Discover 20 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Uxbridge (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Uxbridge Town Hall, Stanley Woolen Mill, and Friends Meetinghouse. Also, be sure to include West Hill Dam in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Uxbridge (Massachusetts).
Table of Contents
Uxbridge Town Hall
Uxbridge Town Hall is the town hall of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, located at 45 South Main Street. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1879 and added to the historic registry 100 years later. Amos P. Cutting of Worcester was the architect. Ferry & Gardner of Springfield also submitted plans.
An old burial ground had to be relocated to build the town hall. It continues to serve as the administrative headquarters for the town government. In the 1930s its auditorium showed movies, and live bands played here for weekend entertainment. Until recent times it also served as the police headquarters. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1]
Address: 21 South Main Street, Uxbridge
Stanley Woolen Mill
Stanley Woolen Mill is the common historic name applied to a defunct company based in southeastern Massachusetts and to the company's buildings which stand at the southern entrance to the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park. The mill is an important footnote in the history of the textile industry in America. Stanley Woolen Mill is the centerpiece of the Central Woolen Mills District which is part of the National Historic Register.[2]
Friends Meetinghouse
Church in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The Friends Meetinghouse is an historic Friends Meeting House of the Religious Society of Friends located at the junction of Routes 146A and 98 in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. On January 24, 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[3]
West Hill Dam
Park in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. West Hill Dam Reserve is a United States Army Corps of Engineers flood control project with a recreational park and wildlife management area located at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The West Hill Dam Project was completed in 1960. It is located on the West River, one of the branches of the Blackstone River which flows from Worcester, MA to Providence, RI. The West River originates in Grafton, Massachusetts, at Cider Mill Pond and Silver Lake, near Upton, Massachusetts, and the Upton State Forest. The dam is unusual in that it isn't filled unless there is a flood. West Hill Dam was built after devastating floods during the 1950s; it is intended to protect the Blackstone Valley from future destructive flooding. The cities and towns downriver from Uxbridge, including Millville, Blackstone, Woonsocket, North Smithfield, Cumberland, Lincoln, Central Falls, Pawtucket and Providence, Rhode Island, suffered extensive flooding from the Blackstone during Hurricane Diane in 1955. Hurricane Donna tested this new dam in 1960 as the eyewall passed over. The West Hill Dam is located in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor near the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park. Park rangers provide visitor assistance and offer scheduled interpretative programs. Fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing opportunities are available year-round. The park has a recreation area, 34 picnic sites, one playground, a swimming area and five miles of hiking trails. However, access to the park from West Hill Road is currently blocked as of 2021 because of landowner disagreements. West Hill Dam is also the field office for the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area. It consists of scattered wetlands in the upper and middle Charles River watershed, between the towns of Bellingham and Needham. The wetlands provide flood storage area, fisheries, wildlife management, and recreation. The Charles River is the well-known watercourse that flows into Boston Harbor.[4]
Cormier Woods
Park in Mendon, Massachusetts. Cormier Woods is a 175-acre open space preserve and historic 18th-century farm complex in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, USA, within the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. The property is named for James Cormier, the former owner of the property. It was acquired in 2008 by the land conservation non-profit organization The Trustees of Reservations.
The reservation includes 3 miles (4.8 km) of hiking trails, farmland, woodlots, wetlands, a farmhouse, barn and sheds. It is open to hiking, picnicking, cross country skiing and hunting (in season). The reservation trailhead is on Chapin Street in Uxbridge.[5]
Address: 217 Chapin St, 01569-1941 Uxbridge
Uxbridge Free Public Library
Public library in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The Uxbridge Free Public Library is the public library in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It opened in 1875.
The first library in the town of Uxbridge was the Uxbridge Social and Instructive Library (1775–1812), managed by George Southwick at his store in the Quaker City section of South Uxbridge. The sixth was the Uxbridge Agricultural Society (1859–1864). Most of these small libraries were subscription libraries that required dues and assessments.
In 1874, the Uxbridge voters elected six trustees to set up a free library. They met on April 18, 1874 to organize the Uxbridge Free Public Library. It opened in the FW Barnes jewellery store on South Main Street on January 20, 1875. After five years, the free library moved into the Town Hall.
On June 20, 1894. the library's new home, the Thayer Memorial building, was dedicated. Edward Carrington Thayer, a local business man and banker, had built it and donated it to the town in memory of his parents, Joseph and Chloe Taft Thayer
The Thayer Memorial building was designed by Fuller & Delano of Worcester as architects and the building contract to Urgel Jacques of Worcester. Thayer spent $28,000 for the building, $4,000 for the land and $1,500 for furnishings, for a total of $33,500.
The Thayer Memorial building still houses the Uxbridge Free Public Library.[6]
Address: 15 N Main St, 01569 Uxbridge
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park
Historical place, State park, Park, Relax in park, Regional park
Address: 287 Oak St, 01569-1250 Uxbridge
Taft Brothers Block
Building in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The Taft Brothers Block is an historic commercial building at 2-8 South Main Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Prominently located in the town center at the corner of Mendon and Main Streets, it is a three-story brick structure, with modest Late Victorian stylistic embellishments. Its first floor has commercial retail storefronts, while the upper-floor windows are set in openings with granite sills and lintels. Brick corbelling marks the cornice below the flat roof. The upper floor is taller than the other floors, and houses a large auditorium space. It was built in 1896 for Robert and Jacob Taft, operators of a grocery, after the previous building on the site was destroyed by fire.
On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
Rivulet Mill Complex
Building in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The Rivulet Mill Complex is an historic group of mill buildings located at 60 Rivulet Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. It was originally built by Chandler Taft. Richard Sayles purchased the mill in 1864 and, after repairs, began the manufacture of shoddy, a yarn made from woolen scraps and used clothing. In 1872 the original mill burned and was totally destroyed. Sayles and Zadok Taft rebuilt on site and continued the business under the name of Sayles, Taft & Co. Later still, after Taft retired, the name became the Richard Sayles Mill. The mill was sold out of the Sayles family in 1910. It was operated by the Uxbridge Worsted Company until the mid-1950s.
In October 1983 the complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[8]
Ironstone
Village in Massachusetts. Ironstone is an historic village, in the township of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. It derived its name from plentiful bog iron found here which helped Uxbridge to become a center for three iron forges in the town's earliest settlement. South Uxbridge has historic sites, picturesque weddings, hospitality, industrial and distribution centers, and the new Uxbridge High School. This community borders North Smithfield, and Burrillville, Rhode Island, and Millville, Massachusetts. South Uxbridge receives municipal services from Uxbridge, for fire, police, EMS, School district, public works, and other services. There is a South Uxbridge fire station of the Uxbridge fire department. Worcester's Judicial District includes Uxbridge District Court. Ironstone appears on the Blackstone U.S. Geological Survey Map. Worcester County is in the Eastern time zone and observes DST.[9]
Israel Southwick House
The Israel Southwick House is an historic house located at 76 Mendon Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The 2+1⁄2 story wood-frame house was built c. 1860–65, and is a good local example of Italianate styling, with Queen Anne elements added c. 1890. The main facade is three bays, with a center entry that has an elaborate colonnaded porch with a gable front roof. Above the entry is a Palladian window with a small half-round window surmounting the central of three relatively narrow windows. There is a gable-roof dormer with three windows above. To the left of the entry is a single story porch that has been enclosed, and a rounded corner porch extends to the right of the entry.
On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, where it is listed at 70 Mendon Street.[10]
Richard Sayles House
The Richard Sayles House is an historic house at 80 Mendon Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It is a distinctive local example of Federal period architecture executed in granite. It is further notable has the home from about 1859 onward of Richard Sayles, a local mill worker, executive, and later owner. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 7, 1983.[11]
George Carpenter House
Building in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The George Carpenter House is a historic house located at 53 South Main Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Built c. 1815–25, this two-story brick building is an excellent local example of high-style Federal architecture. The nearly square building has a hip roof with interior end wall chimneys. Its front entry is set beneath an elliptical arch supported by colonnettes. Its owner, George Carpenter, was a manufacturer of textile processing machinery.
On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, where it is listed at 67 South Main.[12]
Moses Taft House
The Moses Taft House is an historic house at 50 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It is a two-story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a side gable roof, central chimney, clapboard siding, and granite foundation. Built c. 1850–55, it is a fine local example of Italianate architecture, with paneled pilasters at the corners, paired brackets under the eave, and molded caps above the windows. Additions extend the original house to the side and rear.
The house was built for Moses Taft, an early industrialist in the historic Blackstone Valley.
On October 7, 1983, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places, where it is listed at 66 South Main Street.[13]
William Hayward House
Historical place in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The William Hayward House is an historic house located at 77 North Main Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. This 2+1⁄2 story wood-frame house was built c. 1874-79 for William Hayward, a banker and business partner of the locally prominent mill owner Moses Taft. The house is an excellent local example of Italianate styling, although its elaborate porch is a later c. 1900 modification. The property also has a period carriage house in good condition.
On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[14]
Francis Deane Cottage
The Francis Deane Cottage is an historic house located at 52 North Main Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The 1+1⁄2 story wood-frame house was built c. 1845–55, most likely for its first occupant, a local lawyer named Francis Deane. The house is a well preserved local instance of Greek Revival styling, with a pedimented gable that projects over a porch that is supported by Doric columns. The main entry is framed by sidelight windows and panelled stiles, and is topped by a decorative panel.
On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[15]
S. A. Hall House
The S.A. Hall House is an historic house located at 147 North Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It is a 2+1⁄2 story wood-frame structure, with a cross-gable roof, clapboard and wood shingle siding, and a granite foundation. A three-story square tower stands in a crook at the front of the house, topper by a pyramidal roof with a flared edge and bracketed eave. It has decorative cut shingle work in the gables and in bands between the levels. Its front porch, set in front of the tower, has a decorative bracketed frieze and turned posts. Built c. 1890, it is one of Uxbridge's finest Queen Anne houses. Its first documented owner was S. Alonzo Hall, publisher of the Uxbridge Compendium.
On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[16]
Judson–Taft House
The Judson–Taft House is an historic house located at 46 Pleasant Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The 2+1⁄2 story wood-frame house was built c. 1845–55, and is one of Uxbridge's most elaborate examples of high style Greek Revival design. The house occupies a site overlooking the center of Uxbridge, and its front yard originally extended all the way to Main Street. Its full two-story portico is supported by Doric columns, and its corner boards are pilastered.
On October 7, 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, where it is listed at 30 Pleasant.[17]
Coronet John Farnum Jr. House
Historical landmark in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The Cornet John Farnum Jr. House, built circa 1710, is one of the oldest homes in the historic Blackstone Valley town of Uxbridge, Massachusetts. On May 7, 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[18]
Charles Capron House
The Charles Capron House is an historic house at 2 Capron Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1874, it is an locally distinguished example of Gothic Revival architecture. It is also notable for its association with Charles Capron, a local mill owner. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[19]