Part I in this series addresses the Central Village, a thriving community of town government, schools and businesses located in the large flat area between the Nahua River and the modern causeway. Today it is familiar to all only by the last remaining original building…the well-known Old Stone Church.

Its eastern end contained the Town Hall, the First Congregational Church, a factory village with a dozen factory-owned houses, a machine shop and a large number of private homes, very likely factory workers’ private homes.

Toward the west end were two churches, a Roman Catholic church and the landmark Old Stone Church, surrounded by the spacious estates of prominent businessmen and community leaders, and a small area with two schoolhouses and the Odd Fellows Lodge.

Today this area is a popular tourist and recreation stop but back then it was…old West Boylston.

The animated tour below traces a path along old East Main Street from the Old Church to the Country Kettle to the Causeway and back and the accompanying slide show affords a closer look at the homes and buildings that made up the Central Village.

I hope you like it.

Thanks,

Paul