as pompous....I guess you have though. Perhaps "educated" is the way I would put it. Perhaps it has something to do with Stonehill College in town, and being a "college-town."

Would love to sit and chat with a few of you about it, but am also exiting the conversation. Have work to do. Have a nice day!

I'll only use my real name if you start using the hyphen correctly.

Sean Paul

Here's an article on the subject done by the Enterprise back in 2009.
http://www.enterprisenews.com/homepage/x1872107547/Easton-s-division-goes-way-back

Note that North Easton had an active branch of the KKK. I wonder if thats written in the profound history of the North Easton zip?

An earlier Ross Muscato column covered the history of Easton, briefly written about here: 1) http://easton-ma.patch.com/articles/labor-day-2011. Entitled "Labor Day 2011." I see he touched upon Townies. W.L.Chaffin series at The Ames Free Library-the history of Easton.

Perhaps the editors of Patch.com/Easton could provide us with additional details on this notation on the web: 1) http://www.wikipedia.org -a google search under North Easton, Massachusetts brought up this recent entry under Education: "There is a discussion as of July 2009 to construct a private Catholic school in the center of town." If interested Patch.com editors, consider running the story under a separate heading, in a new column. I would like to hear additional details regarding this proposed new school in the center of town, and perhaps other readers would too.