Southborough
Massachusetts
Town Of Southborough
From its earliest days as "Stony Brook," as this southern portion of the new town of Marlboro was known in the late 1600s, through its separation as a town of its own on July 17, 1727, and continuing into the first two centuries of its existence, Southborough, like its neighbors, was primarily a farming community. Yes, there were the necessary saw and grain mills, even an iron works, but most of its inhabitants made their livings tilling the soil, cultivating their orchards, or tending their dairy herds.
By the mid-1800s, however, came the railroad and small factories were springing up along the town's two branches of the Sudbury River and its tributaries. Best remembered, perhaps, is the Cordaville Cotton and Woolen Mill that made blankets for the Civil War and left its name to one of the four villages. And with the passing years came straw bonnet, plaster, brush, and boot and shoe factories, thriving now in Fayville as well as Cordaville. But then, as the end of the 19th Century approached, Boston and its burgeoning population, now becoming accustomed to indoor plumbing, was searching for water beyond Chestnut Hill and Cochituate. The Water Works looked to Wachusett in Boylston, to the northwest of Southborough, for its next supply-and built a dam to create storage for the water on its way to the city. The dam was across the upper branch of the Sudbury coming into Southborough from Marlboro.
Thus it was that the 1898 building of the Fayville Dam assured that Southborough's prospering industry would lose much of its water power and, rather than gaining its livelihood from manufacturing, Southborough would remain a rural community, growing substantially only much later with the post-World War II housing boom and the advent of the "high tech" industry and Route 495. The huge waterworks project also added to the growing Irish population of the town and brought the first wave of Italians. They were the ancestors of many who remain to this day.
While there are dozens of names to be found in the annals of our past, there has to be one family that, among its contributions, created the town center that we still know today. For it was members of the Burnett family who founded St. Mark's Church, St. Mark's School, and the Fay School, as well as Deerfoot Farm, the premier establishment of the town from the mid-1800s until well into the 1900s.
Add the Choate family who donated the Community House to the Village Society and Francis Fay's donation of the first $500 for a town library, and you see that much of the center of town, with the lawns and characteristic buildings of the schools and the English-style stone church, is what it is because of families prominent two centuries ago.
Recent News
Town Of Southborough : Vigil For Peace - March 11th, 2023
Join Neighbors for Peace and Hate Has No Home Here for a Vigil for Peace & Unity. The candlelight vigil promoting peace and unity in our town, and celebrating our community is March 11th at 5:30 PM at St. Mark's Field at Routes 85 & 30. …
Read More »Town Of Southborough - MassDEP Releases Updated BVW Delineation Handbook
MassDEP has released revised/updated versions of two very important documents: Massachusetts Handbook for Delineation of BVWs Massachusetts Inland Wetland Replacement Guidelines Fillable PDF and Instructions link located on the MassDEP…
Read More »Town Of Southborough : MBTA Spring 2023 Schedules Take Effect This Month
The MBTA issued its Spring 2023 Service Schedules, which take effect at varying times this month. The MBTA typically adjusts service schedules quarterly to reflect the levels of service being delivered. For a full listing of all upcoming service…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News - Annual Town Election Nomination Papers
Annual Town Election Nomination Papers May 9, 2023 Annual Town Election Nomination papers are now available at the Town Clerk's Office. Nomination papers will be available until March 17 and must be returned by March 21. To read more…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Bulletin - February 2023
SYFS Director, Sarah Cassell, shares upcoming community programs and ways to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Month in the February…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - 2023 Summer Camp Scholarship
2023 Summer Camp Scholarships SYFS welcomes qualifying residents to apply to this year’s summer camp scholarship program. It continues to be our goal to best serve the families within our community by providing financial support towards…
Read More »Town Of Southborough : CodeRED - Southborough's Emergency Communications System
Click here for more information and to sign up for alerts from CodeRED, Southborough's Emergency Communications System:…
Read More »Town Of Southborough : Tree Work Starts Yesterday!
There will be crane crews and buckets crews working throughout Town to remove trees on various streets as secured with the tree contractor. Please be advised that the DPW has coordinated with the schools to ensure bus routes would not be impacted…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News : A Joint message from the Southborough Fire And Health Departments
Dear Southborough Residents, Massachusetts is currently seeing increases in respiratory illnesses, resulting in an increase in emergency room (ER) visits and longer wait times. Most of these illnesses are caused by respiratory viral infections,…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - Conservation Holiday Hours And Availability
The Conservation Agent will be out of the office beginning Friday, December 23rd and will not return until Tuesday, January 3rd. In the meantime, you may contact the Conservation Assistant, Lara Davis, at [email protected] or (508) 794-0717…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News : Winter Parking Ban 2022-2023
Effective December 1, 2022, there will be no parking on any public way in the Town of Southborough from 12 midnight until 6:00 a.m. and furthermore, there will be no parking on any public way during any snowstorm in the Town of Southborough.…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Receives Grant Award For Analysis Of Regional Local Public Health Services
The Town of Southborough, in conjunction with the Southborough Board of Health, is pleased to announce a grant award in the amount of $55,000 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Town of Southborough grant award was obtained through the state's…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Bulletin - November 2022
Southborough Youth and Family Services Director, Sarah Cassell, shares upcoming workshop opportunities, ongoing programs, and ways to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Month planning in the November…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - Seeking Volunteers To Talk About Their User Experience On The Town’s Website
Southborough is planning a significant upgrade to the town’s main website. The Municipal Technology Committee (MTC) is doing research to understand the experience our residents have interacting with the current website. The MTC would like to…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Volunteers Needed - Community Center Exploratory Committee Ad-hoc
Volunteers Needed - Community Center Exploratory Committee ad-hoc Volunteer Today! Please review the Committee charge below and fill out a volunteer form here: https://southboroughmaboards.vt-s.net/newcaf.php CHARGE TOWN OF SOUTHBOROUGH…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News - National Grid Rate Increase
National Grid recently sent notice of a pending rate increase for residential customers: Effective November 1, 2022, the National Grid base electricity price for residential customers (National Grid’s Basic Service) will increase to…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News - New COVID-19 Booster Clinics in Southborough
As of September 1, 2022, a new bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for individuals ages 12 and up. These new COVID-19 booster vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are updated versions…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News - National Grid Winter Rate Increase for Basic Service Customers
The Winter Customer Savings Initiative was launched to help customers reduce their energy use and save money, better manage their bills, and secure available energy assistance. Reduce Energy Use and Lower Bills through Energy Efficiency National…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Community Power Choice
Southborough Community Power Choice is a Town electricity aggregation program that gives Southborough residents and businesses a Town-vetted alternative to National Grid’s Basic Service and other electricity supply offers in the marketplace,…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Volunteers Needed - September 15, 2022
The new Capital Improvement and Planning Committee is looking for resident volunteers! Join & help create & maintain a 10-year rolling Capital Plan for the Town & collaborate with government entities proposing capital expenditures. Apply…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News - September 13, 2022
The Northborough & Southborough Health Departments are hosting new COVID-19 booster clinics and flu clinics this fall. See details below and register today to reserve your spot. New COVID-19 BOOSTER CLINICS: As of September 1, 2022, a new…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Bulletin - September 2022
Southborough Youth and Family Services Director, Sarah Cassell, shares programs and services available to Southborough residents scheduled for September.
Read More »Town Of Southborough : Conservation Seeking Two New Members - Openings Available Now!
The Conservation Commission is looking for at least two volunteers that would be willing to serve on the Commission who has knowledge, interest, or experience in wetlands protection, stormwater management, and/or natural resource protection &…
Read More »Town Of Southborough : Comprehensive Permit Site Approval Application Homeownership - Park Central
Public Comment Due Date Updated Attached is the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (“MassHousing”) application form for Project Eligibility/Site Approval (“Site Approval”) under the state’s comprehensive permit…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - Volunteers Needed - Community Center Exploratory Committee ad-hoc
Click Here To View The Town Of Southborough - Volunteers Needed - Community Center Exploratory Committee…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - Volunteers Needed!
Please review the Committee charge below and fill out a volunteer form here: https://southboroughmaboards.vt-s.net/newcaf.php CHARGE TOWN OF SOUTHBOROUGH COMMUNITY CENTER EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE AD-HOC The Community Center Exploration…
Read More »Town Receives 50K Mass Trails Grant
The Town of Southborough, in conjunction with the Southborough Trails Committee, is pleased to announce the Town has been awarded its first MassTrails grant in the amount of $50,000. The MassTrails Grant Program funds municipalities, public…
Read More »Town Of Southborough Internet Transaction Safety Zone
The Southborough Police Department would like to announce the establishment of an Internet Transaction Safety Zone in the Public Safety Complex Parking Lot as part of our ongoing commitment to community safety. Our goal is to reduce the chance of…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - Volunteers Opportunities for Boards and Committees
Looking for an opportunity to volunteer? There are lots of volunteer openings on many boards and committees in Town. Check them out and sign up today to make a…
Read More »Town Of Southborough News - Conservation Seeking Two New Members
Conservation Seeking Two New Members The Conservation Commission is looking for at least two volunteers that would be willing to serve on the Commission who has knowledge, interest, or experience in wetlands protection, stormwater management,…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - Summer Service Updates from MBTA
This summer, we’re continuing to improve service across the system to support our riders. Subway and Bus Summer Service Changes will be effective on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Commuter Rail Summer schedule has been effective from May 23,…
Read More »Town Of Southborough - June 2022 Bulletin
Click here to View the Information About Town Of Southborough - June 2022 Bulletin
Read More »Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster appointments for individuals 5 and older
Click Here To View Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster appointments for individuals 5 and…
Read More »Town Of Southborough : 2022 Community Garden Sign-Ups
Click here to View the Information About Town Of Southborough : 2022 Community Garden…
Read More »The 2021 Master Plan Final Draft Is Available For Review And Comments Are Welcome
The 2021 Master Plan final draft is available for review and comments are welcome For Public Review and Comment Please find the document here: …
Read More »Town Of Southborough News Founding Stewardship Member, Jim Gorss, To Be Honored By SOLF With The Elaine Beals Conservation Award
The Southborough Stewardship Commission is pleased to share the wonderful news that Jim Gorss, a founding member and longtime Chair of the Stewardship Committee, is being honored for his contributions to our town by the Southborough Open Land…
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