Walking Across Nashoba — Lancaster Part 5
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Upon reaching 117 we finally saw the Entering Bolton sign that had eluded us as we crossed into town from Stow in the Delaney Complex. The incorporation sign noted it’s founding in 1738, making this the two hundred and seventy fifth anniversary of Bolton’s secession from its mother town of Lancaster. Bolton followed Harvard as the second town to break away from Lancaster noting the difficulty of getting across the Nashua to the meeting house and the distance of the communities from Lancaster. In the vagaries of the local real estate market, the rocky hills of Bolton and Harvard with their sweeping views and easier access to Boston via 495 and route 2 are now more desirable than the rich agricultural bottom lands along the Nashua that were so attractive to settlers three hundred and sixty years ago.
That stretch of 117 is called Seven Bridge Road, after the many bridges that are necessary to cross the Still River and Nashua River flood plain. Increasing numbers of motorists have sped, or at rush hour crawled, enjoying the shortcut from the Leominster area along Route 2 to 495 South. New retail areas in Leominster such as Walmart and Lowes…
