Northborough, a rural residential community in Central Massachusetts, is a bedroom community for commuters who take advantage of the town's proximity to Boston which is 30 miles east and Worcester which is 10 miles north. However, Northborough's long history and present character of open-space and active civic life make it a town with...
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Northborough, a rural residential community in Central Massachusetts, is a bedroom community for commuters who take advantage of the town's proximity to Boston which is 30 miles east and Worcester which is 10 miles north. However, Northborough's long history and present character of open-space and active civic life make it a town with its own unique character. Northborough, originally part of the Towns of Marlborough -- then Westborough, was incorporated in 1766 and became an independent town with the right of representation at the Great and General Court of Boston in 1775. The early churches of Massachusetts, called "meeting houses," were the center of all town activity.
Built on land given by Captain James Eager, Northborough's first Meeting House stood about where the First Congregational Unitarian Church is today, on Church Street. Today, Northborough's five member board of elected selectmen and open town meeting oversee the affairs of Northborough, but buildings throughout the town are visible reminders of its past. Monroe's Tavern, a popular resting place after early town meetings stands on the spot to which it was moved in 1867, at the corner of Blake and Pierce Streets. The offices and meeting place of town officials have moved several times over the past two hundred years of Northborough's history.
Originally housed in the First Church, the seat of local government moved to the Second Church vestry and then to the Old Town House to the "old" Town Hall. Town meetings are currently held in "new" Town Hall, which is the old Northborough High School, built in the early 1930s. Scattered along the tributaries of the Assabet River, numerous mills remain from the town's past as a textile manufacturing center.
This industry is long gone, and the focus of industry in Northborough has shifted. Northborough is primarily a town of homes and working farms. However, Northborough is also host to an ever-growing research and development-oriented industrial park. Northborough has a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunity. The Trails Committee is actively increasing the already abundant supply of hiking and fitness trails at Mt. Pisgah, Edmund Hill Woods, Cedar Hill and Watson Park.
Additionally, one weekend in September is reserved for Applefest with its special events and entertainment involving different community organizations and clubs. A variety of homes are found in Northborough--ranches, capes and colonials, as well as new constructions in traditional styles. In August 2008, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Northborough, MA was $273,250. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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