Maynard Massachusetts

More than 300 years ago, 25 men from the neighboring towns of Sudbury, Marlborough, and Stow crossed over the hills to a wide expanse of rolling hills and valleys crossed by countless brooks, each pouring into the river's tranquil current that wound its way into the sea. It is little cause for wonder that these pioneers petitioned to the General Court of the New England Colonies in 1685 to appoint them proprietors of the rich territory that would become Maynard. As the settlement grew, industry prospered along the river: first a gristmill, then a paper mill, and later a carpet mill, which eventually turned into a very large woolen mill. The settlers again petitioned the court to establish their own town rather than being inhabitants of the Town of Stow or Sudbury, depending on which side of the river one lived. The courts granted permission in 1871 and the new Town of Maynard exploded to become the home of the largest woolen mill in New England. A century later, it became the headquarters of Digital Equipment Corporation and would come to be known as the Minicomputer Capital of the World.

First known as Assabet Village, Maynard evolved from a scattering of marginal hill farms to a bustling center of immigration and industry. Changes came with development and growth, from the arrival of railroads through the founding of the Digital Equipment Corporation. Residents persevered through the Great Depression and World War II to create a vibrant and diverse economy along the recently restored Assabet River. The town's Sesquicentennial Steering Committee has produced an authoritative volume that details the unique history of this beautiful New England town.

Maynard was incorporated in 1871 as a manufacturing community. By 1880, it was one of the most influential towns in Massachusetts. As the population boomed from an expansion in business, postcards became the substantial method of communication. Local photographers took advantage of the events, pictorial venues, and influx of immigrants and visitors to create many unusual postcards of Maynard. Through vintage postcards, Maynard shows how this town, once a farming community, has retained its friendly, small-town character.

As Maynard grew from a scattering of small hill farms to a booming center of industry and immigration, much of its colorful history was nearly forgotten. With a rollicking collection of his essays, newspaper columnist David A. Mark uncovers the hidden gems of the town's history. Learn why Babe Ruth shopped in Maynard during his Red Sox days and what they fed the animals at the Taylor mink ranch. Find out who is buried--and who is not--in the Maynard family crypt and which rock 'n' roll bands recorded in the studio upstairs from Woolworths on Main Street. Almost lost to time, these remarkable moments in history helped shape Maynard into the vibrant community that it is today.