Towns in Our Region

Towns in our Region A GUIDE

ASHBURNHAM

Incorporated 1765 41 sq. miles | Pop. 6,348 32 Main Street | 978-827-4100 www.ashburnham-ma.gov

www.facebook.com/AshburnhamHometownNews

Outdoor enthusiasts know Ashburnham as the starting point for the Wapack Trail and Massachusetts Midstate Trail, while music lovers appreciate it as the home of the Frederick Historic Piano Collection and Study Center that brings musicians from around the world to this rural community each spring and fall. ASHBY

Incorporated 1767 24.2 sq. miles | Pop. 3,219 Main Street | 978-386-2424 www.ci.ashby.ma.us www.facebook.com/AshbyMA

Willard Brook State Forest in Ashby and Townsend offers a quiet respite for visitors: Picture 2,597 acres, complete with a babbling brook and quick water, set amid groves of classic New England woods. The town’s past includes its history as a station along the underground railroad in the 19th century. ATHOL

Incorporated 1762 33.4 sq. miles | Pop. 11,732 584 Main Street | 978-249-4551 www.athol-ma.gov www.facebook.com/athol.selectmen

Athol earned the nickname of “Tool Town” through major employers like the L. S. Starrett Co. and the former Union Twist Drill. The community continues to have an active downtown, and was recently boosted by a new shopping center. Springtime brings an annual River Rat Race on the Millers River.

AYER

Incorporated 1871 9.6 sq. miles | Pop. 8,196 1 Main Street | 978-772-8220 www.ayer.ma.us www.facebook.com/AyerMA

Ayer, now celebrating its 150th anniversary, has been a major commercial railroad junction since its inception. Known to generations of soldiers and military families. Ayer was home to Camp Stevens during the Civil War and Fort Devens, established in World War I. The town continues to offer commuter rail service to Boston. BARRE

Incorporated 1774 44.8 sq. miles | Pop. 5,578 40 West Street | 978-355-5003 www.townofbarre.com www.facebook.com/Town-of-BarreMassachusetts-1222170487809903

This town was named after Isaac Barre, a member of the British Parliament and champion of the American colonies who opposed the taxation of America in the Revolutionary era. Points of interest include the Barre Historical Society, which offers a variety of lectures and programs throughout the year, and the Barre Players Theater. BOLTON

Incorporated 1738 20 sq. miles | Pop. 5,426 663 Main Street | 978-799-2297 www.townofbolton.com www.facebook.com BoltonMassachusetts

The Bolton Fair, the largest one-day agricultural fair in Massachusetts, is a major agricultural attraction to the town each August — attesting to Bolton’s continuing agricultural heritage. The Bolton Conservation Trust has worked to preserve hundreds of acres of meadows, woods, wet-lands, and agricultural land throughout the town.

Photo Lawrence Libby CLINTON

Incorporated 1850 44.8 sq. miles | Pop. 14,000 242 Church Street | 978-365-4119 www.clintonma.gov www.facebook.com/ClintonMA.gov

Once the center of booming textile and carpet industries, Clinton is home to the Wachusett Dam and Wachusett Reservoir, which serves Metropolitan Boston, and the Museum of Russian Icons, housing the largest collection of Russian icons in the United States. DEVENS

44.8 sq. miles | Pop. 1,969 33 Andrews Parkway | 978-784-2900 www.devenscommunity.com www.facebook.com/devensec

An unincorporated village, Devens is the successor to Fort Devens, a military post that operated from 1917 to 1996. Managed by MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, Devens has been recognized as a national model for military base reuse. It is now home to a variety of businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations. FITCHBURG

Incorporated 1764 27.83 sq. miles | Pop. 40,638 718 Main Street | 978-829-1800 www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us www.facebook.com/FitchburgMassachusetts

Fitchburg State University, the Fitchburg Art Museum and beautiful Coggshall Park are among landmarks worthy of a visit to the city. Two active theater groups — Stratton Players and New Players Theater Guild — add to its cultural vitality, along with summer concerts and an annual Civic Days celebration.

GARDNER

Incorporated 1785 22.08 sq. miles | Pop. 20,683 95 Pleasant Street | 978-632-1900 www.gardner-ma.gov/ www.facebook.com/GardnerCityHall/

With numerous furniture factories and, later, factory outlet shops, Gardner earned its name of The Chair City of the World. Mount Wachusett Community College, with its Theatre at the Mount performance center, Dunn State Park, and the Veterans Skating Rink are among its attractions for visitors. GROTON

Incorporated 1655 40.7 sq. miles | Pop. 11,325 173 Main Street | 978-448-1100 www.grotonma.gov www.facebook.com/grotonma

Groton is best known as the home of two famous preparatory schools: Lawrence Academy, founded as Groton Academy in 1793 and renamed in 1846 for Amos and William Lawrence; and The Groton School, founded in 1884 by the Reverend Endicott Peabody. The J. Harry Rich State Forest is a popular recreational area. HARVARD

Incorporated 1732 26.97 sq. miles | Pop. 6,620 13 Ayer Road | 978-456-4100 www.harvard.ma.us www.facebook.com/Town-of-HarvardMassachusetts-120479257967897

Through its history, Harvard has been home to several non-traditional communities, including Harvard Shaker Village and the utopian transcendalist center Fruitlands. Today, the 210-acre Fruitlands Museum houses the original Farmhouse, a Shaker Museum, Native American Museum and Art Museum.

HUBBARDSTON

Incorporated 1767 41.03 sq. miles | Pop. 4,829 7 Main Street | 978-928-1400 www.hubbardstonma.us www.facebook.com/TownofHubbardston

In the 19th century, dairy and berry farming and market gardening were major enterprises in Hubbardston, attracting immigrants from Ireland, French Canada, England, Sweden and Finland to work on the farms. The agricultural character continues at The Country Hen, producer of organic omega-3 eggs from cage-free hens. LANCASTER

Incorporated 1653 28.3 sq. miles | Pop. 8,082 701 Main Street | 978-365-3326 www.ci.lancaster.ma.us www.facebook.com/ groups/1024731417724912

The oldest town in Worcester County and one of the earliest permanent English settlements in north central Massachusetts, Lancaster is named for Lancaster, England. A prominent feature of the town center is the First Church of Christ, also known as the Bullfinch Church, considered one of the finest works of architect Charles Bullfinch. LEOMINSTER

Incorporated 1740 28.81 sq. miles | Pop. 41,716 25 West Street | 978-534-7500 www.leominster-ma.gov www.facebook.com/ leominstercommunitydevelopment

Known as the Plastic Capital of New England, Leominster is recognized around the world by an unlikely ambassador: the ubiquitous pink flamingo lawn ornament created by local resident Don Featherstone, designer at Union Products. The second-largest city in Worcester County, Leominster was the birthplace of folk legend Johnny Appleseed.

Photo Lawrence Libby LUNENBURG

Incorporated 1728 27.7 sq. miles | Pop. 11,736 17 Main Street | 978-582-4130 www.lunenburgma.gov www.facebook.com/LunenburgMA

Generations of local residents fondly remember Lunenburg’s premier attraction, Whalom Park, which operated from 1893 to 2000 and was home to the famous Comet Flyer roller coaster. The town maintains a rural flavor, with farms and apple orchards. PEPPERRELL

Incorporated 1775 23.2 sq. miles | Pop. 12,114 1 Main Street | 978-433-0333 www.town.pepperell.ma.us/ www.facebook.com/Town-ofPepperell-308452662665032/

Located at the junction of the Nissitissit and Nashua Rivers, Pepperell boasts an array of conservation lands and trails. A popular landmark is the new covered bridge, replacing a historic structure. The bridge includes a tribute to a group of Revolutionary War women who intercepted a British messenger on his way to Bunker Hill. PETERSHAM

Incorporated 1754 54.27 sq. miles | Pop. 1,250 3 South Main Street | 978-724-3353 www.townofpetersham.org/

A visit to Petersham isn’t complete without a stop for lunch at the Petersham Country Store — a community gathering place since 1840 — and the Petersham Art Center, an all-volunteer non-profit home for the arts since 1912 that showcases the works of local artists.

PHILLIPSTON

Incorporated 1814 24.3 sq. miles | Pop. 1,746 50 The Common | 978-249-6828 www.phillipston-ma.gov/

Fairs, fruit-picking, and fabulous apple cider entice visitors to this little town located off Route 2A between Gardner and Athol. Red Apple Farm has become a year-round attraction, with animals to visit, trails to hike and a popular farmstand. The town common provides an idyllic setting for “New England” photos.

Photo Tamar Russell Brown PRINCETON Incorporated 1759 35.8 sq. miles | Pop. 3,488 6 Town Hall Drive | 978-464-2103

www.town.princeton.ma.us/

The town’s famous landmark, Wachusett Mountain, is home to the popular Wachusett Mountain Ski Area and an expansive state reservation complete with hiking trails. Tucked away on Route 140 is the Redemption Rock historic site where, in 1676, Mary Rowlandson was ransomed and freed after being abducted during King Philip’s War. ROYALSTON

Incorporated 1765 42.5 sq. miles | Pop. 1,277 13 On the Common | 978-249-0493 www.royalston-ma.gov/ www.facebook.com/TownofRoyalston/

Visitors looking to get away from it all will enjoy spending time in Royalston, with its vast conservation and recreation areas. Royalston Center, with its library, Town Hall, and Historical Society building, is listed both as a National Register Historic District and a Local Historic District.

SHIRLEY

Incorporated 1753 15.9 sq. miles | Pop. 7,636 7 Keady Way | 978-425-2600 www.shirley-ma.gov/ www.facebook.com/TownofShirleyMA/

The town of Shirley, with its wellpreserved historic New England center, describes itself as “a slice of quiet, small town life, with rural ambience, a sense of civic pride and volunteer spirit among residents and well-preserved historic roots.”

STERLING

Incorporated 1781 31.6 sq. miles | Pop. 8,174 One Park Street | 978-422-8111 www.sterling-ma.gov/ www.facebook.com/sterlingmass/

Farms and orchards bring visitors to the home of “Mary’s Little Lamb” to enjoy fresh produce, visit farm animals and wander through an expansive corn maze each year. A small statue of the star of the well-known children’s poem stands in the center of town.

TOWNSEND

Incorporated 1732 33.1 sq. miles | Pop. 9,506 272 Main Street | 978-597-1700 www.townsendma.gov/

The “great outdoors” is really great in Townsend, with two large recreation areas — Willard Brook State Park and Townsend State Forest — and the Squannicook River enticing visitors to get away from it all. Outdoor summer concerts, art shows and fairs add a cultural flair to the community, too.

WESTMINSTER

Incorporated 1759 37.3 sq. miles | Pop. 7,997 11 South Street | 978-874-7406 www.westminster-ma.gov/

The Westminster Cracker Company, famous for its oyster crackers, made this town’s name a household word for more than 150 years. The iconic cracker mill building — the inspiration for an annual town festival — remains a landmark amid the historic library, white steepled churches and shops of its center.

TEMPLETON

Incorporated 1762 32.4 sq. miles | Pop. 8,138 160 Patriots Road, East Templeton 978-939-8466 | www.templetonma.gov/ www.facebook.com/ TownofTempleton/?rf=103627609705199

The picturesque Templeton town common has been home to an annual summer arts and crafts festival for decades, as well as a fall auto show and autumn haunted gazebo event. The Narragansett Historical Society building, just off the common, showcases an array of treasures from the town’s past.

WINCHENDON

Incorporated 1764 44.1 sq. miles | Pop. 10,905 109 Front Street | 978-297-0085 www.townofwinchendon.com www.facebook.com/Town-ofWinchendon-919048578180541/

The over-sized rocking horse on Route 12 says it all: Winchendon is “Toy Town USA” —thanks to its history as a toy manufacturing center. See toys from that era at the Winchendon History Center, then stop by the nearby GALA Art Center to check out what local artists are creating today.