HARVARD WEATHER

Harvard MA Local News and Community Information

Below left is an interactive map provided by Google. Use it to get directions to and from locations in Harvard, MA. Various icons link to our community pages plus Real Estate Listings, Wikipedia article, official town page, and a Google web search of the community.

Harvard MA is located in Worcester County, Massachusetts with a population around 7 thousand people. Harvard Public Schools Official Website

Harvard Town Hall
Harvard Town Hall

Harvard History

Europeans first settled in what later became Harvard in the 17th century, along a road connecting Lancaster with Groton that was formally laid out in 1658. There were few inhabitants until after King Philip’s War, in which Groton and Lancaster were attacked and substantially destroyed. Over the next 50 years the population grew until it had reached a point adequate to support a church. A new town including parts of Lancaster, Groton, and Stow was incorporated in 1732, subject to the proviso that the inhabitants “Settle a learned and Orthodox Minister among them within the space of two years and also erect an House for the publick Worship of God.” It is uncertain how the town obtained its name, though the Willard family, among the first settlers and the largest proprietors in the new town, had several connections to Harvard College. The first minister was Rev. John Seccombe, serving from 1733 to 1757.

In 1734, the town was considered to have five districts or villages. These were Oak Hill, Bare Hill, Still River, Old Mill, and Shabikin, present day Devens.

One notable early enterprise based in Harvard was the Benjamin Ball Pencil Company,] which produced some of the first writing instruments made in the United States. They operated in the Old Mill district from 1830 to 1860. Despite this and other limited manufacturing, the town economy was primarily based on agriculture until the middle of the 20th century. This past is most prominently visible in the number of apple orchards. It is now mostly a residential “bedroom community” for workers at companies in Boston and its suburbs. Harvard has had a relatively quiet history, but has attracted several “non-traditional” communities that have given its history some flavor.

Harvard Photos

More Harvard Photos

For more Area Photos click here. For area Historical Photos, click here.