Local History Resources

1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Massachusetts (MA) - Worcester County - Northbridge - ED 14-288 to 300
1950 Census Enumeration Map - Northbridge
National Archive

Whitinsville Social Library Historical Room is open via appointment and every Wednesday afternoon from 2-3. 

Our not-yet-inventoried collection includes books, photographs, maps, pamphlets, ephemera, and artifacts. Some of the non-unique items (like mass produced books) have been cataloged. Search the library's catalog.

    Researching the History of Your House and Genealogy in Northbridge: List of online resources for finding more information about the history of your home or family in the town of Northbridge.

    The library has some issues of the Northbridge High School yearbook (The Ram). See here for list of years. Northbridge High School also has copies of yearbooks including some electronically and some for purchase. Contact NHS for more info.

    The following links give electronic access to library materials from Whitinsville Social Library's Historical Collection and Internet Archive.

    • "Historic Sidelights": Peter Hackett's Blackstone Valley Tribune columns published in 1958, 1967-1981. Hackett's 770 columns highlight the history of the Blackstone Valley.
    • News From Home: Newspaper published by Whitin Machine Works and sent to community members serving during World War II.
    • Whitinsville Social Library Collection: Items that pertain to the library as an institution. Includes The First Hundred Years of The Whitinsville Social Library written by Josephine C. Balmer in 1944.
    • Town of Northbridge Collection: Items in this collection contain documents, photos and other historical items that pertain to the town of Northbridge, Massachusetts, established in 1775. Currently includes 18 items. Has scans of Old Friends and New, a photobook by by Jane Dudley and William A. Emerson in 1906, and scans of Town of Northbridge Bicentennial Commemorative Journal, 1772-1972.
    • Dion Scrapbooks: Newspaper columns collected by Genevieve Dion Brady and Marion Dion Sacco which document the details of the lives of Linwood residents between 1933-1951.
    • Northbridge Service Men's Album: List of service men and women from Northbridge who served between 1941-1945.
    • Whitin Spindles: A company periodical published by Whitin Machine Works.
    • In This Quiet Valley: A pictorial history of the conversion to and the production of War products by the Whitin Machine Works during the years of 1941 to 1945.

    More Historical Resources: