Timeline of Shirley

Shirley Timeline
written by Meredith Marcinkewicz at the Shirley Historical Society

edited 11/17/18

1655
Our town was part of the territory granted to Dean Winthrop, son of Governor Winthrop, which was named Groton in honor of his former home, Groton England.

1720
The first mills and farms were established along the Squannacook River and the Mulpus Brook.

1747
Thirty-three petitioners from the part of Groton south and west of the Squannacook and Nashua Rivers asked to be set off from the town and allowed to build their own meetinghouse. For more information, click here

1750’s
The first mills were built on the Catacunemaug in the southern part of the area.

1753
The General Court of Massachusetts incorporated the territory as a district and named it after Colonial Governor William Shirley.

1754
The first small wooden meetinghouse was built near Parker Road, on Green Lane.

1757
It was voted to hold school for three months in private homes.

For further information on early Shirley schools, click here.
For further information on all Shirley school building projects, click here.

1765
The southern border of Shirley was moved further south and Stow Leg was added to the town. The Historical Society has a file of information on Stow Leg

1773
The First Parish Meetinghouse was erected in the middle of the Town Common.

1775, April 19
Eighty Shirley men marched to the aid of their country men in Lexington, Concord, and Cambridge.  Twenty-two of them soon enlisted in the Continental Army.  To find their names, click here.

1775, August 23
A general act was passed in which all districts became towns

1777
First tax list shows men who paid poll tax and real estate tax – contact Museum for a copy.

1783
Shaker Mother Ann Lee visited the Wilds family in Shirley.

1787
Some Shirley men joined Shay in his protest of taxes assessed by the new government.

1793
The Shirley Shaker Community was formally established.  (It lasted till 1908.)

1798
Some Groton farms east of the Nashua River and south of the Nonacoicus Brook were made part of Shirley.  Further information is available at the SHS Museum.

1811
The first Shirley Post Office opened in the Center.

1812
Shirley sent its quota of troops to help defend our seaboard.

1816
The Universalists erected a building on the corner of Harvard and Lancaster Roads

1828
The small brick Congregational Church was built on Parker Road

1830
Shirley Village Post Office opened.

1832
Fredonia Mill was erected on the Catacunemaug

1837
A workhouse for the poor and homeless was built on farmland in North Shirley.

1845
The Fitchburg Railroad line opened, bringing new opportunities to Shirley Village.

1846
Bounds between Shirley and Lunenburg were adjusted.

1847
Construction was begun on a new Townhouse to be used for town meetings, offices,  lectures, school classes, and entertainments.  It was opened in 1848.  For information the development of Shirley Center, click here.

1848
Bounds between Shirley and Lunenburg were adjusted again, See SHS files for details .

1848
Shirley’s last one room schoolhouse was built, in District Eight, to help educate the influx of factory worker families who were settling in the Village area.  This building is periodically opened for visitors.

1849
The Village Cemetery opened on Harvard Road.

1850
The Shakers built the factory later to be known as Samson Cordage Works.

1851
A large wooden Congregational Church was erected on what was to be named Church Street.

1852
A Baptist church was erected on Chapel Street.  It would remain active till 1937.

1853
The workhouse was discontinued and paupers were sent to county institutions.

1855
The grammar school building was erected on Lancaster Road.  It was later used for Shirley High School,  and later as a Police Station and Municipal Building.  Old photos are at the Museum.

1861
The town voted to support the families of those men who would enlist in the war against the rebels.  One hundred thirty-eight Shirley men eventually served in the Civil War.   For a list of their names, click here.

1868
Comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic began the custom of scattering flowers on the graves of departed soldiers.

1870
Norman Munson moved the first Universalist church building to Leominster Road and renovated it to serve as a Village Hall. A new Universalist Church was built at the original location and is the current United Church of Shirley building.

1881
C.A. Edgarton and Sons opened a factory on Leominster Road to produce webbing for suspenders and garters.  Around 1900 – it became known as the President Suspender Company.  About 1930 – George Frost Belt Company merged with the Suspender Company.  In the early 1960’s the President name was dropped and it was just George Frost Company. In 1988 – AMPAC bought the All Star sporting goods line from George Frost. In 1996 – AMPAC bought the George Frost building and rented out portions to other businesses.

1894
The Queen Anne style Fire Station was built on the corner of Lancaster and Leominster Roads.

1894
The Richardson Romanesque style Hazen Memorial Library was built on Lancaster Road.

1901
Episcopal Trinity Chapel opened on Center Road. There is more information on Trinity Chapel at the Historical Society.

1903
Shirley celebrated her 150th Anniversary with an Old Home Week.  Compare that to the 250th Celebrations.

1905
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church was erected on Phoenix Street.

1909
The Shirley Shaker Village had closed and the State of Massachusetts bought the property to be used as an Industrial School for Boys.

1917
The United States government leased land in southeast Shirley for the establishment of a military base.  Seventy-six Shirley men served in World War I.

1918
Phoenix Spring Beverage Company founded

1923
The Universalist and Congregational church groups became the Federated Church of Shirley.  In 1928 they incorporated as the United Church of Shirley, using the building at the corner of Lancaster and Harvard Roads.  There is more information on the history of  the United Church at the Historical Society.

1924
The Center School was built on Parker Road.  It had three rooms until it was remodeled in 1974 to adapt the building to two Kindergarten classes.

1936
The Lura A. White School was built on Lancaster Road. To learn about Miss Lura A. White herself, click here.

1938
The War Memorial Building was erected on Church Street, at the site of the former Congregational Church.

1944
First Parish Meetinghouse no longer had a congregation, but became an historic site.

1945
Over three hundred Shirley men and women served in World War II.

1956
Shirley Cooperative Bank erected a small brick building in Shirley Village.

1960
A one story addition, including gym and cafeteria, was put on the Lura A. White School.

1962
A new Post Office building was erected in Shirley Village.

1971
A New Fire Station was erected on Leominster Road.

1972
Another addition was put on Lura A. White School.

1972
The State of Massachusetts opened a prerelease correctional facility at the old Shaker site

1973
Shirley Historical Commission and Shirley Center Historic District Commission were formed

1976
The Shirley Shaker Village became a National Historic Register Site.

1978
Fredonian Park opened.  For a guide to that Park, click here.

1983
Shirley held its first All Town Hoe Down

1984
Shirley Historical Society Museum was erected. For more info, click here.

1985
Shirley voters approved their first Master Plan

1988
Shirley Center was listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

1988
Samson Cordage discontinued production at its Shirley plant.  Buildings were re-used by many other small businesses.  There is more information on the business at the SHS Museum.

1990’s
George Frost discontinued manufacturing in its oldest structures.  Buildings were reused by other small businesses.  There is more information on the business at the SHS Museum.

1990
Opening of Mystical Maze Playground at Benjamin Hill

1990
Opening of Shaker Meadows – Elderly Housing on Harvard Road

1991
A medium security facility was added to the state prison on Shaker property.

1993
St. Anthony’s Church was destroyed by fire, later to be rebuilt in a new design

There is more information on St. Anthony’s at the Historical Society.

1995
Fort Devens was decommissioned.

1996
A new Police Station was built on Devens property.

1997
The new Hazen Library opened on Devens property.

1998
A new Town Highway Garage / Fire Department Substation was built on Great Road.

1998
A maximum security facility was added to the prison.

1999
The new Municipal Offices opened on Devens property.

2000
Voters approved construction of a new middle school.

2001
Shirley was named the Most Historic Small Town in the nation by ePodunk.com

2003
Many celebrations were held for the 250th Anniversary Year

2003
The town received a grant to purchase the Longley Farm for Conservation purposes

2003
Shirley Middle School opened

2007
Shirley Historical Society received a $500,000 grant to improve buildings at the Shirley Shaker Village

2009
Voters approved a proposal to create an Ayer-Shirley School District

2018
Main Street  Bridge was re-built

Scroll to top