Holliston, MA
Holliston was incorporated in 1724, carved from the western lands of Sherborn, and developed as a small but industrious inland Massachusetts town. Its early economy was shaped by agriculture, small mills along its brooks, and the skilled trades that supported rural New England life. By the nineteenth century, Holliston became known for its boot and shoe manufacturing, joining many MetroWest towns that quietly fueled Massachusetts’ growing industrial strength.
Recent Posts
Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
Tucked away along a quiet country road in Holliston is one of Massachusetts’ most peaceful places of reflection: the Missionary Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Established by the Xaverian Missionaries in 1950, the shrine was inspired by the apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported by three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal, in 1917. For […]
Fiske’s General Store
One of the joys of exploring small New England towns is discovering places that have served their communities for generations. In the center of Holliston, Fiske’s General Store has been doing just that since 1863. Founded by James Ferdinand Fiske during the Civil War, the store originally sold hats, caps, trunks, valises, and travel goods. […]
Brigham Young in Holliston
This small historical marker stands quietly alongside the road in Holliston. This simple sign preserves an unexpected connection between this Massachusetts town and one of the most significant religious movements of nineteenth century America. Around 1830, a blacksmith shop once stood near this location and exploited Brigham Young. Long before he became known for leading thousands of […]
“Great Sickness of 1754”
In the center of Holliston, near the historic First Parish church, lies the Central Burying Ground, a quiet cemetery that preserves the early history of the town and the people who first settled there. Holliston was originally part of neighboring towns before becoming its own community in 1724. Like many New England towns of that […]
