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| [ image by Jim McElholm-Single Source Inc. ] | [ image by Jim McElholm-Single Source Inc. ] |
Like most towns in
the Blackstone River Valley, Grafton provides a study in contrasts. Mill
villages dominate the southwestern corner of town where the Blackstone
River cuts through, while the rest of Grafton contained rolling hills
and farmland, now suburbanized, centered on one of the lovely town commons
in New England.
Willard
House and Clock Museum
Grafton
Common
Willard
House and Clock Museum
The Willard House and Clock Museum is the birthplace and workshop of America’s
premiere 18th century clockmakers; Benjamin, Simon, Ephraim and Aaron
Willard. Take a glimpse into the life and work of this family of craftsmen.
The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday, 10-4, and Sunday 1-4.
11 Willard Street
Grafton, MA 01536
(508) 839-3500
http://www.willardhouse.org
Grafton
Common
View a quintessential example of a New England Town common here in Grafton,
so perfect in fact it was used as a set for a Hollywood movie. Surrounding
the common today are churches, shops and a number of homes, some former
mansions of the town’s wealthy, others converted shoe and boot shops.
North Street and Worcester Street
Grafton, MA
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| [ image by Jim McElholm-Single Source Inc. ] |
Millbury is well named, as the Blackstone River, Singletary Brook and other waterways powered mills making guns, lumber, paper, textiles and many other products. Despite all of this bustle, Millbury has managed to maintain its small town New England charm.
Asa
Water’s Mansion
Millbury Rapids
Asa
Water’s Mansion
This
fabulous mansion was constructed by Asa Waters II in the late 1820s. Unlike
most in the Blackstone Valley, the fortune of the Waters family was not
based on textiles, but guns. In 1808, Asa Waters II built armory along
the banks of the Blackstone River just down behind the house, giving this
area the name of Armory Village. Water’s great-grandson was William
Howard Taft, elected President of the United States in 1908. Today the
Waters Mansion is home to the Millbury Historical Society, which offers
tours, lectures and special events here.
123 Elm Street
Millbury, MA 01527
(508) 865-4563
http://asawaters.org/home.html
Millbury
Rapids
One of the best examples of the power of the Blackstone River can be seen
at the Millbury Rapids, a Class-3 drop visible from the Main Street Bridge.
Main Street Bridge
Millbury, MA
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One of Leicester’s greatest contributions to the Blackstone Valley was Pliny Earle, who helped Samuel Slater develop the waterpowered carding machine he needed at his mill. Leicester was a major card cloth manufacturer, and the mill villages of Rochedale and Cherry Valley.
Leicester
Common
Leicester Common has been the center of life in town for nearly 300 years.
As a crossroads, it was the site for the meetinghouse and several taverns
along with a few small shops. The common has also been a center of education
since 1784 with the establishment of the Leicester Academy. Today, Becker
College sits on the eastern side of the common and owns many of the historic
buildings along Main Street.
Main Street
Leicester, MA 01524
