Asa Waters Mansion

In the early 1990's, a volunteer group of concerned citizens banded together in Millbury, Massachusetts to save and restore one of the crown jewels of the Blackstone Valley - the Asa Waters Mansion. Through hard work, persistent fundraising, and close cooperation with the Town of Millbury, the Asa Waters Task Force restored this historical masterpiece and opened it to the public for all to enjoy.

Asa Waters rode the industrial revolution wave that swept through the Blackstone Valley in the early 1800's. A successful gunsmith and entrepreneur, Waters decided in 1824 to build a new home for his wife, Susan Holman Waters. He envisioned a structure that would reflect both his affection for his wife, and his success in the business world. He wanted it to be one of the most beautiful in the country.

Waters spared no expense on the design and construction. He specified the finest materials and employed only the best tradesmen in New England. For the next two years, horse-drawn wagons arrived regularly at the construction site with hard pine from the South, mahogany from Central America, marble from Italy, bricks from Baltimore, and pumpkin pine from Maine. An unprecedented undertaking for the time, considering the construction pre-dated the Blackstone Canal and the development of railroad networks.

With the materials in place, the skilled craftsmen went to work shaping and carving a wooden version of an English Georgian mansion complete with colonnade, carved cornice, and an ornamental fence. The Asa Water Mansion was immediately recognized as one of the stateliest, most skillfully constructed, and academically correct structures in the country.

The Waters family celebrated Thanksgiving in the mansion in 1829, but construction was not fully complete until 1832. Over the years, the mansion hosted many notable guests including Asa's great-grandson, President William Taft, and Alexander Graham Bell.

In the early 1900's, the Waters family sold the mansion. Over time, the original grandeur of the mansion eroded into significant disrepair. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Asa Waters Task Force, the Friends of the Asa Waters Mansion, and the Town of Millbury, the mansion has been restored to its original grandeur.

Today, owned by the Town of Millbury, the mansion hosts art exhibits, antique shows, art festivals, and living history days. The home is opened often for afternoon teas and guided tours.

A portion of the second floor is home to the Millbury Historical Society and is frequently visited by school groups, families, and individuals interested in learning more about the Blackstone Valley and the American Industrial Revolution. Architectural scholars visit the mansion to study its fine design and construction.

The Asa Waters Mansion has become the heart of community activity. The home is available for weddings, social, and business functions, comfortably accommodating up to 100 guests. Larger gatherings can be held on the estate's grounds. A recent issue of Bride and Groom magazine featured an article on the mansion and called it one of the most beautiful and unique wedding sites in New England.

Once close to demolition, the Asa Waters Task Force has given Blackstone Valley residents and visitors a window to another time, and an extraordinary gift.

We are grateful for their efforts.