How Commercial Transportation Began in Princeton
Stage Coaches Lead The Way!
The first commercially scheduled stage line came through Princeton around 1822.
- This small stage was drawn by 2 horses and made one trip a week stopping at Wachusett House at the base of the common..
- The stage traveled from Royalston, through Gardner, Westminster, Princeton and West Boylston to Worcester.
- Eventually shortened to be just from Gardner to Worcester.
- It ended operation when the Massachusetts and Vermont Railroad came to Gardner.
The second commercially scheduled stage line started running through Princeton in 1823.
- It originated in Barre, passing through Hubbardston, Princeton, Sterling, Lancaster, Bolton, Stow, Sudbury Weston, Waltham, Watertown, Cambridge, and Boston.
- Horses were changed in Princeton, Bolton, and Lincoln.
- This line ended operation when the Boston to Fitchburg railroad was completed.
In 1849 a third stage route was established from Princeton to Oakdale (West Boylston), when the Worcester to Nashua railroad began operation.
- 4 horses drew this stage
- It carried the US Mail
- It ended operation when the Boston, Barre, and Gardner began operation in 1871.
Possible Reason for Building a Railroad passing through Princeton – Why Did People Want It?”
- Became a topic of conversation, because:
- Farmers needed a way to get produce and livestock to the city markets quicker.
- People in the cities needed a way to get ice from surrounding ice houses on lakes to preserve their food
- The hotel owners wanted a way to get more people to Princeton in the fastest way possible
- In 1847, the first railroad charter to build the Barre to Gardner to Boston Railroad was signed, an extension was granted until 1849.
- There was some talk about having the railroad come closer to the center of town, but the “town fathers” were afraid the railroad would attract “undesirables” that might negatively impact Princeton’s quality of life.
- In 1851 another two year extension was granted and the railroad was released from building the Barre branch.
- Additional extensions were granted in 1853 and 1856, but it was finally was completed in 1871.
- Blake shares: “It will surprise the reader of today that the initial charter for the railroad was for it to be a horse-railroad like railroads already established in England, and in some respects the construction was to follow the English model. It was proposed that a stone foundation be constructed on which should be laid rails of granite surmounted by a bar of iron. The motion on such a road if level, would be easy and pleasant, and if the inclination did not exceed 26 feet to the mile, there would be no serious obstacle from friction. It was also suggested that at different grades a flat car might be provided on which the horses could stand and feed during the descent, and thus be rested and refreshed for further labor. “Mind you, this latter quotation refers to the early prospectus for a railroad before the advent of the steam locomotive and before the rolled steel rail. By the time the Boston, Barre, and Gardner Railroad had been completed from Worcester to Gardner, the use of horses for power and of granite rails were both things of the past.”
- The last passenger train to Princeton was in 1953.
How Did These Transportation Services Impact Princeton?
Wachusett House was the first of many Hotel/Rooming House to open in 1822. > Read more …
- By 1849 when the third stage service began, the owner had already dismantled the existing Wachusett House and built a new one in its place
- The lumber from the first Wachusett House was used to build Wachusett Cottage, which exists today at 7 Boylston Ave.
- John Brooks was the person in charge of this project
- P. A. Beaman purchased Wachusett House in 1859. In 1861 a bowling alley and laundry were added as well as in 1864 a Large barns was added.
- During the fall, winter and spring of 1869-70 Wachusett House was jacked up to create a new ground floor. Just before the railroad became operational in 1871.
- In 1883 the Wachusett Cottage next door on Boylston Ave. was remolded to have 40 rooms
- The hotel and annex could accommodate 200 people per weekend.
- It burned on 11/28/1910.
Prospect House came into being in 1860 when Wilkes Roper remodeled the Baptist Church on Mountain Rd into a hotel.
- I. F. Thompson purchased the property in 1861 and ran it until 1874
- In 1874 Thompson sold to George Bliss of Worcester (3 years after the advent of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad).
- He enlarged the dining room.to accommodate 75 guests.
- John Day of Worcester purchased it in 1883 and leased it to Wayland Davis who ran it until 1895. Mr. Davis added another story and a billiard hall, barn, and bowling alley. The name was changed to the Princeton INN in 1913 when purchased by H. C. Beaman.
- In 1895 – Wayland Davis, the then owner, added a story to the building to increase the accommodations to 100 guests.
Mountain House was located at the base of Mt Wachusett on Mountain Road opposite Gregory Road.
- It started as a boarding house about 1856 and three years later opened as a hotel, right next to the Mountain House Trail.
- Daniel Howe bought and enlarged the Micah Hobbs farm to make room for guests.
- In 1859 Moses and Samuel Bullard purchased it.
- A new wing and additional story were added to allow for 100 beds, by 1880.
- In 1894 it was sold to Derby of Fitchburg, who then sold it in 1914 to Doherty of Somerville. It burned on July 11, 1914.
- The hotel burned in 1923
Grand View House was across the street from the Mountain House..
- Mr. Daniel Howe in 1856 bought land and built the Mountain Cottage on the easterly side of Mountain Road opposite the Mountain House. He died shortly thereafter.
- After disposing of the Micah Hobbs House to S .C. and M.H. Bullard in 1859, his widow, Mrs. Rebecca Bullard, who was a sister of S.C. and M.H. Bullard, opened Mountain Cottage in 1860 for summer guests.
- At her death her son William R. Howe continued the business.
- In 1893 Mr. W. Howe made extensive additions so the hotel contained forty sleeping rooms, slept 100 guests, had open fireplaces, and was the first to have hot/cold running water, as well as renamed Mountain Cottage – Grand View House. It burned in Sept., 1899.”
Mount Pleasant House was located on Goodnow Road.
- In 1868, Mr. Charles Whittaker decided to open open his house for boarders.
- In 1875 (4 years after the Boston, Barre, and Gardner Railroad) extensive additions were made to accommodate 40-60 guests.
- In 1912, the two Whitney brothers bought the house and divided in half to become two private homes.
Harrington Farm on Westminster Road was built in 1763.
- The Harrington’s first opened their home to city people in 1882 (11 years after the Boston, Barre, and Gardner Railroad).
- It still operates successfully and can accommodate about 200 people today in a great post n beam dining room that is used for catered events.
- It has probably been the start of more climbing expeditions up and around Mt. Wachusett than any of the other place.
- The Harrington Trail is the most famous trail of them all.
Summit Houses on top of Wachusett Mountain.
- In 1866 William Morse began selling cigar and candy to visitors.
- He built a small stone house in 1870.
- In 1874, Wachusett Mountain Co. built a 25ç toll road to the top of the mountain from the Amasa Smith house on Pine Hill. The road to the summit was never profitable, despite the toll charge of $2.00 per horse and carriage. It was built long before the days of hard surfaces like we have today, which meant that a large crew of men and work carts were required from early spring until fall, in order to keep the road passable. The traffic never developed to a point where one could call it heavy. Horses, who may have driven out from Worcester in the morning, would be so fatigued that they would not be in condition for the winding climb the same day. This meant a three day trip in the event anyone planned to take their own horse and carriage up the mountain; – 1 day to Princeton, 1 day up and down the mountain, and 1 day for the return to Worcester.
- In 1875 the first wooden Summit House and barn were built by W.M.C. The house was enlarged in 1879 and a bowling alley added.
- In 1882 P. A. Beaman bought the mountain. In 1884-5 a 3-story 40′ x 40′ house was built, and by 1900 it consisted of a hotel, bowling alley, horse barns, and icehouse.
- In 1900 the State of Massachusetts bought the mountain for $20,000.
- In 1907 J. C. F. Mirick re-constructs the mountain house into the 3rd hotel. In 1909-10 its popularity lead to the building of a billiard room, laundry, and sleeping room in a new annex.
- Electricity was brought to the summit in 1925. The horse barn was removed in 1930 when an 8-car garage was built.
- An electric refrigerator replaced the icehouse in 1931.
- From 1940-60’s patronage and maintenance deteriorated the house. It was eventually closed to the public.
- It burned on December 18, 1970.
Many Smaller Rooming and Boarding Houses Also Developed
- Howard House – Worcester Road
- Woodland Cottage – Prospect Street
- Grime’s Cottage – Hubbardston Road
- Linden / Pratt’s Cottage – Hubbardston Road