The 1900s: A New Beginning

West Boylston Reading Club Parade float

The new town halll stood where the Light Plant is now

Congregational Church in 1908. The wooden structure was remodeled and surfaced in brick at a later time.

Miss Helen E. Mixter's 3rd prize winning entry for the best decorated 1-horse coach or hitch.

In 1907, at town meeting, the residents voted to celebrate the town's 100 year anniversary. The Centennial Parade and Celebration in July of 1908 included a ball game, a horse coach decorating competition with prizes, an egg race, a noontime dinner and speeches. The town was completely decked out in bunting and flags for the occasion.

Rebuilding

In 1908, the town had one cotton mill, two saw mills, two grist mills, one clothier's mill, one tannery, one cabinet maker's shop, two book binderies, three stores, and two taverns. There were 99 dwellings and the population was 600. Despite the reduced population, residents were resilient. There was still a lot to do to recreate what was lost. New light industry came as well as a retail strip along the old trolley path, now Route 12. Buildings were built in the early 1900 recreating the center of town where it is today.

When the Baptist Church (Old Stone Church) had to be abandoned, the Baptists decided to buil the a new church in center of town on Church Street. In 1901, plans for the church were developed to accommodate the original stained glass, pews, furniture and high beam ceilings from the Stone Church. The Baptist Church was in use as a church until 1971, at which time it was sold to the Boylston Chapter of the Masonic Lodge,

In 1902, the Congregational Church was build in the center of town. It was where the current church is today. Oakdale Methodist Church was built in 1859 and is in the same location today that is was when built. In 1903 a Catholic Church was built on High Plains in Oakdale. In 1950, the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church was constructed in the center of town.

The Goodale Street School was built in 1903. It served as a high school and eventually a grade school. Major Victor Edwards School was dedicated in 1936. The West Boylston Junior-Senior High School opened in 1957. The Helen C. Mixter School was built in 1962.

The "new town hall" was built in 1907 where the Municipal Light Plant is today. Unfortunately that building burned to the ground ten years after it was constructed. The Municipal Lighting Plant was established in 1909. Electric lights were turned on in 1910. Beaman Memorial Public Library opened in 1912. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The Public Works Building which was built in 1941 housed the public works vehicles and the fire department.

Then and Now

The New Baptist Church built in 1901, It was purchased in 1971 and is still home to the Boylston Chapter of the Masonic Lodge.

GAR (Grand Army Republic) Hall, hosted the fraternal organization for veterans of the Civil War. Today, still on Newton Street, is home of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Ezra Beaman's watering trough was relocated to its current spot on the triangle at Central St and Goodale St. in 1908.

The Reed Organ Manufacturing Company was moved uphill from the reservoir site to lower Prospect Street, where it now houses Ray's Wayside Antiques.

Sawyer's General Store in Oakdale was just far enough away from the edge of the reservoir to be saved. Today the building houses Watermark Antiques.