By Linda Rennie, Marlborough Historical Society
Marlborough – What did it take for Marlborough to become the productive, growing city that it is today? Many people help to set the cornerstone of the community. Many people contributed and continue to contribute to keep it a place that welcomes businesses, families and people of all nations.
Back in 1660 a sturdy group filled with courage and determination were able to meet seemingly insurmountable difficulties and prosper. These early settlers cleared forest spaces, erected primitive dwellings, and on occasion fought off hostile savages. These courageous forbearers of Marlborough reared sturdy families that were imbued with determination to succeed and overcome difficulties that should have discouraged the most optimistic of community builders. Some of the earliest Marlborough family names were Rice, Ward, Ruddock, Goodnow, King, Bannister, Kerly, Johnson, Newton, Howe, Holmes, Blecher, Woods, Maynard, Bent, Bellows Rutter, Barret, Rediat, Brigham, Williams, Brimsmead and Axtell.
Originally called “Whipsuppnicke,” the town of Marlborough was officially incorporated on May 30, 1660, as the Town of Marlborow, with about 55 inhabitants. In 1890 the town of Marlborough (as it now became known as) became a city, with S. Herbert Howe as its first mayor.
Over the many years the community has grown from an agricultural and lumber town to a city. Government leaders have always promoted economic growth. Technological advances and the influence of Interstate 495 and Route 290 have made the city a desirable place for high technological advances and businesses. Marlborough‘s location and the facilities offered by public services have made it a continuous climate of development.
Marlborough has been fortunate to have so many people that have been there to help the community grow, including the early settlers, John and Mary Howe, Henry Barnes and the Ward family. The early farmers and apple growers such as John Rice and Charles Curtis were the foundation of agriculture in the area. Some strong government leaders were the first selectmen, John Howe Sr., William Ward, John Ruddock, Edmund Rice and Thomas King. Mayors such as Kuson Haddad, Michael Hogan and Joseph Ferrecchia brought industrial growth to the city in the 20th century.
Major contributors to the education and recreational systems were Obadiah W. Albee, Abraham and Silas Gates, Horatio Alger, Ezra Cutting, Joseph Hannagan, Lou Ghiloni, Ernie Holt and Anna Walker. The city’s industrial growth was led by Samuel Boyd, John Frye, John Curtis, Charles Curtis, S. Herbert Howe, Grant Wheat and T.P. Hurley.
The well-being of the community in health facilities began with the determination and planning of Dr. Eugene Hoitt, Dr. Hannah E. Bigelow and Mrs. Samuel Boyd.
The city’s need for services, such as banks, fire/police departments, transportation and civil affairs were met by leaders such as Mark Fay, Fr. Peter McKenna, Donald Lacouture, William Squire Frost and John Bigelow.
Over the next few weeks, “The Community Advocate” will present stories of some of the notable founders of the community of Marlborough and citizens that contributed to a strong foundation in the major areas of the city.
John and Mary Howe were among the first English settlers of Marlborough. They arrived in 1657 and built their home on the present-day Fowler Street not far from the Praying Indian Planting Field. They developed a good relationship with the natives and opened their home to other settlers who would stay with them while building their own farmhouses. So appreciative were the original settlers of Mary’s role that they granted her land in her own name, possibly the only time a woman was so honored in Puritan New England. Their descendants continued the family tradition of inn keeping, opening what is now the Wayside Inn in the following century.
Samuel Boyd (1815-1892) is considered to be the father of the city. He was a pioneering shoe manufacturer, banker and entrepreneur. From the beginning, all Samuel Boyd wanted to do was to build up his hometown. Although he had a limited education, in his youth he served an apprenticeship in the tanning and currier business. Previous to Boyd opening his shoe business, Marlborough was a farming community.
In 1836 along with his brother, Joseph, he started making shoes. In 1837, his brother, John invented shoe dye. With the support of his two brothers and his best friend, Thomas Corey, in 1852 he started a shoemaking shop. The business grew so rapidly that in 1855 they needed a bigger shop. Between 1858 and 1866 the Boyd-Corey factory grew in size until in 1871 it was the largest shoe factory in the country. It was ahead of its time in efficiency and volume; so much so that in 1872 Japan sent a group to observe their business.
His factory office was a counting office or savings bank for the community. He promoted and financed the Agricultural Branch Railroad in 1855. In 1865 he promoted a local gas company. In 1870 he began a company water supply from Lake Williams, which he later turned over to the town.
With these opportunities the community began to grow. In 1883, Boyd erected an indoor skating rink on Fairmount Street. This lasted two years and was then made into a public hall for meetings. A few years later, in 1887, he built the electric street railway, only the second one in the country. For the community, he built a park from property he owned off of Maple Street, called Chestnut Hill. There, the population enjoyed concerts, picnics and Sunday afternoons.
Boyd was always thinking of ways to improve the city. He owned a coal business and a machine shop, as well as the largest amount of real estate in the area. His generosity extended to supplying people with homes and jobs.
He was vice president of the Marlborough Savings Bank and president and director of the First National Bank. Both these institutions not only supported the community but lasted many years beyond his lifetime.
He served the civic community as selectman and as representative to the Massachusetts General Court. Also he served as chair of the Marlborough Philharmonic Society, bringing music and culture to the area.
His charitable donations included donating money for the land for the French Protestant Hope Church (currently St. Ann’s) and its construction. He contributed funds for land purchase for the Holy Trinity Church. He generously supported First Church and brought the YMCA to the city.
During the Civil War, Boyd gave money to every Marlborough soldier who had a family, so that the families would be taken care of when their breadwinner went off to war.
