Westminster

By: Westminster Historical Society

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Synopsis: It almost was not Westminster. The small town in central Massachusetts was born to another name, that of Narragansett 2, and it was not for another twenty years that the area became known as Westminster. One early settler, Abner Holden, described it as "a howling wilderness." Today's Westminster is a charming Colonial town, with the impressive peak of Mount Wachusett overlooking its rolling hills and its pristine lakes and ponds.In Westminster, the story unfolds from the first settlers gathering on Academy Hill to weather the bleak early years to the joyous return of the soldiers from the bloody battles of World War II. It portrays the early inventive entrepreneurs, along with the sturdy men and women who made the town's blueberries famous and its chickens delicious. Savor the memories of the Westminster Cracker Factory and the golden corn fritters of the well-known Old Mill Restaurant, recall the bustling chair factory of Artemus Merriam, and remember the wartime heroes and eager faces of Westminster's children. Capture in Westminster the spirit of the town's residents joining together in celebration and tragedy, from the first festive centennial parade to the pain of devastating fires.