The Northborough Historical Society was founded in 1906 through the efforts of Reverend Josiah C. Kent. Rev. Kent invited a group of townspeople to meet at the Unitarian parsonage on November 6, 1906 to consider the desirability of organizing such a society. Nine men and four women responded favorably to Rev. Kent's plea that "the facts of Northborough history should be collected and thus preserved from oblivion".
The Northborough Historical Society building at 52 Main Street, Northborough, is a much-loved and familiar structure, and members have long been affectionately tolerant of the building's quirks. After consideration and debate, however, the members voted to go ahead with a plan to upgrade the bathrooms and at the same time install a new handicapped accessible entrance from the south side of the building. The new construction is now completed.
The work was partially funded by a grant of $20,000 from the Community Preservation Committee, recognizing that the historic building was best preserved by keeping it in a usable, accessible condition. Additional help came from Mr. Andy Curtis of Northborough Septic Service, Inc., who donated his time, expertise, and materials in hooking up the building to town sewers free of charge.
The architect for the remodeling was Mr. Thomas Reardon of Benoit-Reardon, a resident of Northborough. The society members are very pleased at the way the new entrance has been designed to complement the style of the building, and indeed looks as though it was always there.
The construction work was carried out by Island Builders, a local firm, under the leadership of Mr. Bob Gleeson, also a Northborough resident. The old building provided a number of challenges and surprises, but is now in much better shape to weather the next hundred years.
For further information you may contact Melanie Magee at 508 842-2468 or by e-mail at mmagee@townisp.com
For additional Society information contact Robert Ellis, Society Historian Comments on the Web site contact Frank Bissett