LANCASTER, MA 350th LETTERBOX
Happy Birthday Lancaster, MA: All 350 of them!
1653-2003

Placed by: Dancin’ Feet and Happy Traveler
Date: Placed: 3/29/03
Location: Lancaster, MA
Rated: Easy, DRIVE BY-----COMPASS NEEDED

Lancaster is a small residential town located on the banks of the Nashua
River, 35 miles west of Boston. It is the oldest town in Worcester County.
The town was to be called Prescott in honor of its leader, John Prescott. The
General Court, at first, granted this request. Then someone in authority,
remembering that not even a governor of the colony had been honored in this
way, objected to exalting Prescott, a blacksmith, who was not even a freeman.
Another petition was presented asking the General Court to honor John
Prescott by remembering his home in England. So, on the 16th of May 1653,
Lancaster was named and two days later officially became the Town of
Lancaster.

Notes of interest:
**A Civil War Encampment will be enacted June 6-8, 2003. The open house and
demonstrations will be located 1/4 mile south of the Town Green on Main
Street, beside the Nashua River. While there look for the Mary Rowlandson
Marker.
**Charles Bulfinch designed the First Church of Christ, on the Town Green.
The Church, built in 1816, also contains a Paul Revere Bell.
**The Thayer Memorial Library, on the Town Green, was built in honor of
Lancaster’s Civil War Veterans. The Library houses the town Historical
Archives and a museum.
**The Town Hall, on the Town Green, houses the Historical Commission. The
Historical Society has “A Coloring Book of the History of Lancaster,
Massachusetts” available for purchase at the commission office. It is open
Tuesdays 10-2.

Directions: