Westborough in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Historic Powder Hill

Westborough, Massachusetts

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

1. Historic Powder Hill Marker

Inscription. It was here the citizens of Westborough built their first meeting house in 1717 at the time of incorporation as the state's one hundredth town. This hilltop earned its name as the historic site of the town's gunpowder house, chosen for its elevation and strategic location for defense.

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the handsome masonry buildings that now stand were erected as part of the Lyman School for Boys, which relocated here in 1884 and was operational until 1971 when all reform schools in the state closed. This granite slab was part of the old school building that stood on this site for more than a century.

As the steward of this property, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in 2008 commemorates the historic significance of Powder Hill. MTC is a public agency of the Commonwealth created in 1982 to advance the growth of the state's innovation economy through collaborative activities among industry, universities, and government.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1717.

Location. 42° 17.317′ N,

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71° 37.755′ W. Marker is in Westborough, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. It is on Lyman School Road north of North Drive, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 North Dr, Westborough MA 01581, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner

and in Greater Worcester.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A Brief History of the Brigham Street Old Burial Ground (approx. 1.2 miles away); First Burying Place in Northborough (approx. 1.2 miles away); Westborough, MA 9/11 Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); First Baptist Church of Northborough (approx. 2.2 miles away); Gale Library Building (approx. 2.2 miles away); Cyrus Gale's General Store (approx. 2.2 miles away); Gen. Henry Knox Trail (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Minuteman (approx. 2.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Lyman School for Boys (PDF). National Register nomination for the former reform school campus, which was listed in 1994. (Prepared by Candace Jenkins and Betsy Friedberg; via National Archives) (Submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

2. Historic Powder Hill Marker

Lyman School for Boys building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

3. Lyman School for Boys building

It is among more than 40 buildings in the historic district, which encompasses approximately 200 acres of the former institution's campus.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 339 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.