Union-News (Springfield, MA)
GOSHEN, MA – This town, which has never had official house numbers, will be numbered this year, following a decision by voters at the second session of an annual town meeting on Tuesday.
The only homes in Goshen that have numbers now, said Fire Chief Francis C. Dresser, have rural route numbers issued by the post office, or numbers homeowners like himself have chosen arbitrarily. About 40 years ago, Dresser chose No. 127 for his house for business purposes. Under the new plan, his house will be changed to No. 80.
With the coming of regional E-911 service this fall or winter, voters approved a system designed to make it easier for emergency personnel to locate homes. Houses on left hand sides of streets will get odd numbers, and right hand side houses will have even numbers, Dresser said. The low numbers will start at intersections near the town center, and numbers will get higher as the streets branch outward.