History of Holliston, Massachusetts, USA

Holliston, Massachusetts
Middlesex county. First settled, 1710. Incorporated, 1724. Population in 1837, 1,775. It lies 24 miles S.W. by W. from Boston and 21 S. from Concord. There is a woolen mill in the town, and some manufactures of boots, shoes, leather, chairs and cabinet ware, combs, ploughs, straw bonnets, books, clothing, wagons and harnesses: total value in one year $335,948. The value of boots and shoes amounted to $241,626, employing 461 hands. Holliston is watered by a small branch of Charles river.

Holliston, which belonged to Sherburne until it was incorporated, was named in honor of Thomas Hollis, of London, an early patron of Harvard College.

One source of Charles River is in this town, and affords a good water power.

The chief manufactures are shoes, boots, and straw bonnets.

Distance from Concord, 21 miles; from Boston, 21.

The first settlements were made in this town about 1710. In 1724, the people had increased to thirty four families, and finding it inconvenient, on account of the distance, to attend meeting and do duty in Sherburne, they petitioned the town to set them off, which was amicably voted. The same year, (1724) they were incorporated by the general court; and as a mark of respect for Thomas Hollis, of London, one of the patrons of the university in Cambridge, the place was called Holliston. The soil in this town is generally of a good quality; a small branch of Charles river rises in this town, and affords a good water-power. There is one woollen factory, one of thread, and one of combs. A considerable quantity of brogans are made here, employing about 300 men, women and children. There are 2 churches, 1 for Congregationalists and 1 Methodist. Distance, 21 miles S. of Concord, 6 N. E. of Hopkinton, and 24 south-westerly from Boston. Population, 1,775. In 1837, there were manufactured in...

Holliston, a post-township of Middlesex county, Massochusetts, 25 miles S. W. by W. from Boston. Population, 2428.

Holliston is a pleasant agricultural and manufacturing town, 6 miles southwest of Boston, and forming the southern extremity of Middlesex County. The form of the territory is irregular, its mass occupying a northeast and southwest position, with the greatest breadth in the northeast section. The four villages, East Holliston, Holliston centre, Metcalf and Braggville, are situated nearly along the line of greatest length. All are post-offices, and are connected by the Milford Branch with the Boston and Albany Railroad at Framingham.

Hopkinton, Ashland and Sherborn lie on the north of this town, the first and last being also on the east and west respectively; with Medway on the southeast and Milford on the southwest. The assessed area is 11,269 acres; of which 3,856 acres are forest, consisting of chestnut, oak, pine, birch and maple. The surface is uneven, though well divided into upland and meadow. Long Hill, near the Ashland line, is, perhaps, the most commanding elevation. Mount...

Burglars blew open the office safe at the Boston & Albany Railroad depot at Holliston this morning but obtained less than one dollar in money for their trouble.