Old Stone Church (West Boylston, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Stone Church
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The Old Stone Church stands by the Wachusett Reservoir.
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | West Boylston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1891 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000329 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1973 |
The Old Stone Church is a historic former church in West Boylston, Massachusetts. It is famous for being the only building left from a town that was flooded to create the Wachusett Reservoir over a century ago. Because of its unique history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This is an official list of important historic sites in the United States.
The Church's Story
The story of the Old Stone Church began long before the current building was constructed. In the 1800s, the town of West Boylston was a busy place with mills and farms. A Baptist church was built there and opened on December 6, 1832. It stood near where two rivers, the Quinapoxet and the Stillwater, met.
Fire and Rebuilding
Disaster struck on May 2, 1890. A terrible fire destroyed the Baptist church and a nearby Catholic church. The community decided to rebuild on the very same spot. The beautiful new building, made of stone, was set to open on March 17, 1892.
However, just before the opening, another fire broke out. It badly damaged the inside of the new church. After repairs, the Old Stone Church finally had its official opening on May 19, 1892.
A Town Goes Underwater
Just a few years later, big changes came to West Boylston. From 1896 to 1905, the state built the huge Wachusett Reservoir to supply water to the city of Boston. To do this, they had to flood the valley where the town was located. All the mills, farms, and homes had to be torn down or moved.
The Old Stone Church was the only building left standing. In June 1897, the state's Water Board paid the Baptist Society $22,500 for the church building. The last church service was held there in April 1902. After that, the church was abandoned as the water levels rose around it.
Saving a Landmark
For decades, the empty church stood as a lonely reminder of the lost town. On April 13, 1973, it was officially recognized as a historic landmark. The next year, the state provided $87,000 to help strengthen its roof and walls.
But before the work was finished, the roof and three walls of the old church collapsed. It took a lot of work to rebuild them, which was finally completed in the spring of 1977.
On September 25, 1983, the town of West Boylston celebrated its 175th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the Old Stone Church was rededicated, not as a place of worship, but as a beloved historical monument for everyone to appreciate.
See also
