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City in Massachusetts, United States
Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Southbridge is a town in southern Central Massachusetts, about 60 miles from Boston. Southbridge is a close-knit community with a downtown area of friendly small businesses. The area was initially inhabited by the Nipmuck and Mohegan tribes, with the Quinebaug River dividing their territories. In 1730, it was settled by Europeans. Water power from the Quinebaug River made Southbridge a good location for sawmills and gristmills in the 18th century, and textile mills in the 19th century. After the Civil War, many immigrants of Irish and French Canadian descent came to work and live there; by the 1930s they had been joined by Poles, Greeks, Italians and others.
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Worthy of being called a cathedral. What used to be a large wooden church on Pine Street in 1870, became church built of white marble bricks, originally intended as tombstones for the Spanish-American war. It was designed by Roman artist Gonippo Raggi and architect Joseph Venne of Montreal.
Gateway Players is an all volunteer, non-profit, educational community theater organization that brings theater performances and workshops to Southbridge and surrounding communities. Gateway Players is located in a refinished barn behind the Arts Center on 111 Main Street.
Ruth Wells Center for the Arts and Humanities is located in a stately old mansion in the heart of Southbridge. Gallery exhibits, lectures, workshops, classes, art classes, puppet shows, fashion, music and vibrant seasonal and annual events are offered to the public and the center hosts the Gateway Players Theater.
A clean, air-conditioned, open-dining pizzeria. A full menu that includes pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and baklava. Sells wine and beer. Delivers from 11am - 2:00pm & 4:00pm, and a half hour before closing.
Opened in 2002, this hotel is expanded from the beautiful 100 year old American Optical Company which has been preserved as a focal point of Southbridge. Contains a state of the art Focus Fitness Center, Shades Lounge, Crystal Ballroom, and Prism Auditorium. All named after the historical optical company. A lovely hotel that blends the old with the new.
By plane
The nearest commercial airport is Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, about 30 minutes away from Southbridge.
The principal road in Southbridge is Route 131, known as Main Street through downtown and East Main Street past the "AO Rotary" and through Sandersdale, a village on the town's east side.
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Worcester · Regional · ORH
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