Blackstone River Valley

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Millville



Millville Facts

As the name implies, Millville was a small mill village and home to several manufacturing concerns, including U.S. Rubber Company, which was its largest employer. It is located in the southern Blackstone Valley along the border of Rhode Island and the Massachusetts towns of Uxbridge and Blackstone.

Sign in Millville 24 miles southeast of Worcester and 42 miles southwest of Boston, This town of 3,000 has evolved into a beautiful rural small town, displaying its many historic treasures, including the Chestnut Hill Meeting House, Old Locks Cave, and the Blackstone River. The community shares its educational responsibility with Blackstone.

Millville is the second youngest town in Massachusetts. Originally part of Mendon, Millville was an important link in transportation and commerce in the Blackstone River Valley during America's Industrial Revolution.

Millville Lock In 1845, Blackstone divided from Mendon to become a separate town, and Millville happily joined it. By then, both Blackstone and Millville were hardworking communities with quite prosperous mills and manufacturers.

In 1906, the residents of Millville also petitioned for independence. Their first attempt to obtain a "divorce" from Blackstone failed, but ten years later, the separation committee refiled "The Millville Bill" with the State of Massachusetts. After the Governor vetoed the bill, the State Senate and House voted to pass the bill over the veto. The busy village incorporated as the Town of Millville on May 1, 1916.






Greek Revival Everyone celebrated the privilege of Township with a great parade on May 31, 1916. By some accounts, over 10,000 people witnessed the festivities that lasted from morning until night. All the industries in Millville were closed for the day, but the Mill bells rang and factory whistles blew in celebration, joining chorus with all the church bells and school bells.

Today, the families who live along Millville's quiet side streets and miles of country roads enjoy the secure residential lifestyle of their community. No one doubts Millville will always maintain the one feature it has cherished since the day of the great parade in 1916 - its own identity.