Westborough Library Local History

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John Maynard Sr. 1612-1672, of Sudbury Meadows, signer of the Marlborough Petition in 1656 and a founding member of Marlborough in 1660. John II, 1630-1711, immigrated with his father in 1638 and settled in Marlborough. Ensign John Maynard, 1661-1731, Captain John Maynard, Westborough, 1690-1757, Stephen B. Maynard, Westborough, 1720-1796. Captain John Maynard Captain John Maynard

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Ice harvesting for meat, agriculture, and milk preservation purposes was an important seasonal business prior to the refrigeration era in New England. Local ponds and lakes throughout the northeastern states supplied harvested ice to businesses and residents. Ice harvesting on a large scale began in Massachusetts in the early 1800’s, and the region shipped ice

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Westborough’s second meetinghouse was built in 1748 to replace the original meetinghouse on Powder Hill. It was situated in the geographical center of the community that was established by the separation of the north precinct (Northborough) in 1744, and it became the new center of religious and political affairs of the town. But it wasn’t

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When the Boston & Worcester Railroad bisected Westborough center, the community was predominately based on agriculture and dairy farming with some manufacturing in the immediate downtown. However, dairy farmers in Westborough were the first to take full advantage of the newest form of milk transport. Shipping milk by rail was established shortly after the opening