A Short Picture view of Hopkinton: Then and Now

A Brief Historical View
from a Town of Hopkinton Annual Town Meeting Handout 1976

The first settlers in Hopkinton were probably Rev. John Eliot and a band of praying Indians in 1660.Edward Hopkins, a colonial governor of Connecticut, left a legacy to Harvard College. The trustees of the legacy purchased this land from Indians in 1710. The Tenants leased the land for one penny an acre. Eventually the land was given to the original tenants. Hopkinton originally contained 25,000 acres bounded by Sudbury, Sherborn, Mendon, Sutton, and Westborough. In 1735 4,000 acres were set aside to form part of Upton. In 1846, a part was taken to form part of Ashland. The Town was incorporated on December 13, 1715. The first town meeting took place on March 24, 1724 with thirty voters present, in the Price Mansion House (Which is now the Price-Valentine Manor House). The Annual Town Meeting is now held in the high school auditorium with an average of approximately 300 voters attending each year. During the 1800’s Hopkinton became a leading shoe manufacturing town. But, several serious fires occurred in 1876, 1882, and 1900 which destroyed many factories and Hopkinton then declined as an industrial town. Hopkinton is now a residential town. With the building of Interstate Route 495 in 1967, various new industries have located in and around South Street area. Hopkinton is a hilly and rocky scenic town with several lakes nestled in. Lakes such as Echo Lake, Lake Maspenock, Lake Whitehall, and the Hopkinton Reservoir. Several rivers are credited to start in Hopkinton which are the Blackstone, Charles, Concord Rivers.

Once a year Hopkinton gains national attention in April. Since 1924 the Boston Athletic Association’s Marathon has started in Hopkinton. Thousands of runners from all over the world gather on Main Street to begin their 26 mile run to Boston. ville Road, Hopkinton

Each Year on July 4th, the Horribles Parade route goes around and through the center of town. This tradition was started many years ago by the McIntyre family, formerly from Pleasant Street. It’s purpose is to poke fun at government (whether local or not), political parties, town services, the times (historic or present), or even what ever has been the most controversial topic of the year, the committee will name as the theme. After all, It’s all in fun anyway and everyone enjoys the day’s events.

A SHORT CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF HOPKINTON

1669 - John Eliot established a band of praying Indians at Magunco Hill

1710 - First settlement of Hopkinton

1712 - Abner Bixby born. Earliest recorded birth in Hopkinton

1715 - December 13th - Town of Hopkinton incorporated

1724 - First Town government established

1726 - Town Meeting House established. Congregational Church

1735 - 4,000 acres taken from Hopkinton to form part of Upton

1743 - First town schoolhouse

1745 - Episcopal Church established by Roger Price

1747 - Captain Daniel Shays, leader of Shays' Rebellion, born

1751 - Sir Harry Frankland built his home in Hopkinton

1763 - John Young, father of Brigham Young, born

1808 - Second mill to make cotton cloth in U.S. located in Woodville

1816 - Hopkinton Mineral Springs discovered

1818 - First Post Office - Abraham Harrison - Postmaster

1820 - Joseph Walker began to using pegs to fasten soles to shoes

1826 - Central Turnpike built (Area of West Main St.)

1834 - Boston to Worcester Railroad began service

1837 - Baptist Church in Woodville established

1841 - Woodville Post Office - Albert Wood, Postmaster

1846 - 2,500 acres of Hopkinton set aside to form part of Ashland

1846 - Whitehall Reservoir purchased and filled for the first time

1850 - Hopkinton was the largest boot and shoe manufacturer

1851 - First Catholic Church - St. Malachis on Cedar Street

1851 - First High School built on Hayden Rowe near Church Place

1867 - Fire destroys part of Hopkinton Center

1869 - William Claflin, native, was Governor of Massachusetts

1882 - Fire again destroys the center of Hopkinton

1889 - St. John the Evangelist Church dedicated

1890 - Hopkinton Public Library established

1892 - Soldier's Monument built

1894 - High School built on Main Street

1894 - Hopkinton Reservoir built for $910,332

1895 - Electric car lines in operation from Framingham to Westborough (Rte 135)

1898 - St. Paul's Episcopal Church dedicated (Main St.)

1900 - Fire again ravages Hopkinton center

1907 - Edison electric power in operation

1909 - Fire destroys the Reservoir House in Woodville

1915 - Hopkinton celebrates it's 200th anniversary

1924 - Distance of B.A.A. marathon lengthened - starting line moved to Hopkinton

1926 - Sandy Island becomes a public park

1928 - Center School built on Ash St.

1931 - Doughboy Monument erected

1932 - Hopkinton "Stonethrowers" football team organized

1938 - Hurricane hits Hopkinton hard

1940 - Town buys Carrigan Park

1950 - Ten rooms added to Center School

1956 - Hopkinton Jr. Sr. High School opened

1964 - Elmwood School opens

1965 - Hopkinton celebrates it's 250th anniversary

1967 - Library adds St. Paul's. New Episcopal Church built on Wood St.

1973 - Keefe Vocational School opened

1994 - Middle School added to Jr. Sr. High School

1995 - Town purchases Terry's Farm for schools and athletic fields

1998 - New Middle School Dedicated May 31st

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