Isn’t it astonishing that a town could celebrate both its 300th anniversary and maintain a semi-rural ambiance? That’s Weston. Weston, Massachusetts, an affluent town in Middlesex County, is located about 15 miles west of Boston. Weston was incorporated in 1713. It has always valued its history.
Weston’s commitment to preserving its past is evident. The Weston Historical Commission and the Weston Historical Society work to protect the town’s historic resources. Weston boasts a Local Historic District. It also has 10 National Register Districts and 26 Historic Areas. Seven houses are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Weston’s early years saw it as part of the Watertown settlement in 1630. The land was primarily used for grazing cattle. By 1698, it became a separate precinct known as “The Farms”. It had its own meetinghouse.
The town officially became Weston in 1712-1713. Early settlers discovered limited agricultural land. Water-powered industries were not a big possibility. Weston’s location on the main route west from Boston became its advantage.
By the 18th century, Weston residents were providing services to travelers on the Boston Post Road. The Josiah Smith Tavern and the Golden Ball Tavern served travelers. The Golden Ball Tavern is now a museum. North Avenue became an important route to the northwest, hosting shops and blacksmiths.
Grist and sawmills appeared on Stony Brook and in the Crescent Street area in the 17th century. The Hews redware pottery on Boston Post Road and Hobbs Tannery on North Avenue were major manufacturing enterprises during the Colonial period. Weston’s population was 1,027 by 1776.
The Worcester Turnpike’s opening in 1810 shifted commercial traffic. However, dry goods merchants continued supplying neighboring towns until 1830-1840. Railroads arrived in Weston in the 1830s and 1840s. Small industries supported population growth. These included potteries, tanneries, and factories making tools and machinery. The Hook & Hastings Company organ factory, Weston’s largest industry, moved to North Avenue in 1888.
The rural landscape attracted wealthy businessmen to Weston. They built country estates, drawn by the beauty and low taxes. By 1900, Weston was known as a “country town of residences of the first class.”
Weston’s population density is among the lowest of Boston’s suburbs. More than 2,000 acres are preserved as parks, fields, wetlands, and forests. Ninety miles of trails are available for hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing.
Thirty-seven scenic roads maintain Weston’s aesthetic value. These roads give Weston a semi-rural feel. Even today, Weston strives to maintain its special character.