1^ ^^ SHARON nass Fi^ Book <:,._<• *S5^ Cnp^Ti^tN^ COPklOGIIT DEPOSIT. SHARON The Sharox Ncmbek. ox a Seri^ deroted to tbe iiloscratioa of certain oi the cities and towns ac^acent to the City of Boston and the presentation, in brief acaMupanjing text, of sooc sa gg esave facts concerning their adrantages and derdopment. ?Zr3S.BS£X> E» ■OSTCW VS THE FaLI. Qf SI3klklLS HfTSWIi^ »-»-. --^k^i IT THE EDISON ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING CO. The Town Hall and one of the Fire Department House.-. '' ^''^fWHreawag i^»- .<: ■ r. A Part ot Sharon as seen from the Belfry of the Congregational Church. 2 •CI, A '^5 HI 37 The Town of Sharon A LITTLE less than half way between Boston and Provi- dence, the Town of Sharon occupies an area of twenty-four and two- tenths square miles in the southern part of Norfolk County. The land of the town is hilly, and the general elevation so great, that here is found a natural divide or double water shed. Into Sharon no watercourses run from other towns while streams having their rise in its springs or lakes find their courses to the sea in opposed directions. Some of the streams pursue their way to the north or northeast and through the Neponset river to the ocean; others run oceanward through neighboring towns and counties to the south and through Rhode Island. While all the town is notably high, the land rises from the level of Sharon Village to the appreciable elevation of the outlying districts, and there are numerous hills from which ex- tended and interesting views may be obtained of all the surrounding country. Moose Hill, on the west side of the town, attains an altitude of six hundred feet above the sea, and the view from its summit in- cludes the valley of the Neponset, as well as Wachusett Mountain and Blue Hill, and the Standish Monu- To Commemorate the Patriotic Services and Sacrifices of Men ot Sharon. 3 ment seventv miles auay at Ply- mouth, with the intervening pleasing landscape. Bluff Head, Bald Hill, Bullard's Hill and Rattlesnake Hill although lower are also noticeable elevations and ittord equally charm- ing but possiblv less extended views Lake Massapoag, a beautiful sheet of water with a drive along its shores four miles in extent, is owned b\ the State, but lying in the center of the town it adds materially to the charm of Sharon and to the diversity of the always pleasant landscape. The outlet from this lake furnishes water power of consequence, which for- merly utilized by manufacturers of Canton, has been more recently acquired by the Plymouth Rubber Company. Lake Massapoag, more- over, gives the residents of Sharon opportunity for aquatic pleasures as well as for good fishing, while within the town are several streams in which trout may be sought suc- cessfully. The elevation of Sharon is im- portantly worthy of consideration for this not only confers upon the town a picturesque quality gratifying to the residents and to all appreciat- ing the charm of scenic beauty but it promotes that healthfulness for which Sharon is known so widely and so deservedly, lii consequence, of the altitude the air is dry and in- vigorating and excellent drainage is secured. The pine trees growing in large numbers in the parts of the territory remaining in woodland are an added cfcar^i-iand doubtless a further cause of the prevailing healthfulness: :xll$ natural advan- tages of situation in its hills, to- gether wkfi tfeoS'e added in the course of its development, make Sharon an irfiia4;.4>J^^»wi. «^^ : i^^ *♦>-!. V;ii^'-'' One ot the Larger Residences near Lake Massapoag, Sharon. 4 The Unitarian Church, Sharon. admirable place of residence whether it be so chosen for the summer only, or for all the year. The excellent facilities for passenger transportation afforded by the railroad are an im- portant advantage. Sharon is a station on the Provi- dence Division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, eighteen miles southwest of Boston. Several of the express trains running between Providence and Boston stop at Sharon but altogether there are eighteen trains daily out from Bos- ton and fourteen in from Sharon, while on Sundays there are ten and eight respectively. The average running time is thirty-eight minutes and the single fare is forty cents; but the cost per trip is twelve and one-half cents to purchasers of monthly tickets. By procuring twelve-trip tickets to and from Can- ton Junction and paying the ad- ditional Sharon fare the cost per trip becomes twenty-hve cents. Elec- tric railways connect Sharon with Stoughton; with Canton and Milton and so at Mattapan with the Boston Elevated System. The population of Sharon is something over twenty-two hundred while the legal voters number nearly five hundred. The assessed valu- ation of the town amounts to a little over two and three-quarter million dollars, and the maintained tax rate is low. The spring water supplied by the town is of excellent quality and the distributing system makes it gen- erally available. A stand pipe on high ground to which the water is delivered by a pumping station of adequate power secures the required pressure. Hydrant service provides 5 The Congregational Church, Sharon. The Roman Catholic Church. 6 The Episcopal Church, Sharon. The Baptist Church, undergoing repairs. 7 A few of the Homes on Greendalc Road. water for fire protection and helps to further efficiency the good fire department with its apparatus con- sisting of two hose wagons and two hook and ladder trucks with a num- ber of chemical hand extinguishers. The report of the State Hoard of Education credits Sharon with eleven public schools including the High School, all maintaining the required high standard for the different grades. There are two school buildings in Sharon \'illage and two district school buildings. The streets of Sharon are lighted bv electricity until twelve-thirty on other than moonlighted nights under a ten year contract with The Edi- son Electric Illuminating Company. This Company also furnishes elec- tricity for the illumination of resi- dential or commercial structures, as well as for power, at its standard rates as established throughout the thirty-three cities and towns it sup- plies with the electric current. The ser\ ice of the Company is contin- uous every hour during every day of the year. In Sharon there are Congrega- tional, Roman Catholic, Unitarian, Episcopal and Baptist Church edi- fices, while the Christian Science Society meets in a convenient hall. The Public Library has its quarters in the Town Hall; but a site has been purchased and there is no doubt that its sati>factory collection and its reading room will find quar- ters in its individual building before long. In the village are several stores stocked and equipped to sup- ply the needs of the residents. The Sharon Club is a men's social club; the Historical Society promotes social pleasures and another of its objects 8 The High School Building. Other ot the Pleasant Homes in Sharon. 9 is sufficiemlv indicated by its name while its quarterly public meetings provide intellectual or literary diver- sion. The social enjo\ ment of the community is further aided by the Women's Foi^jnightlv Club and the associations connected with the va- rious churches and by Massapoag Cirangeofthe Patrons of Husbandry. The Sharon Improvement Associa- tion is active in measures intended to improve the condition of the town or the appearance of the village streets. The \'oung Men's Chris- tian Association presents features of interest and opportunities of value to the voung men. In its recently acquired building the privileges of which the young women are to en- joy one day in the week, there is to be a gymnasium of modern equip- ment. The Sharon (iolf Club maintains a pleasant course and suit- able club house. Near the station the Tennis Club has its courts and on a field conducted under the aus- pices of the \'oung Men's Christian Association are held base-ball and foot-ball games and other sports and athletic exercises. Good roads run- ning in all directions throughout the town and amid picturescjue surround- ings are added and important at- tractions. Some manufacturing industries have been attracted to Sharon and these include the long established Knife Works, The Acme Thread Company, with its picturesque mill, and the box factory of Ralph C). Hrown; but obviously the further development and future growth of Sharon, with its great natural advan- tages, accessibilitv and conveniences, must be as a place of pleasant resi- dence. C)uite naturallv manv have One of Several Places Accommodating Summer Resident.^. lO On the Street Leading from the Station. On the Grounds of Tennis Club, Sharon, 1 1 NOV 19 1»0& The Mill of the Acme Thread Company. been led to speiul their summers in Sharon and the Massapoag Lake House at the northwestern end of the lake; the Stonholm near the golf grounds and the lake; the Lawn- crest, the Sharon House, the Glen- dale and the Caledonia, in Sharon \'illage, and several boarding houses provide accommodation for summer boarders as well as opportunity for the rest and refreshment of more transient visitors. The Tudor Farm Motor Club, located in the southern part of the town pro\'ides similar accommodations and serves well as an objective point for trips bv auto- mobile. Alreadv se\ eral large home estates occupy locations principallv near the lake; but the altitude and beauty of the town must lead inevi- tably to the establishment of others similar in available situations equally attractive. There can be no doubt moreover, that the vet available and pleasant sites for other dwellings will be in demand and that there will be a further and early increase in the number of comfortable homes of either of the cottage or bungalow type now so much favored. Inquiries as to locations for dwell- ings, large or small, will be an- swered promptiv if sent to the Board of Selectmen or to the Board of Assessors at Sharon and full in- formation given as to any of the advantages of the town if requests for this are similarlv addressed. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 012 608 757 3 :.>.•.: ,1 v'T" B^ P ll wilr? t ■' ''>^^n P y.^u-^.