Millbury: Gateway to the Blackstone Valley
P.O. Box 367
Millbury MA 01527
508-865-4192
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Our Exciting Annual Meeting Coming up!
Thursday, June 13!
Learn about five of Millbury's most productive, influential families: The Braneys, the Hills, the Mulhanes, the Hornes and the Stockwells
Big News in Millbury!
From 1978
Millbury's Craft- The LCI-713!
Because of your generosity and participation, we were able to send the crew out in Portland, OR, the tidy sum of $1,350- the proceeds from our latest meat raffle at The St. Charles Hotel.
It seems Baby needs a new bottom, and certainly this contribution will help in that endeavor!
If you don’t know about Millbury’s very own landing craft, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
The Millbury Historical Society is selling some of the surplus Aftermath yearbooks we have. If any of these years mean something to you or a loved one, you can either message us on Facebook or call
Live Flea or Buy at 774-287-0104 to make sure the one you want is still in store.
They are selling for $10 apiece and are brand new! The years available are:
2 – 1931; 2 – 1934; 1 – 1935; 1 – 1936; 2 – 1949; 1 – 1951; 1 – 1952;
1 – 1958; 1 – 1971;1 – 1984; 1 – 1995;
1 - 1998
Millbury Historical Society's Latest Program Edifying and Entertaining!
Frederick Douglass (Nathan Richardson) quizzes young historians Lucas Mason (l) and Paul Bemis on the finer points of reading levels.
Nathan M. Richardson is a published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian.
Mr. Richardson is now in his 9th year of The Frederick Douglass Speaking Tour - a living history performance that captures completely the physical, spiritual and intellectual essence of the former slave, writer, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Nathan came to Millbury recently and performed at the Asa Waters Mansion to a rapt audience. He recounted his relationship with President Abraham Lincoln and with fellow journalist and publisher William Lloyd Garrison. Nathan/Frederick also made note of Douglass' ties with Lynn and New Bedford, MA as well as describing his two trips to Millbury, Massachusetts to participate in adult lyceums of the era.
But perhaps the highlight of the evening was Mr. Douglass' interaction with two seven-year olds from Millbury: Paul Bemis and Lucas Mason. Paul's mom, Erica Fairbanks-Bemis, had brought the kids to introduce them to the shocking history of slavery, and Nathan made a meaningful connection with the boys by testing their literary capabilities.
It was great fun for both the youngsters and for the audience! Pretty gutsy kids to participate in front of so many grown-ups, and Nathan demonstrated a deft touch with the youths!
Later, Nathan responded to questions from the obviously well-informed and enthusiastic spectators. One couple had come all the way up from Johnson, Rhode Island!
And afterwards, refreshments were served, and Nathan mingled with his most appreciative fellow historians.
Millbury's Famous Inventor Thomas Blanchard
This 1862 oil painting by Christian Schussele depicts America's famous inventors of the day, and there, second from the right, is our man Thomas Blanchard, inventor of the Eccentric Lathe!
L to R: William Thomas Green Morton, 9 Aug 1819 - 15 Jul 1868, James Bogardus, 14 Mar 1800 - 13 Apr 1874, Samuel Colt, 19 Jul 1814 - 10 Jan 1862, Cyrus Hall McCormick, 15 Feb 1809 - 13 May 1884, Joseph Saxton, 22 Mar 1799 - 26 Oct 1873, Charles Goodyear, 29 Dec 1800 - 1 Jul 1860, Peter Cooper, 12 Feb 1791 - 4 Apr 1883, Jordan Lawrence Mott, 12 Oct 1799 - 1866, Joseph Henry, 17 Dec 1797 - 13 May 1878, Eliphalet Nott, 25 Jun 1773 - 29 Jan 1866, John Ericsson, 31 Jul 1803 - 8 Mar 1889, Frederick Ellsworth Sickels, 20 Sep 1819 - 8 Mar 1895, Samuel Finley Breese Morse, 27 Apr 1791 - 2 Apr 1872, Henry Burden, 22 Apr 1791 - 19 Jan 1871, Richard March Hoe, 12 Sep 1812 - 7 Jun 1886, Erastus Brigham Bigelow, 2 Apr 1814 - 6 Dec 1879, Isaiah Jennings, 1792 - 1862, Thomas Blanchard, 24 Jun 1788 - 16 Apr 1864, Elias Howe, 9 Jul 1819 - 3 Oct 1867
First Annual Carole Chiras/
Millbury Historical Society Scholarship is Presented!
Carole Chiras
Jacqueline Gilbert
Elmwood Street School
We wish to congratulate Millbury High School senior Jacqueline Gilbert, daughter of Jeffrey and Kim Gilbert, for being awarded the first annual Carole Chiras/Millbury Historical Society Memorial Scholarship.
This $3,500 honor goes to a worthy student who will attend Worcester State University. Worcester State is where Carole met her husband of fifty-six years, Jack Chiras, many years ago.
Carole, who passed away last year, was known for her smile and cheerfulness. She was a gifted and talented educator who could put anyone at ease and make them feel valued. This, combined with boundless creativity and a giving heart, fueled the soul of an elementary school teacher.
She served at Providence Street School, Shaw Middle School and Elmwood Street School where she retired as principal in 2003.
In addition, Carole was a proud member of the Millbury community and a lifetime member of the Millbury Historical Society. She loved leading tours of the town’s noteworthy sites and sharing her vast knowledge of the town’s rich history. She was a board member of the Millbury Bicentennial Committee and served as the History Chairman.
Congratulations, Jacqueline, and good luck in the future!
MILLBURY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP
The seventh Annual Grace M. Laflash/Millbury Historical Society Scholarship was recently awarded to Ryan Shaughnessy, an eighth-grade student at Assumption School in Millbury.
Ryan was the top history student in the eight grade. He will be attending Marianapolis Preparatory School this fall.
Grace Laflash was a Charter Member of the Historical Society and its Secretary for nearly forty years. She was the unquestioned expert on Millbury History.
Grace taught fifth-grade at Assumption for over twenty-five years, and she instituted a Millbury History Class into the curriculum. Hundreds and hundreds of students learned about this Town from Grace. Her classes often put on plays and skits about events from Millbury’s early history and took part in every Town historical celebration.
When the bridge spanning the Blackstone River and the railroad tracks needed replacing in 1983, Grace’s class researched the history and found that the accepted name of “McGowan Bridge” was incorrect.
Instead, it was originally named the “Gowing Bridge” in honor of a prominent businessman in Town. At the grand opening ceremony, Grace and her students were given the honor of cutting the ribbon for the new “Gowing Bridge.”
Grace passed away in 2015, and her family asked that donations be made in her name to the Millbury Historical Society.
The Board of Trustees of the Society voted to use the funds to establish a scholarship in her name at Assumption School and President Frank Gagliardi made the presentation at Awards Night in the Church.
Ryan Shaughnessy
Grace M. Laflash
The Annual Meeting of The Millbury Historical Society took place on Thursday, June 8th- the 210th Anniversary of the Birthday of The Town of Millbury!
Boston Globe reporter, Emily Sweeney, shared the inside scoop on her books BOSTON ORGANIZED CRIME and GANGLAND BOSTON and then sold and signed them afterwards.
First Presentation of 2023 for
The Millbury Historical Society Draws Huge Crowd!
Wednesday night May 17th, The Millbury Historical Society, held our first program of the year at 6:00 at the Asa Waters Mansion.
The author Elena Palladino discussed her book, "The Lost Towns of the Swift River Valley" about the four towns sacrificed to create the Quabbin Reservoir for Boston's water supply.
We attracted a capacity crowd of seventy-five people! The audience was able to question Elena and meet her afterwards. Everyone certainly enjoyed themselves!
Millbury Historical Society Presents Program about World War II's LCI 713, Millbury's Ship
Be proud, little town of Millbury, because in August of 1944, your seven-thousand residents (one-thousand of whom were in the armed forces) raised over one-million dollars in the Fifth War Bond Drive of the war! Enough to sponsor its very own naval landing craft: the LCI (L) 173!
Recently, The Millbury Historical Society presented a program about this this long-forgotten, patriotic feat and how it was accomplished by our town! Learn where the idea arose, how the funds were raised, when the ship was commissioned, and where it is TODAY!
Watch the video below to access the program. It begins with an eight-minute introduction to the LCI-713 itself.
LCI-713 Commissioning: September 19, 1944
LCI-713 in Portland, Oregon TODAY
ELSIE ITEM and the DECK LOG OF THE USS LCI(L) 713 is a magazine about Millbury's own Landing craft!
The WINTER 2022 issue has a special column about Doug Bowker, grandson of Harold Bowker, who began the War Bond drive to fund the craft.
Below is a link to the magazine. Be sure to read pages 13, 14 & 15 about Doug and his tribute-model!
https://www.amphibiousforces.org/News/2022DecElsieDecklog119.pdf
The Millbury Historical Society would like to acknowledge and thank all who turned out for our Veterans' Day program about Millbury's very own World War II vessel: The LCI-713!
The event was exceptionally well-attended, and the citizens of Millbury donated generously to the welfare of the landing craft for the second time in its existence!
In particular the Society would like to thank all the Veterans who stopped in; The Charles F. Minney Post for hosting the program (Bob & Barbara Roy: great job!). Kevin Krassopoulos, Public Access Director, thank you for filming the entire event, and Maureen Sullivan Editor of The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle did a wonderful job with the advanced Publicity.
Watch Video ^
A History of 60 Elm Street
From Lynch's Garage to the Franco-American Club to A & D Pizza
A 1967 article (with a 1951 photo) about the silver anniversary of the Franco-American Club (1943-1968).
A 1958 photo of Senate re-election candidate John F. Kennedy's appearance at the Franco-American Club.
Matted/Plastic-Wrapped Prints of the FLYING SAUCER Car Hop and THE CENTRAL DINER are available in a 9” x 12” off-white, museum-quality mat with a bold French line around the opening.
“Diner Don” Sawyer is a New England watercolorist who is well known for his stylized renditions of regional diners, roadside attractions, and pastoral scenes.
Each print is titled, geographically-identified, and signed by the artist, “Diner Don” Sawyer.
These colorful, treasured prints are available at the Museum of the Millbury Historical Society during museum hours (or call Frank at 508-865-4192) OR at Gloria Schimke’s space at Live Flea or Buy (774-578-7919).
9” x 12” Prints of the Flying Saucer and The Central Diner $35
10” x 20” Print of the Flying Saucer only $40
Nostalgic Millbury for Sale
