Millbury, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Millbury is a town in Worcester County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
Millbury has a long history as a New England
mill town, from which the town's name is derived. The Blackstone River
flows through the town which during the Industrial Revolution
provided much of the water power to the town's many textile
mills
and factories
.
Millbury was originally the Second or North Parish of Sutton
. Because traveling from one part of Sutton to the other for town meetings, etc. was difficult and time-consuming, the inhabitants of the Northern Parish petitioned the Massachusetts General Court
to split the town of Sutton into two separate town
s. The North Parish became the town of Millbury on June 11, 1813 by way of an act of incorporation.http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC24769198&id=3cnVnNktrDIC&pg=RA3-PA150&lpg=RA3-PA150&dq=act+of+incorporation+1813+millbury#PRA2-PA142,M1
Millbury's industrial history can be traced to the early 18th century, not long after the area's settlement. In 1735, John Singletary began operating a mill on Singletary Brook, a stream
flowing out of Singletary Lake. Around 1753, John Singletary built the S & D Spinning mill, which is still in operation, making it one of the oldest continuously operating mills in the United States. The mill is featured on the Town Seal.http://www.millbury.k12.ma.us/hs/history/historytown/sdspinning.html The mill also makes the red stitching that is on major league baseballs.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, after learning the trade of firearm
s production from their father, Asa Waters
II and his brother Elijah purchased land along the Blackstone River
and built mills producing goods such as gun
s, scythe
s and sawmill
saws. In 1808, Asa and Elijah erected an armory
which was successful until forced to close suddenly in 1841. It reopened at the start of the Civil War
in 1861, doing work for the U.S. government. With the wealth Asa Waters II received from his factories, he began construction, in 1826, of a Federal-style
mansion
, near the town center on Elm Street. Designed by Boston
architect Asher Benjamin
, it was completed in 1832. It took two years to collect materials for construction of the house, including marble
from Italy
and brick
s from Baltimore
. Known as the Asa Waters Mansion
, it is an icon of the town.
President William Howard Taft
spent many summer vacations in Millbury as a young boy, attending the public schools for a season. When he grew older, he visited his grandparents most summers. He visited his aunt, Delia C. Torrey, during his presidency for the occasion of Millbury's 100th birthday. The Torrey House, where President Taft stayed during his visit, is commonly called the Taft House today.
In the early 1970s, Millbury experienced a number of large fires. The town hall burned down, followed by the Union School. Local realtor Manual Gonzalez-Rios donated profits from his towing company to assist in rebuilding the town hall. A propane
plant near Route 146 exploded spectacularly, with tanks blown 100 feet or more into the air, making nationwide news.
, the town has a total area of 16.3 square miles (42.2 km²), of which 15.7 square miles (40.7 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), or 3.20%, is water. The town is drained by the Blackstone River
.
Millbury is bordered by Worcester
to the north, Grafton
to the east, Sutton
to the south, Oxford
to the southwest and Auburn
to the west.
of 2000, there were 12,784 people, 4,927 households, and 3,443 families residing in the town. The population density
was 812.5 PD/sqmi. There were 5,109 housing units at an average density of 324.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.19% White, 0.53% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.
There were 4,927 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,415, and the median income for a family was $62,564. Males had a median income of $41,912 versus $28,973 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,531. About 4.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
. Approximately 2,000 students are educated in three schools: Elmwood Street School, a 625 student primary school for grades Preschool - 3; Raymond E. Shaw Elementary School, a 423 student intermediate school for grades 4 - 6; and Millbury Memorial Junior/Senior High School
, a 936 student secondary school
for grades 7 - 12.
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
History
Millbury was first settled in 1716 and was officially incorporated in 1813.Millbury has a long history as a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
mill town, from which the town's name is derived. The Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
flows through the town which during the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
provided much of the water power to the town's many textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
mills
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
and factories
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
.
Millbury was originally the Second or North Parish of Sutton
Sutton, Massachusetts
-Library:The Sutton Free Library was established in 1876. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Sutton spent 0.7% of its budget on its public library—some $18 per person.-Education:...
. Because traveling from one part of Sutton to the other for town meetings, etc. was difficult and time-consuming, the inhabitants of the Northern Parish petitioned the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
to split the town of Sutton into two separate town
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
s. The North Parish became the town of Millbury on June 11, 1813 by way of an act of incorporation.http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC24769198&id=3cnVnNktrDIC&pg=RA3-PA150&lpg=RA3-PA150&dq=act+of+incorporation+1813+millbury#PRA2-PA142,M1
Millbury's industrial history can be traced to the early 18th century, not long after the area's settlement. In 1735, John Singletary began operating a mill on Singletary Brook, a stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
flowing out of Singletary Lake. Around 1753, John Singletary built the S & D Spinning mill, which is still in operation, making it one of the oldest continuously operating mills in the United States. The mill is featured on the Town Seal.http://www.millbury.k12.ma.us/hs/history/historytown/sdspinning.html The mill also makes the red stitching that is on major league baseballs.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, after learning the trade of firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s production from their father, Asa Waters
Asa Waters
Asa Waters II was an American gunsmith, and industrialist.He learned gunsmithing from his father.He earned a patent for turning a gun barrel in a lathe...
II and his brother Elijah purchased land along the Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
and built mills producing goods such as gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s, scythe
Scythe
A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass, or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. The Grim Reaper is often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe...
s and sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
saws. In 1808, Asa and Elijah erected an armory
Armory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
which was successful until forced to close suddenly in 1841. It reopened at the start of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1861, doing work for the U.S. government. With the wealth Asa Waters II received from his factories, he began construction, in 1826, of a Federal-style
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
, near the town center on Elm Street. Designed by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
architect Asher Benjamin
Asher Benjamin
Asher Benjamin was an American architect and author whose work transitioned between Federal style architecture and the later Greek Revival. His seven handbooks on design deeply influenced the look of cities and towns throughout New England until the Civil War...
, it was completed in 1832. It took two years to collect materials for construction of the house, including marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
s from Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. Known as the Asa Waters Mansion
Asa Waters Mansion
Asa Waters Mansion is an historic mansion at 123 Elm Street in Millbury, Massachusetts.Designed by architect Asher Benjamin, for Asa Waters and Susan Holman Waters, the mansion was built between 1826-32, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.The Millbury Historical Society...
, it is an icon of the town.
President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
spent many summer vacations in Millbury as a young boy, attending the public schools for a season. When he grew older, he visited his grandparents most summers. He visited his aunt, Delia C. Torrey, during his presidency for the occasion of Millbury's 100th birthday. The Torrey House, where President Taft stayed during his visit, is commonly called the Taft House today.
In the early 1970s, Millbury experienced a number of large fires. The town hall burned down, followed by the Union School. Local realtor Manual Gonzalez-Rios donated profits from his towing company to assist in rebuilding the town hall. A propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
plant near Route 146 exploded spectacularly, with tanks blown 100 feet or more into the air, making nationwide news.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 16.3 square miles (42.2 km²), of which 15.7 square miles (40.7 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), or 3.20%, is water. The town is drained by the Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
.
Millbury is bordered by Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
to the north, Grafton
Grafton, Massachusetts
Grafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
to the east, Sutton
Sutton, Massachusetts
-Library:The Sutton Free Library was established in 1876. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Sutton spent 0.7% of its budget on its public library—some $18 per person.-Education:...
to the south, Oxford
Oxford, Massachusetts
Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,709 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford, please see the article Oxford , Massachusetts.-History:...
to the southwest and Auburn
Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward...
to the west.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 12,784 people, 4,927 households, and 3,443 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 812.5 PD/sqmi. There were 5,109 housing units at an average density of 324.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.19% White, 0.53% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.
There were 4,927 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,415, and the median income for a family was $62,564. Males had a median income of $41,912 versus $28,973 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $23,531. About 4.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Library
The Millbury public library began in 1864. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Millbury spent 1.15% ($358,097) of its budget on its public library—some $26 per person.Education
Public schools in Millbury fall under the jurisdiction of Millbury Public Schools school districtSchool district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
. Approximately 2,000 students are educated in three schools: Elmwood Street School, a 625 student primary school for grades Preschool - 3; Raymond E. Shaw Elementary School, a 423 student intermediate school for grades 4 - 6; and Millbury Memorial Junior/Senior High School
Millbury High School
Millbury Memorial Junior/Senior High School is a school in Millbury, Massachusetts that serves 936 students in grades 7 through 12. It was founded in 1851, and was originally located in a building on Millbury's Elm Street, which now houses the Mary Elizabeth McGrath Educational Center, operated by...
, a 936 student secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
for grades 7 - 12.
Notable residents
- Ron DarlingRon DarlingRonald Maurice Darling, Jr. is an American former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos...
, baseball pitcher - George A. SheridanGeorge A. SheridanGeorge Augustus Sheridan was an American politician, most notably serving in the House of Representatives for one term...
, congressman - George E. WhiteGeorge E. WhiteGeorge Elon White was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Millbury, Massachusetts, White attended the public schools....
, congressman - Howie WinterHowie WinterHoward Thomas "Howie" Winter is an American mobster. He was the second leader of the infamous Winter Hill Gang.-Early life:...
, felon
Further reading
- Benedict, William A.; Tracy, Hiram A.: A History of the Town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1704 to 1876, p. 142, Sanford & Company, 1878