Town of Southbridge history

1826 - William Beecher comes to Southbridge In 1826 William Beecher, a jeweler and watchmaker, settles in Southbridge, a small town on the Massachusetts / Connecticut border.

1833 - Manufacturing of Spectacles Begins Within seven years of his arrival in Southbridge, William Beecher opens a shop above his jewelry store to manufacture spectacles.

Main Street View - Baptist ChurchBy 1837, the Baptist congregation had acquiredsole possession of the 1797 meetinghouse.

1845 - Fires in the "Columbian" factory, today "Lensdale," and the "African" factory, today "Sandersdale," resulted in a number of families moving to Webster, Milbury, and Worcester.History of the Franco-Americans of Southbridge, by Felix Gatineau, translated by Elizabeth Blood

1850 - By 1850, there were about thirty Canadian families in Southbridge.

1869 - American Optical is Formed Southbridge, Massachusetts - The merging of two competing spectacle making companies results in the formation of the American Optical Company. (massmoments.org)

Map of the Town of Southbridge, Mass. (1878, F.W. Beers)

1879 - George Wells accumulates AO stock George Wells has accumulates a majority share in the stock of the American Optical Company.

1883 - Bound to Get AwayBOSTON, June 22. - J. P. Olds was arrested at Southbridge to-day on a charge of stealing large quantities of gold from the American Optical Company.

1886 - American Optical The American Optical company is just closing a very busy season.

1894 - Gedeon Gregoire establishes a shoe repairing shop in Southbridge

Souvenir of Southbridge : reference book of Southbridge, published Southbridge, Mass by Geo Grant, 1898

By 1900, Southbridge had a population of 10,000, with an estimated 6,000 of French-Canadian ancestry.

Channing Wells was one of the owners of the American Optical Company.Postcard 1904 - Town Stricken With DiphtheriaSouthbridge, Mass., Oct.

1918 - Help Wanted Help Wanted - Help Wanted in Southbridge, Mass., to work in Hamilton Woolen Co., established nearly 100 years, employing 2,000 hands.

1955 - WESO On the Air March 20 - Radio Station WESO goes on the air for a first time.