History of Oakham, Massachusetts, USA

Oakham, Massachusetts
Worcester county. The surface of this town is uneven; some of the lands which border on the streams that fall into Chickopee river are fertile. The highlands are not very good. There is a satinet factory in the town and manufactures of straw bonnets, palm-leaf hats, leather, ploughs, boots and shoes.

Oakham lies 60 miles W. from Boston, and 15 N.W. from Worcester. It was taken from Rutland in 1762. Population, 1837, 1,109.

Oakham was once a part of Rutland.

Ware River and the Quaboag have sources in this town.

The soil is adapted to grazing rather than tillage.

Some palm-leaf hats and straw bonnets are manufactured.

Distance from Worcester, 16 miles; from Boston, 56.

This town was formerly a part of Rutland, and after the incorporation of that town was called Rutland West Wing,” until 1762, when it was incorporated a town by the name of Oakham. The church in this place was embodied in 1767, in the Presbyterian form, and the next year Rev. John Strickland was ordained pastor. He was dismissed in 1773, and the church was dissolved. Shortly after, in the same year, a church on the Congregational plan was organized, but had no settled pastor till 1786, when Rev. Daniel Tomlinson was ordained. Rev. Asa Hixon, jr. was settled colleague pastor in 1829. Rev. James Kimball, the next minister, was installed in 1832. The general surface of this town is hilly and stony. The soil is better adapted to grazing than ploughing. Five Mile river, a branch of the Chicopee, is a stream of considerable size, and. Ware river runs across the north angle of the town. Population, 1,109. Distance, 16 miles from Worcester, and 56 from Boston. In 1837, there was 1 satinet...

Oakham, a post-township in Worcester co., Massachusetts, 65 miles W. from Boston. Population, 1137.

Oakham is a pleasant and quiet farming town, lying in the westerly part of Worcester County, about 59 miles west of Boston. The Massachusetts Central Railroad and the Ware River Railroad pass through the town, each having a Coldbrook (Springs) station. The boundaries are Barre, on the northwest, Rutland and Paxton on the northeast, Spencer on the south, and New Braintree on the southwest.

The assessed area is 13,054 acres, of which 4,097 are forest, consisting mostly of oak and chestnut. The prevailing rock is ferruginous gneiss, and the soil, to a large extent, is clay. The surface of the town is elevated, though not mountainous. Prospect Hill is a fine eminence. Muddy Pond in the east and Brownings Pond in the southeast add to the variety and beauty of the scenery. Five-mile River, proceeding from Great Swamp, with its western tributaries, drains the southerly part; and Canesto Brook, flowing southwest by the village of Coldbrook Springs, with Bell and Burrow's brooks, all...

Oak'ham, a post-village of Worcester co, Mass. in Oakham township, about 14 miles N.W. of Worcester City. Pop. of the township, 873.

Oakham, a post-village of Worcester co., Mass. in Oakham township (town), about 14 miles NW. of Worcester. Pop. of the town in 1900, 588. It has manufactures of wire goods, furnaces, etc.