Northbridge Historical Society

08/09/2026

Has anyone seen the landscaping at the Historical Society Colonel James Fletcher Homestead on Elm Place and Douglas Road? Like below if you’ve taken a look. Before and After pictures.

07/11/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to the open house. We had a great turnout. Many thanks to those who volunteered their time that day.

Open house today come visit the Colonel James Fletcher Homestead 1 Elm Place, Whitinsville ,MA Open 10 to 6.

07/04/2026

Open house today come visit the Colonel James Fletcher Homestead 1 Elm Place, Whitinsville ,MA Open 10 to 6.

07/01/2026

Volunteers will be at the Fletcher House July 4th from 10:00-6:00 pm. Hope to see you all there.

07/01/2026

Fletcher House before / after

06/29/2026

The Northbridge Historical Society is inviting you to visit the Colonel James Fletcher 1770 Homestead on Saturday, July 4th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Join us as we celebrate America's 250th birthday. Tour this historical homestead and learn about Colonel James Fletcher. Fletcher (1747-1834) served in the Revolutionary War, was an entrepreneur, industrialist, and father to Betsy Fletcher, who married Paul Whitin. The Fletcher Forge, located on the falls of the Mumford River, gave birth to the Industrial Revolution and Whitin Machine Works, the largest textile machine manufacturer in the world. Historical Society members will be available to answer questions and share information about the exhibits, which include photos, paintings, documents, news clippings, and memorabilia. The homestead is located at One Elm Place, Whitinsville, MA across from Alternatives/OpenSky.

06/14/2026

Whitinsville Self Guided Tour --thank you to Blackstone River Valley for their post.
Welcome to Whitinsville, one of six sites that make up Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.

Whitinsville is a historic village located in Northbridge, Massachusetts. During your tour of this community, you will see how a small family business grew into the Whitin Machine Works, an industrial giant. At its peak, more than 5,000 people worked for the company, making machines for the textile industry.

Today, various buildings from the company’s evolution still stand. They are a reminder of the decades of labor that made this place successful. Learn more about the people who lived through periods of boom and bust, turning a revolutionary spark into a place known around the world for innovation.

This self-guided walk is comprised 8 stops. Use the map and drop down boxes below to learn more about the history of each site. Walking directions to the next site are in italics at the end of the text for each stop.

Safety Note: This self-guided tour remains on sidewalks and well-paved paths. Be cautious for uneven terrain and vehicular traffic. Only cross at crosswalks. Sturdy footwear and water are recommended.
Start your tour at: 1 Main Street, Whitinsville, MA

Click the link below for a full article, map and each historical place to see.

Whitinsville tour

06/10/2026

Another Did You know I posted on the Northbridge Historical Society. All welcome to follow this page.

06/10/2026

"Did you Know" Northbridge's Landscape Through Time, Reconnaissance Report (June 2007)
Northbridge is a growing suburban town made up of several villages, including:
Linwood, Riverdale, Rockdale and Whitinsville.
It is located in the Blackstone River Valley of south central Massachusetts. This area played a major role in early American industrial development, due to its natural resources and strategic location to Worcester and Providence. Situated between interstates 90, 146, 395, and 495, today the Blackstone Valley has good highway and rail access to the ports, airports, and intermodal facilities of Worcester, Providence, and Boston.
Three rivers flow through Northbridge, the Blackstone River, running north to south, and two of its major tributaries --the West River which runs through the southeast corner of town, and the Mumford River, which originates in Sutton and cuts eastward across Northbridge to join the Blackstone in Uxbridge.

05/30/2026

I've created a "Did You Know" here on the Northbridge Historical Society website. The first is below, each month another will be posted.

Northbridge Historical Society Fletcher House
Northbridge's Landscape Through Time
Who was Colonel Paul Whitin
Who was John Crane Whitin
Who was John Whitin Lasell
Castle Hill Farm