Uxbridge

Many threads run through the story of Uxbridge, creating a tapestry as complex and richly woven as any of the cloths the town produced in abundance at the height of the Industrial Revolution. As you walk through its multi-textured streets, you will be struck by the juxtaposition of old and new, the intertwining of agrarian and industrial, the evidence of its age and renewal.

Like most communities that pre-date the Revolutionary War, Uxbridge was initially an agrarian community with a healthy smattering of gristmills, sawmills, and other small enterprises. Here, the Congregational majority lived in harmony with a small group of Quakers who erected their own meeting house on the outskirts of town. Such diversity would become characteristic of Uxbridge.

Early on, Uxbridge would make its impact on manufacturing in America. At the time of the Revolution, most cloth was still made at home. An Uxbridge farmer by the name of Richard Mowry successfully built and marketed the equipment needed to manufacture woolen, linen or cotton cloth. In 1810 Daniel day built one of the first woolen mills in New England in the eastern part of the town on the West River. Other mills, including Crown and Eagle cotton mill, the Rivulet woolen mill, the Capron worsted mill, and the Stanley Woolen Mills soon followed. By the mid-19th century more than twenty mills were flourishing in Uxbridge, attracting many immigrant workers, including French, Irish and Poles who greatly enriched and diversified the town's population.

When in Uxbridge, don't miss the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park - a 1,000 acre natural area that recalls the role of canals in transporting raw materials and manufactured goods between emerging industrial centers. Managed by the National Park Service, the park offers walking and hiking paths, canoe access, picnic area and a broad expanse of the Blackstone River known as Rice Pond - a favorite for watching wildlife.

The Riverbend Farm Visitors Center, 287 Oak St., is a must stop for visitors and residents alike, offering handy brochures, guided tours and a wealth of historical information provided by the Park's Rangers. Located in the heart of the Blackstone River Valley along the Route 146 corridor with easy access to the Massachusetts Turnpike, Routes 95 and 495, the Providence-Worcester Railroad, and nearby airports, Uxbridge makes an ideal destination for business or residential relocation. The beauty of a small town, large tracks of industrial-commercial zoning, an excellent school system, a ready and capable workforce, town government willing to help business development, and a great quality of life combine to make Uxbridge a great place to grow in Central Massachusetts.

Interested in learning more? Read the article: George Washington really stayed in Uxbridge?