Quick History Stops: Douglas, MA, Part 2
On the same day I visited Sutton Center and Manchaug, I finished up my adventure in Douglas, another former mill town in the Blackstone River Valley. I took so many pictures and saw so much history that I am dividing the quick history stops into two parts. In the first part, I visited two churches, a former general store turned historical society, a building with a really high curb, and a library. In the second part, I visited war memorials, a church, and several houses.
The Douglas Civil War Memorial stands on a triangular lawn between Main Street / Route 16 and North Street. While I could not find information on when the monument was erected, it seems like a late 19th or early 20th century town project. A classic mail-order monument design, it includes the names of all the people who served. The other memorial in town is Joseph J. Michna Square War Memorial created by VFW Post 7554. Michna was born in 1919, drafted into World War II as a private of a United States Army Air Corps bomb squadron, and died in the line of duty in 1942 at age 22. He was a member of Saint Denis Parish and is buried in the adjourning cemetery. While walk towards my next destination, I looked down at the sidewalk and saw a small plaque embedded in the cement. Apparently, it was pored by R.A. Bergesson Cement Work of Woonsocket, RI. The company was also called R.A. Bergesson and Son, as it was started by Raymond A. Bergesson Sr. and later run by his son Charles Henry Bergesson. The longest employee appeared to be Alfred J. Caron, who was the office manager for more than forty years.
The church near the center of town was Second Congregational Church of Douglas. The first church had formed in Douglas Center, while this area was known as East Douglas. The congregations parted amicably in 1834 with help from ministers in neighboring Thompson, CT; Sutton, MA; and Uxbridge, MA. From the street, the building looks little different from when it was constructed. Several houses in the area were of interest, and I followed a walking tour created by Blackstone Heritage Corridor about a decade ago. Federal-style Hunt House on 274 Main Street was built in 1825 by Warren Hunt, whose father Oliver Hunt had founded an axe manufacturing company. The house now has Italianate details over the windows and door, which were likely added in the 1870s. Across the road at 271 Main Street is the Greek revival-style Hunt House built around the same time by Otis Hunt, the younger brother of Warren. Wife and mother Deiadamia Whiting Hunt was part of a family who owned mills in Uxbridge and Northbridge, for whom the village Whitinsville would later be named.
Some of the houses did not have deep histories but were nonetheless very pretty to look at, as they told the story of the manufacturing boom that took place in the Blackstone River Valley during the 19th through early 20th centuries. This lovely list of houses closed out my time in Douglas.
- 271 Main Street is a three story, Greek Revival style house with four large pillars in front of the entrance. It appears to be currently owned by Blackstone Valley Natural Health Center.
- 262 Main Street is an 1829 house with a unique front porch. It appears to be currently owned by a professional dog grooming business with a fun wooden sign.
- 257 Main Street is a two-story Greek Revival style house with four large columns in front of the entrance built in 1880.
- 238 Main Street is a three-story, bright blue mansard-style mansion built in 1847.
- 228 Main Street is a two-story Greek Revival style house with four large columns in front of the entrance built in 1860s; 257 Main Street appears to have copied it.
- 175 Main Street is a Colonial Revival mansion built in 1930 and stands across from Michna Square War Memorial.
