The people did n't like the name of their town, which was Wildersburgh, and determined to have a new one, and so they met together in town-meeting, to talk the matter over.

One of the leading men came from Barre, Massachusetts, and he wanted the town to take that name.

Another prominent citizen came from Holden, Massachusetts, and he insisted that the town should be called Holden.
The people liked both of these names well enough, and it was finally determined that the question should be decided by a game of boxing, between these two men.

So the meeting adjourned to a new barn, with a rough hemlock plank floor, and the contest commenced.

After boxing awhile, one of them threw the other upon the floor, and sprang upon him at full length; but the one who was underneath dealt his blows so skilfully, that his opponent soon gave in; and rolling the Holden man out of the way, he jumped up and shouted, 'There, the name is Barre!' and Barre it hasten, to this day.