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Westborough groups map out 250th-anniversary plans — trolley tours, museum programs and a pending decision on fireworks
Summary
At a town committee meeting, the Historical Commission and Historical Society proposed updating an outdated historical map, exploring an interactive app and running open-air trolley tours; the committee deferred a decision on fireworks (estimated $30,000) versus a drone show (approx. $40,000–$45,000) and set a follow-up meeting to firm plans.
Christian Hendrick, chair of the Westborough Historical Commission, told a town history-events committee that the town’s paper map of historic sites is “a little bit outdated” and proposed digitizing it so visitors could access site descriptions on their phones.
The proposals Hendrick presented at the meeting included creating an updated map, producing a pamphlet on Westborough’s Revolutionary-era connections, and organizing an open-air trolley tour of witness houses. “We have a kind of a map of historical Westborough that’s a little bit outdated,” Hendrick said, adding that the commission has written material it could repurpose into a digital format.
Why it matters: Town organizers said they want in-town programming that can both engage residents — including schoolchildren — and attract regional visitors through the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau’s promotional channels. Chris Allen, a local historian and representative to the bureau, said the regional office “is coordinating 200 and fiftieth anniversary activities throughout the state,” offering a statewide PR platform that could bring hotel and restaurant business to Westborough.
Details and costs: Hendrick described a three-visit trolley idea that could cover about 10 stops per visit; his informal, website-based pricing check put that package in the $7,000–$9,000 range. He emphasized those numbers were preliminary. During the budget discussion, a committee member noted that a traditional fireworks display the group previously discussed would cost “$30,000,” while a drone show vendor had given an approximate figure in the $40,000–$45,000 range but was not available for the preferred date.
Programming and school outreach: Leslie Leslie of the Westborough Historical Society outlined the society’s educational role and museum resources at 13 Parkman Street and stressed opportunities to involve schools. The society has run well-attended public programs and has materials (including digitized primary sources) that planners said could be repurposed for family activities, student projects and public readings of historical documents.
Logistics and timing: Committee members discussed tying history-focused activities to the town’s block party and farmers market to maximize family attendance, and suggested horse-drawn carriage rides, short walking or driving tours of witness houses, museum open hours during events, and booths at the block party. Several members urged scheduling family-friendly programming earlier in the evening.
Next steps and governance: The committee approved a procedural motion asking the chair to set the next meeting date and require agenda lists so future meetings focus on concrete planning and assignments rather than extended presentations. The group agreed to meet on January 5 to firm up decisions, including final budget allocations and which events to prioritize.
What’s unresolved: The committee did not approve a final budget or pick a vendor for fireworks or alternative displays. Members left the choice — a single large spectacle versus a set of smaller community events and education-driven programming — open for the January meeting.
