Quick History Stops: Sutton Center Historic District, Part 3
Back in late June 2026, I visited the Sutton Center Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) in Massachusetts. So many historic buildings, monuments, and stories were packed into this highly walkable area that I am dividing my adventure into three parts. The first part focused on a church, town common, municipal building, and several houses. The second part focused on the little school house, cemetery, town pound, and a house. The third part includes a church, historic houses, a memorial, a blacksmith shop, and a nature area. Aiding in my trip were easy-to-follow walking tours created by BHC over a decade ago and by Sutton Historical Society as part of America250.
St. Mark’s Catholic Church, also known as St. Mark’s Parish, of 356 Boston Road is a modern take on the traditional white-painted New England church. While the first Protestant church began in 1716, the first Catholic Mass in the Blackstone Valley was not held until 1834. St. Anne’s Church in Manchaug, another village of Sutton, was the first parish in the town, although its original buildings burned down in 1924. After rebuilding, the parish eventually closed in 2013. This specific parish opened in 1964, hence its modern design. The rectory, or the house where the priest lives, is located next door and has a sign with a winged lion at the end of the driveway, the symbol representing Mark and his gospel.
334 Boston Road was briefly the home of well-known tavern keeper Lazarus LeBaron, who has already received a mention in the first two parts of these history stops. Other notable owners were Joseph Elliot Jr. who served in the American Revolutionary War, minuteman Gardner Waters, and Massachusetts Legionary Brigade member Josiah Wheelock. At 346 Boston Road was a house with a long porch owned by Nathaniel Carriel during the Revolution. The household included his children of his first wife Jane Dwight, children with his second wife Bridget Hammond Prime, and her own children, totaling fifteen in all. Nathaniel was banned from taking town offices after participating in Shays’ Rebellion, but he still became a wealthy man for the time. At 356 Boston Road is a well-kept 18th century home that originally belonged to the Whipple family, who were fortunate that no members had to fight in the Revolution. Near the current public school complex at 5 Putnam Hill Road, which was home to an American-born man who had been adopted by an uncle in England, conscripted into the British Army, and escaped to Sutton. Several men from Sutton signed petitions that he be freed from the army, including the minister and selectmen, and eventually he was released from those duties. Near the house and the Sutton schools is a memorial honoring soldiers of World War II, to home the original school was dedicated.
Sherman Blacksmith Shop is named for Milton Marden Sherman who owned the land, although Daniel Dudley constructed the building and was somewhat predictably soon bought out by Sherman. My last stop in town was Shaw Farm, a nature preserve that serves as the cross country course for the Sutton Public Schools. The land was initially known as Elliott Place for the Elliot family, purchased by Joseph Elliot in the mid-19th century and owned by his descendants for four generations. The property was later owned several generations of the Shaw family who ran a mill and a dairy farm. The final family member was Rita Northcutt Shaw who sold the property to the town to prevent development. Multiple short trails run through the property, which is well-marked. Wildflowers and small wildlife such as bunnies and birds greet visitors for a quiet final stop near the center of Sutton.
