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Washburn Square–Leicester Common Historic District

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Leicester ( / ˈ l ɛ s t ər / LEST -ər ) is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts , United States. The population was 11,087 at the 2020 United States Census .

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41-460: The Washburn Square–Leicester Common Historic District encompasses the historic civic heart of Leicester, Massachusetts . It includes Washburn Square, as the town common is called; the buildings along its perimeter; and the properties along Main Street extending east along Main Street to its junction with Henshaw Street. It includes the 1939 Leicester Town Hall, Becker College 's 1962 Swan Library,

82-484: A Victorian Gothic Revival First Congregational Church (a rarity due to its comparatively late construction date, 1901) and the 1834 Leicester Unitarian Church (originally known as the Second Congregational Church). The south side of Washburn Square (named for Leicester native son Governor Emory Washburn ) is lined with stately homes that now are almost all owned by Becker College. The district

123-510: A basketball court (Holstrom Corner). Auburn High School participates in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System . In 2006 a group called "Save the '35" protested demolition of the oldest (1935) wing of the former high school. The old high school has now been completely demolished, except the dome on top of the high school, which is now located as a monument outside of right center field of

164-524: A minute's notice"—coining the term " minutemen ", a nickname for the rapid-response militia members who fought in the revolution's first battles. Henshaw would later become an adjutant general to Artemas Ward , who was second in command to George Washington in the Continental Army . Before the British troops marched to Lexington and Concord, looking for the ammunition and equipment held by

205-509: A model of Goddard's prototype liquid-fueled rocket and a Polaris missile (Type A-1). A second replica of Goddard's prototype stands at Auburn High School . Goddard's launch is also commemorated with a small monument, the Goddard Rocket Launching Site , between the first and ninth holes of Pakachoag Golf Course. The form of government is representative town meeting . There are 24 town-meeting members from each of

246-772: A pastor and active abolitionist in the 1860s, whose house was a stop on the Underground Railroad . He also served as secretary of the Massachusetts Anti-Slave Society. His house has become a part of the Becker College campus. In 2005, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette named Leicester one of Central Massachusetts' top ten sports towns. According to the United States Census Bureau ,

287-577: A rivalry with Auburn High School 8th graders at Leicester Middle School have a choice between going to Bay Path Regional Technical High School or Tantasqua Regional Technical High School for high school. Auburn, Massachusetts Auburn is a town in Worcester County , Massachusetts , United States. The population was 16,889 at the 2020 census . The Auburn area was first settled in 1714 as of today outer parts of Worcester , Sutton , Leicester and Oxford, Massachusetts , and

328-405: A town administrator, who is responsible for executive decisions in running the town. They also appoint a Superintendent of Schools, who is responsible for the education department. There is a three-member Board of Health elected by the people of the town, which has separate powers to regulate health matters. These powers are derived directly from Mass General Law chapter 111. The legislative body of

369-851: A typical year, Leicester, Massachusetts temperatures fall below 50 °F (10 °C) for 195 days per year. Annual precipitation is typically 47.4 inches per year and snow covers the ground 60 days per year or 16.4% of the year (high in the US). The humidity is below 60% for approximately 25.4 days, or 7% of the year. The Leicester public library began in 1801. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Leicester spent 0.57% ($ 145,270) of its budget on its public library—approximately $ 13 per person, per year ($ 15.92 adjusted for inflation in 2021). Public school students in Leicester attend Leicester Elementary School (Grades K–4), Leicester Middle School (Grades 5–8) and Leicester High School (Grades 9–12). The high school maintains

410-547: Is 40.8. The US median is 37.6. 61.86% of people in Auburn, MA, are married. 8.00% are divorced. The average household size is 2.41 people. 22.71% of people are married, with children. 5.08% have children, but are single. According to the 2000 census, 97.21% of people are white, 0.81% are black or African American, 1.19% are Asian, 0.10% are Native American, and 1.00% are "other". 1.24% of the people in Auburn, MA, are of Hispanic ethnicity. I-90 : The 138 mile Massachusetts Turnpike

451-583: Is the longest road in the United States. In Auburn it is also known as Southbridge St. (concurrent section with RT 12), Washington St. and the SW Cutoff. Auburn has two elementary schools, Bryn Mawr School (grades K–2) and Pakachoag School (grades K–2). All Auburn public school students attend Swanson Road Intermediate School (grades 3–5) and Auburn Middle School (grades 6–8). Some students attend Auburn High School (grades 9–12), while others are given

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492-614: The Revolutionary War in 1775. Three years after that, the southeastern part of town was taken to form a quarter of the newly incorporated town of Ward, later renamed Auburn . Although no significant battles of the American Revolution were fought in the area, Leicester citizens played a large role in the conflict's start. At a Committee of Safety meeting in 1774, Leicester's Colonel William Henshaw declared that "we must have companies of men ready to march upon

533-631: The 1780s, Leicester's mills churned out one-third of American hand cards , which were tools for straightening fibers before spinning thread and weaving cloth. By the 1890s when Leicester industry began to fade, the town was producing one-third of all hand and machine cards in North America. Ruth Henshaw Bascom (1772–1848), the wife of Reverend Ezekial Lysander Bascom and daughter of Colonel William Henshaw and Phebe Swan, became America's premier portrait folk artist and pastelist , producing over one thousand portraits from 1789 to 1846. Eli Whitney ,

574-553: The 20 mile long eastbound (heads north in Auburn) Interstate 290 is in Auburn along with exits 7 (I-90), 8 (Rt. 12), and 9 (Swanson Rd EB, Auburn St. WB). I-395 : Two miles of Interstate 395 are in Auburn which becomes I-290 after Exit 6 (US 20). Route 12 : Five miles of Rt. 12 (Southbridge St.) traverses generally north/south through Auburn and its intersection with Auburn St. is named Drury Square. US 20 : Five miles of US 20 runs through Auburn. At 3,365 miles, US 20

615-576: The Americans, that ammunition and equipment was moved further West to four locations in the town of Leicester, including the house Dr. Green built at 2 Charlton Street. This information can be found in books held on reserve in the Leicester Public Library . When they heard that the British had attacked, Leicester's own Minutemen gathered on Leicester Common. They marched quickly to join with other Minutemen on April 19, 1775, to fight at

656-558: The Kettle Brook reservoir system, in northeastern Leicester, to supply water to Worcester. The town is cut into quarters by two state highways, east-west Route 9 and north-south Route 56 . Route 9 is called Main Street through Cherry Valley and most of the rest of town; it follows a bypass alignment called South Main Street around the Washburn Square area. The town is actively trying to encourage business development along

697-403: The average family size was 3.21. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males. The median income for a household in the town

738-467: The beginning, was established as the western parish. That part of Leicester was then incorporated as the separate town of Spencer in 1753. In 1765, the northernmost part of Leicester was taken to form half of the newly incorporated district of Paxton . These districts had most of the powers of a town except that they shared a representative in the General Court with Leicester until the outbreak of

779-514: The disruption of King Philip's War (1675–1678), King William's War (1688–1697), and Queen Anne's War (1702–1713). Leicester was incorporated by a vote of the Massachusetts General Court on February 15, 1713, on the condition that the land be settled by 50 families within seven years. Upon the grant of the General Court, the proprietors immediately set about meeting the condition of the town's incorporation. Leicester

820-531: The early 1700s. This constituted the first medical school in Massachusetts. The Green family was involved in the creation of both Worcester's Green Hill Park and New York City's Central Park. First (Congregational) Church was organized in 1718 and a Baptist church in Greenville was organized in 1737. By 1744, the western part of the town, which had been a district, distinct from the eastern half from

861-434: The east, and Oxford and Charlton on the south. Large parts of both Paxton and Auburn were also once part of Leicester. The end of Worcester Regional Airport 's longest runway, along with much of the airport's property, is in Leicester. Additionally, most of Worcester's Kettle Brook water reservoir system is in Leicester. As of the census of 2000, there were 10,471 people, 3,683 households, and 2,707 families residing in

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902-917: The first American mill in Pawtucket , Rhode Island , by building the first carding machine. This began the American Industrial Revolution . Leicester today is one of the northernmost communities within the Blackstone River Valley, National Heritage Corridor. Its early role with carding machines, and the role that Pliny Earle played with the first water-powered mill at Pawtucket, complete the case for inclusion on Leicester in this Federal NPS historic designation. Other social leaders who came from Leicester include Charles Adams , military officer and foreign minister, born in town; Emory Washburn , Harvard Law professor and governor of Massachusetts from 1854–1855; and Samuel May,

943-580: The first conflict between Massachusetts residents and British troops, the Battles of Lexington and Concord . A few months later on June 17, 1775, a freed slave and Leicester resident named Peter Salem fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill , where he killed British Major John Pitcairn . Both men are memorialized in Leicester street names (Peter Salem Road, Pitcairn Avenue), as is Colonel Henshaw (Henshaw Street). General Knox brought cannons from New York through

984-427: The five precincts of the town, for a total of 120 who represent the people at the annual town meeting each May. The town also has a Board of Selectmen which consists of five elected members, each serving for a term of three years. As of 2009, the town adopted a new charter which allowed for the creation of a Town Manager. The 2010 Auburn, MA, population was 16,188. There are 1,053 people per square mile. The median age

1025-560: The man who invented the cotton gin and devised the idea of interchangeable parts , went to school at Leicester Academy , which eventually became Leicester High School. Ebenezer Adams , who would later be the first mathematics and natural philosophy professor at the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, was the academic preceptor in Leicester in 1792. Leicester's Pliny Earle helped Samuel Slater build

1066-471: The option to attend Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in nearby Charlton . A new Auburn High School opened on Drury Square in the center of town directly next to the old high school in the fall of 2006, equipped with turfed fields, to include (Memorial Field) all-purpose field for soccer, football, track & field, lacrosse, a turf baseball field, and a grass softball field (Rebecca J. Colokaithis Field), as well three new tennis courts and

1107-408: The population. There were 3,683 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and

1148-424: The rest of the town (01611 and 01542, respectively), but otherwise the village boundaries have no official significance, although some Cherry Valley, Rochdale, and Leicester have three separate and distinct water districts and four sewer districts. The village of Greenville is now considered part of Rochdale, as it falls within the 01542 ZIP code; the former villages of Mannville and Lakeside were destroyed to construct

1189-531: The town has a total area of 24.7 square miles (64 km ), of which 23.4 square miles (61 km ) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km ), or 5.35%, is water. Leicester includes four distinct villages—Leicester Center, Cherry Valley (the eastern side of town, near Worcester ), Rochdale (a crossroads in the southeastern corner, near the Oxford line), and Greenville (now considered to be part of Rochdale). Cherry Valley and Rochdale have separate ZIP codes from

1230-461: The town it the town meeting , in which all registered voters of the town may participate in approving the annual budget for the following fiscal year of July 1 through June 30. There are typically two or more town meetings each year, the annual Spring town meeting, and a special town meeting held in the Fall, and occasional other special town meetings, called for by the selectmen as the need arises. In

1271-621: The town limits of Leicester and Millbury . Today, Auburn is bordered by Worcester to the north, Leicester to the west, Millbury to the east, and Oxford to the south. Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket from Pakachoag Hill, on his aunt Effe Ward's farm, in Auburn on March 16, 1926. Goddard is commemorated in Goddard Memorial Park, located downtown next to the Auburn Fire Department Headquarters. The park features

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1312-492: The town of Leicester, delivering them to General Washington at Dorchester Heights. There is a monument near the Leicester Library to mark that route. These cannons caused the British to evacuate their troops from Boston, after they woke up one morning to find cannons facing them from above them. Leicester also held a leading role in Massachusetts' second great revolution, the coming of industrialization . As early as

1353-548: The town was officially incorporated on April 10, 1778, as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward (second in command to George Washington). In 1837, the town changed its name to Auburn after the Post Office complained that the name was too similar to the nearby town of Ware . Before incorporation, most of Auburn was known as the South Parish of Worcester ; other portions fell within

1394-426: The town. The population density was 448.3 inhabitants per square mile (173.1/km ). There were 3,826 housing units at an average density of 163.8 per square mile (63.2/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 96.29% White , 1.28% African American , 0.31% Native American , 0.74% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 0.31% from other races , and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of

1435-476: The western end of Route 9. Route 56 north of the Leicester Center crossroads is Paxton Street; south, it is Pleasant Street until it detours along a bypass road, Huntoon Memorial Highway, that skirts the edge of Rochdale. Spencer , now a separate town to the west, was once part of Leicester. Other municipalities bordering Leicester include Paxton along Route 56 to the north, Worcester and Auburn on

1476-420: Was $ 55,039, and the median income for a family was $ 64,202. Males had a median income of $ 40,991 versus $ 27,913 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 20,822. About 3.2% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over. The Town of Leicester is governed by a five-member Board of Selectmen. This board appoints

1517-444: Was commissioned in 1957 and is a part of the 3,099 mile long I-90, the longest Interstate in the country. Almost 5 miles of I-90 runs from the west-southwest to east-northeast through Auburn and is six lanes wide (three each direction) through the town. The right of way is nominally about 300 feet wide. Auburn also contains Exit 90. The total land utilized in Auburn for the interstate is about 200 acres. I-290 : The first three miles of

1558-439: Was divided into two halves, the eastern half to be distributed among settlers and the western half retained and divided among the proprietors, who had grown in number to total 22. A combined 50 parcels (so-called "house-lots") of land with 30, 40, or 50 acres each was allotted to settlers for the eastern half of Leicester for one shilling per acre, with land also set aside for schools, churches, and mills. The purchaser of each parcel

1599-553: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This article about a National Register of Historic Places listing in Worcester County , Massachusetts is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Leicester, Massachusetts What is now Leicester was originally settled by the Nipmuc people and was known by them as Towtaid . On January 27, 1686, the territory of eight square miles

1640-592: Was purchased for 15 pounds by a company of nine proprietors engaged in land speculation: Joshua Lamb of Roxbury , Nathaniel Page of Bedford , Andrew Gardner of Roxbury, Benjamin Gamblin of Roxbury, Benjamin Tucker of Roxbury, John Curtice of Roxbury, Richard Draper of Boston , Samuel Ruggles of Roxbury, and Ralph Bradhurst of Roxbury. The proprietors called this land Strawberry Hill but did not make an effort to settle it for nearly 30 years due to its isolated location and

1681-453: Was required to settle a family on their house-lot and each received 100 additional acres in another part of town for every 10 acres in their house-lot. The town was named after Leicester, England . First selectman Samuel Green suggested the use of the name as it was where his father had originated. One of the early settlers in town was Dr. Samuel Green, who lived in a house at 2 Charlton St. in Greenville. Dr. Green trained many other doctors in

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