Charles Brown House

This house, at 24 Common Street, was built in 1904 by Daniel Brown, owner of the Wrentham Straw Works, for his son, Charles. Charles' widow sold it to Charles MacDougald, for many years the cashier of the National Bank of Wrentham. It later became the Maples Nursing Home. The second Wrentham Straw Works (The first had burned to the ground) can be seen in the rear. It burned to the ground in 1933

Fiske Library on East Street

At town meeting on March 21,1892, it was voted to establish a "Public Library at Wrentham Center for the benefit of the whole town." An upstairs room was rented for $100 a year in the Proctor Block ( over what is now Davis' Store). In 1896, the Wrentham Public Library was built on the same foundation as the Center School, which had burned to the ground during the night of February 20-21,1895. the building was made possible by donations from four children and grandchildren of Josiah Jones Fiske. They were 1. George S Fiske, 2. Mrs. Esther Hammond, 3. Miss Elizabeth Fiske and 4. Miss Charlotte Fiske. The building was renamed the Fiske Public Library.

South Street circa. 1895

Looking westerly, down South Street from the common about 1895, one can see Daniel Farrington in his buggy, a milk delivery wagon and an Earl and Peck Express wagon at the new watering trough given by Oliver Everett. Water for the trough was provided by wells at Redding's store, seen on the left.

Wrentham's Poor Farm

Shown on an 1851 map as an "Asylum" and on the 1876 map as the "Town Farm", this building was at about 550 East Street. It served as the Massachusetts State Police barracks, Troop A, Substation 4, from 1937 to 1957. A town owned building, it was demolished after the MSP moved out.

Orin Sheldon's at 1162 West Street

At 1162 stands the home that was built for Orin Sheldon, a son of boat factory founder, Rhodes Sheldon. Orin and other members of the family continued operation of the boat factory after Rhodes Sheldon's death in 1866.

Deacon Grant's House

At 945 West Street stands the home of Joshua L. Grant, a farmer, who bought the land from George Sheldon, son of Rhodes Sheldon, founder of the Sheldonville Boat Works. Deacon Grant was treasurer and clerk of the Sheldonville Baptist Church and built the house in 1848. It remained in the Grant family until 1905.

Sheldonville Store and Post Office

The Sheldonville store and Post Office pictured on this Post Card was at West and Hancock Streets. On the back of the post card is written "This was taken at 3 PM April 22, 1914. 8 hours later it was burned to the ground". "Mrs. Newell, with love from Florie". Mrs. Johnson, who as a little girl grew up almost across the street, remembers playing in the store with her playmate the afternoon of the 22nd.

The Wampum House

Built about 1700, this was the home of Dr. Cornelius Kollock (Wrentham's second doctor) in 1744. In 1750 the house was owned by Ebenezer Fisher and it remained in the Fisher family until 1836. In 1973 the house was bought by the Town of Wrentham and turned over to the Wrentham Historical Commission which uses the front section to store Wrentham artifacts ( the rear section is the caretaker's apartment ).

Judge Samuel Day's House

Judge Samuel Day, born in 1752, built this house at 996 West Street in 1781. He died there on the 22nd of January, 1821 and is buried in the Wrentham Cemetery. He had been Judge of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. His daughter, Julia, was born here 29 November, 1796 and married there on 16 November, 1817, to Henry Leman . It is now the home of Esther Anderson, widow of E. Ross Anderson. Mrs. Anderson was a long time member of the Board of Directors of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Lake Pearl Park

The Picnic Grove provided a fine place from which to enjoy an open Band Concert on a bright, warm Sunday afternoon after a day on and in the water. One could partake of Lake Pearl Park's own ice cream, served at its 100 foot Ice Cream Bar and made with the help of ice harvested from the lake in the winter months and which was stored in the Park's icehouse on the shoreline.

Wrentham Street Cars

Two street cars, one on the line through Foxboro and one on the Attleboro to Woonsocket line stopped side by side allowing passengers to board and/or transfer. Street cars came to Wrentham in 1902 and continued until replaced by motor buses in 1924. The Milford, Attleboro, & Woonsocket line had a spur from the bottom of Eagle Hill into the parking lot of Lake Pearl Park. One can still see the remains of the roadbed at the bottom of the hill.

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