Calendar (1902)
In 1902, West Boylston was a town in the middle of a significant transition: the Wachusett Reservoir neared completion, and its construction had already displaced many people and their places of work. The town issued a calendar for 1902 to commemorate the old town and welcome the rebuilding of a new town. Below, you can…
Read MoreAlumni Association (1889)
Another program from West Boylston’s past: Grand Entertainment at Sawyer Hall, April 22, 1889! For this event, the High School Alumni association put on entertainment to raise funds for their reunion. What’s more: they’ve invited a class from the Worcester Y.M.C.A., led by Prof. L.C. Havener, to show off their skills. The night starts with…
Read MoreLife in West Boylston
On the small triangle of grass in front of the library sits the Beaman Watering Trough. We’ve mentioned the trough in past posts. Maj. Ezra Beaman, Esq., our Town Founder, placed it in 1808 outside Beaman Tavern in the shade of a buttonwood tree. According to local legend, Ezra filled the trough with rum punch…
Read MoreEclipse (1918)
On Monday, August 21, a total solar eclipse will cross the United States, the first time a total eclipse has occurred in the country since June 8, 1918. Below is an excerpt from the Old Farmer’s Almanac from 1918, alerting New England’s residents to the upcoming eclipse. We unfortunately do not have any photographs or…
Read MoreEarthquake (1755)
The Earthquake of 1755 was the largest earthquake in Massachusetts history, occurring on November 18, 1755 around 4:30 in the morning. The quake originated off of Cape Ann and registered at least as a 6.0 on the Richter scale. The earthquake thankfully did not result in any deaths and did little damage to buildings beyond…
Read MoreFlood (1900)
In 1900, there was a spring flood which devastated West Boylston–which was already devastated from the construction of the reservoir. The flood damaged property and washed out a major bridge. The photograph below features some damage from the storm in front of the Cowee household. The Cowees owned a local mill.
Read MoreWorld War I (1918)
World War I is perhaps best known for its trench warfare. Soldiers were stuffed into often muddy, cramped dugouts. In July 1918, one West Boylston resident, Emily Richardson, received a letter from her brother, Herbert, serving with the Canadians in France. His testimony is as follows: “I am writing this letter in a hole, dug…
Read MoreWartime Agriculture (1917)
West Boylston’s soldiers left for training in the few weeks following Congress’ declaration of war on April 6, and, at home, the town prepared to contribute to the war effort. World War I had raged already for three years in Europe. America’s allies, including Britain and France, faced starvation. To support our allies and our…
Read MoreReservoir Postcard (1910’s)
Does this location look familiar to you? Imagine taller trees, cars instead of a trolley, more construction equipment, and, just beyond the left edge of the photograph, the Old Stone Church. This postcard, created likely in the late 1910s following completion of the Wachusett Reservoir, looks north to the Rt. 140 causeway across the reservoir.…
Read MoreMill Workers (1800’s)
West Boylston was a mill town in the 19th century. Several mills lined the Quinapoxet River: Cowee’s Mill, Clarendon Mills, and Rice’s Mill, to name a few. The mills, of course, no longer stand, and their foundations rest at the bottom of the Wachusett Reservoir. Below are photographs of some mill workers. Both photographs depict…
Read More