Stow Historical Society

08/06/2026

An account of the view from Spindle Hill in Stow from a journal entry dated Wednesday May 7, 1851 by Francis Abbott as related in "Poems of Nature and Life" by John Witt Randall (1899):

"We crossed the brook and began the ascent of Spindle Hill, a most unpoetical name for a beautiful place.... We kept ascending till we reached the top, the prospect growing more beautiful as we advanced.... The adjacent countryside was spread out like a panorama, and on every side we could see silvery streams, winding through green fields and shaded by trees; white houses shining... and the thick woods beyond; these formed a scene, at least to me of unparalleled beauty. We could see, Mr. Randall said, fifty towns, perhaps seventy five.... The Elsebeth [Assabet] Brook, which we had just left, was coursing in serpentine mazes through green fields, now hid by trees, then appearing beyond - oh, I cannot describe my feelings."

Approximately 100 years later, in the 1950s, a ski area was located on those slopes as pictured below.

07/30/2026

Our Throwback Thursday posts are taking a summer vacation this week and will return next week. For THIS week, we'd like to invite you (yes that's you) to drop one of your favorite old photos of people or places in Stow in the comments below. Or maybe it's something more recent that you'd like to chronicle here for posterity. Old photos, maps, or event programs can be photographed with your cell phone if they aren't digital. And if you can tell us something about the photo so much the better!

Go!

07/25/2026

Our Summer 2026 Newsletter is here!

You can find it at: https://stowhistoricalsociety.org/newsletters/

Please like and share! And check out our website while you're there -- we're adding new information regularly.

Not a member yet? You can join there as well! Thank you!

07/23/2026

Who can tell us when the first subdivision was built in Stow? OK, we won't make you wait...

Stow’s first subdivision to actually be developed was Assabet Heights, located on the Stow/Maynard line off Great Road. This area was once the location of Erikson’s Hill Side Farm and cows reportedly grazed atop the hill that is now Assabet Heights. The Town Farm, was also located in this area — established by the sale of farmland and woodland to the Town, so as to provide for a “poor farm” operated by the Town.

After the Town Farm ceased operation, the two parcels of land that made up the Farm, a total of 114 acres with buildings, were sold by the Town at auction in 1916 and purchased by C.D. Fletcher and William D. Parker. for $6,875 (!). A portion of this land was later conveyed to Alvin Fletcher in 1946. Alvin also acquired additional adjacent land shown on the 1918 plan of Riverview Park (below) on the north side of the Assabet River. Both parcels were combined and subdivided and then developed as Assabet Heights. Elaine Avenue is named after Alvin’s first grandaughter. Note that the plans contain no endorsement of the Planning Board, as the plans predate the existence of Planning Boards in both Stow and Maynard — and of the subdivision control law. Hastings Street, shown on the plan, pre-dated the subdivision and provided access to the Town Farm.

07/16/2026

Who has a photo of this building today? (yes, it is still here!) Or who can tell us more about it?

07/11/2026

Many of you may (or may not) now be familiar with Rediscover Mapledale. This non profit organisation began its humble origins as part of the Stow Historical Society’s many projects. It’s become its own, important force advancing the history of Mapledale golf course (now Stow Acres) and its founder. August 29th marks one of the organizations most important events as a centennial celebration of the first UGA “Negro National” Open Championship golf tournaments in New England in 1926 hosted at the Mapledale golf course. You are all welcome and very encouraged to join and support this tournament. Rediscover Mapledale may no longer officially be a part of the Stow Historical Society but we are so proud of what this organization has done over the last four years. Get your clubs ready and join them!

Robert H. Hawkins Memorial Golf Tournament Since 2024, Rediscover Mapledale has held the Robert H. Hawkins Memorial Golf Tournament to honor Robert H. Hawkins, a co-founder of the United Golfers Association in 1925 and founder of Mapledale Country Club (now Stow Acres), the first golf course built,....

07/09/2026

Today we take you on a tour of Lake Boon -- back in the day when travelers arrived by train at two different train stations (and were ferried to their cottages by boat), where as many as 30 social clubs ringed the Lake in the early 1900s, and people sent postcards home from their visits to Stow. Many houses were built around the lake in the early 1900s and the first water carnival was held in 1903.

You can find more postcards in the 2005 book of Lake Boon postcards by Lew Halperin and Alan Kattelle (available online and from the Stow Historical Society) and learn more about Lake Boon's history in the 2021 book "A History of Lake Boon" by Richard Gelpke.

This year's Lake Boon Water Carnival will be August 28-30th.

We'd love to see your old photos of Lake Boon!

07/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to join us and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley ring the bells 250 times for the Semiquincentennial- America’s 250! It took 9 minutes and many arms. It was great seeing’s families and neighbors ring together and enjoy copies of the Declaration of Independence we handed out. Please share your photos and videos here!

07/02/2026

This Saturday, July 4th, at approximately 12:15pm, the bell in the Church formerly known as the First Parish will be rung 250 times in celebration of the America's 250th Independence Day (or our Nation's Semiquincentennial). The public is welcome to join the Stow Historical Society in ringing the bell on this historic occasion!

This paragraph about the bell is taken from the booklet "The First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist of Stow and Acton - A Brief History", published for the 150th anniversary of the Unitarian congregation in 1983, which coincided with the 300th anniversary of the town:

"As the fourth meetinghouse was being built in 1827, Mrs. Abigail Eveleth, whose deceased husband was a grandson of Rev. John Eveleth, made known her intention to bequeath $400 to the town for the purchase of a new bell for the meetinghouse. Prior to her bequest, and with her approval, the town ordered a bell from P. Revere & Sons for $222.19 to be installed in anticipation of the dedication of the new meetinghouse in October, 1827. Unfortunately, Mrs. Eveleth died suddenly in September of that year and the bell tolled for the first time at her funeral. This same bell tolled at the end of the two World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict, as well as at numerous weddings, funerals, Fourth of July celebrations and other special occasions."

Coincidentally, another historic event has just taken place - the church has a new name! It is no longer known as the First Parish Church. You can check out that story elsewhere!

06/27/2026

On Saturday July 4th at 12:15 pm, you are invited to join the Stow Historical Society in the ringing of the historic Paul Revere Bell at the First Parish Church. We plan to ring it 250 times, so we'll need help! The Country turns 250 years old only once, so come share in a piece of history. Take your turn at pulling the rope to ring in our 250th Independence Day! Photo courtesy of the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton.