Ashland is located midway between Boston and Worcester. There is easy access to the interstate highway system and the Massachusetts Turnpike.

In Ashland’s earlier days, it was a stopping point on a major Indian trial that later became known as the Bay Path. Bay Path connected Cambridge and Connecticut, and was a community of Natick Indians. The Village of Magunkaquog was established in about 1659.

Ashland, Massachusetts was once the original starting point of the world famous Boston Marathon. Ashland is also the home of Henry Warren’s invention of the electric clock that was later manufactured under the Telechron name.

The town is predominantly residential. A celebration of traditional New England spirit called “Ashland Day” is an event held annually.

Ashland, Massachusetts is situated in the Eastern part of the state. It is bordered by Sherborn on the east, Framingham on the north, Southborough on the west and northwest, and Hopkinton and Holliston on the south. It is 20 miles east of Worchester, 22 miles west of Boston, and 191 miles from New York City.

The form of government in Ashland, Massachusetts is Board of Selectmen, Town Manager and Open Town Meeting. It was incorporated in 1846.

Transportation and access:

There are excellent rail, air and highway facilities available to Ashland, Massachusetts. State Route 128 and Interstate Route 495 divide the region into inner and outer zones, which are connected by numerous “spokes” providing direct access to the airport, port, and intermodal facilities of Boston.

The principal highways are State Routes 126 and 135. The Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 90 is easily accessible in the neighboring town of Framingham.

Commuter rail service to Back Bay Station and South Station, Boston is available from
Framingham. Travel time to BBS is 42 – 45 minutes.

Ashland, Massachusetts is a member of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. LIFT offers hourly bus service between Ashland, Framingham and Hopkinton.

There are no libraries or museums in Ashland, Massachusetts. There are no hospitals, long term care services, Hospices services; however, there is a department of public health. Ashland, Massachusetts has one rest home, Mill Pond Rest Home.

The town of Ashland was settled by Europeans in the early 1700s and previously known as “Unionville.” Early development was enhanced by the establishment of the Boston to Albany railroad in the 1800s.

Notable residents included Henry Warren who invented the electric clock. A Warren Synchronizing Timer is on display at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History. Since the town is famous as the birthplace of the electric clock, the Ashland High School sports teams have been nicknamed “The Clockers.”

The current site of Ashland State Park was formerly the construction of the Ashland Reservoir around 1900 from the waters of Cold Spring.

One of Ashland’s most valuable assets is its ideal location about halfway between Boston and Worchester. It is considered part of the Metro West that consists of Framingham, Holliston and Hopkinton.

Ashland, Massachusetts has the look and feel of a typical residential New England town in the Boston area. Local traditions like the Ashland Day fair, a small-town ice cream shop, and Tasty Treat and Breakfast Joint Sunnyside help Ashland to maintain the feeling of a close-knit community.

Ashland’s traditional school rival is Hopkinton for the Thanksgiving High School football game. Ashland High School graduates approximately 160 students each year. The number of high school graduates from Ashland, Massachusetts continues to increase with each passing year.

The climate in Ashland varies. Winters are typically cold with frequent snow fall and occasional blizzards. The average snow fall per year is about 60 inches. Typical temperature highs of consistent 70 degrees do not set in until late May. The last frost is usually in mid May. Summers are generally comfortable with periods of high humidity. Prolonged heat waves of 3 days or more of highs in the 90 or above are not very common in Ashland, Massachusetts.

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© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about the history of, visiting and living in Massachusetts visit: http://smalldogs2.com/VisitingMassachusetts To submit articles and find a variety of FREE reprint articles visit http://www.camelotarticles.com

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