North Billerica, Massachusetts facts for kids
North Billerica is a small community within the town of Billerica, Massachusetts, in the United States. It's one of nine different areas that make up the larger town of Billerica. This village is known for its historic mills, like the Faulkner and Talbot mills, and its train station.
An important waterway called the Middlesex Canal was built through North Billerica way back in 1783. Later, in the 1840s, the Boston and Lowell Railroad also came through the village. North Billerica even has its own ZIP code (01862) and post office. This post office also serves nearby areas like West Billerica and parts of River Pines.
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A Look Back in Time
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In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a special building on Station Street called Union Hall. This building was very important to the community. It housed the North Fire Station, a part of the Town Hall, and the Post Office. Union Hall was also a popular social spot where people gathered for dances and shows on the second floor.
Union Hall closed in the 1960s when the fire station moved and the Town Hall office shut down. The Post Office then moved to a new spot at the intersection of Old Elm Street, Lowell Street, and Talbot Avenue. Older residents still call this area 'Post Office Square'. Union Hall was eventually taken down, and its land is now part of the train station parking lot.
The Train Station's Story
The North Billerica train station was built in 1867. It got a full update in 1998. This station was once a "flag stop" on the main line of the Boston and Lowell Railroad. This means trains would only stop if someone waved a flag to signal them. It was also the starting point for a smaller, narrow-gauge railroad called the Billerica and Bedford Railroad. Today, the station is still busy, serving commuters on the MBTA's Lowell Line. The area is also home to Iron Horse Park, which used to be a place where trains were repaired.
Modern North Billerica
The Concord River flows right through North Billerica. Near the old Talbot and Faulkner Mills, you'll find the Mill Pond and Dam. This spot is where the old Middlesex Canal crossed the river. The river's water helped power the canal all the way from Lowell to Charlestown.
Inside the old Faulkner Mills, you can visit the Middlesex Canal Museum. There are also plans to build a Middlesex Canal Park along the Mill Pond. This park would stretch from the Dam to the Canal bridge on Rogers Street. The Billerica Mills Historic District, which has many old mill buildings, is also located entirely within North Billerica.
North Billerica is home to the oldest house still standing in Billerica, called the Manning Manse. It was built in 1696. You can find the Manse on Chelmsford Road (Route 129), not far from Route 3 and the Chelmsford town line. This historic house was where Minutemen soldiers from New Hampshire stayed before and after the famous Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. A fire almost destroyed it in 1994, but it was saved.
North Billerica also has the Chelmsford Forum Ice Rink. Even though it's on Route 129 at the Chelmsford town line, the town of Chelmsford actually owns it. When it was first built in the 1960s, it was privately owned. Later, the University of Massachusetts Lowell owned it from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. The university's hockey team played there, and high school and youth hockey teams also used the rink. Chelmsford bought it after a special law allowed towns to own land in other towns.
Potpourri Group Inc. (PGI) has its main office in North Billerica. This company sells many different products through catalogs and online. As of 2018, it included 15 different brands, like Magellan's travel clothing and gear.
Schools in North Billerica
Students living in North Billerica attend schools run by the Billerica Public Schools system. Some students also go to the Shawsheen Regional Vocational Technical High School. The only school actually located within North Billerica is the Hajjar Elementary School, found at Rogers and Call streets. (The Dutile Elementary School has a North Billerica address, but it's located in the River Pines part of town.)
