The Town of New Braintree is an upland agricultural and residential
community in the southwestern portion of Worcester County. The town lies
between 900 and 1100 feet above sea level and was the site of an early
major Indian/European battle in King Philip’s war in 1675. The town has
seen no sustained industrial development and has been almost wholly
agricultural throughout its history, with a reputation for fine grazing
land.
By the late 18th century, New Braintree was shipping its annual production
of dairy products, cheese and beef to Boston and had attained a high degree
of prosperity. In 1832 a group of 48 men in New Braintree formed a Thief
Detection Society, while a Temperance House was set up in 1837. Over 1,000
milk cows lived in New Braintree by the 19th century and the town produced
over 200,000 pounds of cheese annually. Townspeople made some shoes in
small shoe shops, built carriages and made spoke shaves. Immigrants
included Canadians, Lithuanians and Poles who came to work in milk
production, dairying, poultry-raising and orchards.
community in the southwestern portion of Worcester County. The town lies
between 900 and 1100 feet above sea level and was the site of an early
major Indian/European battle in King Philip’s war in 1675. The town has
seen no sustained industrial development and has been almost wholly
agricultural throughout its history, with a reputation for fine grazing
land.
By the late 18th century, New Braintree was shipping its annual production
of dairy products, cheese and beef to Boston and had attained a high degree
of prosperity. In 1832 a group of 48 men in New Braintree formed a Thief
Detection Society, while a Temperance House was set up in 1837. Over 1,000
milk cows lived in New Braintree by the 19th century and the town produced
over 200,000 pounds of cheese annually. Townspeople made some shoes in
small shoe shops, built carriages and made spoke shaves. Immigrants
included Canadians, Lithuanians and Poles who came to work in milk
production, dairying, poultry-raising and orchards.
