Middleboro:

Middleborough was first settled in 1660 as Nemasket, which was later changed to Middlebury and was officially incorporated as Middleborough in 1669. The name "Middlebury" was taken from a place in England, and changed to the more modern "Middleborough." During King Philip's War (1675-76), the town's entire populace took shelter within the confines of a fort constructed along the Nemasket River. (The site is located behind the old junior high school, and is marked by a state historical commission marker along Route 105.) Before long, the fort was abandoned and the population withdrew to the greater shelter of Plymouth colony; in their absence, the entire village was burned to the ground, and it would be several years before the town would be refounded. Western Middleborough broke away in 1857 and formed the town of Lakeville, taking with it main access to the large fresh water lakes there, including Assawompset Pond. Middleboro was home to world-famous circus midget General Tom Thumb, of Barnum & Bailey Circus fame, as well as Revolutionary War soldier Deborah Sampson, who cross-dressed as a man in order to serve in the Continental Army. Once the shoe capital of the world, Middleborough has since become the cranberry capital of the world, hosting the corporate headquarters of Ocean Spray Cranberries. Middleborough is also the second-largest town in Massachusetts in terms of area. Notable sights include the 1870's Victorian-style town hall, the Greek revival-style town library (1903), and in the summer, the Nemasket herring run.

FY2008 Tax Rate: Residential: $9.28 per thousand Commercial, Industrial and Personal: $9.83

TOWN HALL
10 Nickerson Ave. and Bank Building, 20 Centre St., hours Monday through Friday 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., 508-946-2415.

Selectmen: Meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in selectmen's room at Town Hall; Chairman Marsha L. Brunelle, Wayne C. Perkins, Adam A. Bond, Stephen P. Sparto, Patrick E. Rogers, Confidential Secretary Diane Henault, 508-946-2405.

School Committee: Meets second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. at John T. Nichols Jr. Middle School auditorium; Chairman Gregory D. Thomas at 508-947-7872, Vice Chairman Michael Pilla at 508-946-0014, Jeannie M. Martin at 508-946-1316, Paul C. Hilton at 508-946-1845, Joseph A. Masi Jr., Sara Cederholm 508-947-1512.

Town clerk: Eileen S. Gates, 508-946-2415, fax 508-946-2308.

Assessor-appraiser: Barbara Erickson, 508-946-2410, fax 508-946-4930.

Board of Assessors: Meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in assessors office at Town Hall;

Chairman Anthony F. Freitas, Frederick E. Eayrs Jr., Paula M. Burdick.

Board of Health: Selectmen serve as members, 508-946-2405.

Housing Authority director: vacant, 508-947-3824.

Housing Authority: Chairwoman Arlene R. Dickens, Buddy D. Chilcot, Edward J. Medeiros, Margaret I. Abramson, state appointee Neil R. Kilpeck.

Conservation Commission: Meets Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall; Chairman Richard H. Chamberlin, Deborah S. Kirsch, D. Jeffrey Erickson, Michael G. Brady, Patricia A. Delaney, Leonard A. Ruprecht, Richard Rebell.

Park commissioners: Robert M. Sullivan, Cheryl A. Leonard, Anthony W. Andrade, Jr., Garrett D. Perry, William J. Ferdinand.

Peirce trustees: Robert L. Cushing, Donald K. Atkins, Bruce G. Atwood.

Town moderator: James V. Thomas, 508-947-4148.

Planning Board: Meets Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall; Chairman Patrick J. Gaughan, David J. Maddigan, Jr., William B. Garceau, Michael Labonte, Peter A. Reynolds, Donald E. Swarce.

DEPARTMENT HEADS

• Police chief: Chief Gary J. Russell.
• Acting Fire chief: Chief of Police Gary J. Russell.
• Town counsel: Daniel F. Murray
• Health inspector: Catherine M. Hassett.
• Highway superintendent: Donald A. Boucher, 508-946-2480.
• Library director: Danielle Bowker, 508-946-2470, www.midlib.org.
• Park superintendent: Harry I. Pickering, 508-946-2440.
• Sewer superintendent: Joseph Ciaglo, 508-946-2485.
• Town accountant: acting, Sandra L. Bernier, 508-946-2313.
• Water superintendent: Richard Tinkham, 508-946-2482.
• Animal control officer: Animal Control Officer Jayson Tracy, 508-946-2455.
• Inspector of wires: Mellio Gazza.
• Manager, gas and electric department: James Collins.
• Office of Economic and Community Development: Director Anna M. Nalevanko.
• Plumbing and gas inspector: Jon Catalano.
• Water superintendent: Richard E. Tinkham.
• Wastewater superintendent: Joseph M. Ciaglo.
• Veterans agent: Paul J. Provencher, 508-946-2407.
• Building commissioner: Robert J. Whalen, 508-946-2426.
• Conservation agent: Rosemarie Correia, 508-946-2406.
• Animal inspector: Bart Harrison.
• Health officer: Jeanne C. Spalding, 508-946-2408.
• Office of Economic and Community Development director: Bruce Arons, 508-946-2402.
• Town planner: Ruth M. Geoffroy, 508-946-2425.
• Treasurer-collector: Judy M. MacDonald, 508-946-2421.
• Zoning office: Robert J. Whalen.

SCHOOLS

• Superintendent: Robert M. Sullivan, 508-946-2000. Web site: www.middleboro.k12.ma.us.
• School administration: Hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 508-946-2000, fax 508-946-2004.
• Assistant superintendent: vacant.
• Middleboro High School: 71 East Grove St., Principal Katherine C. Flaherty, 1,020 students, 77 teachers, 508-946-2010.
• John T. Nichols Middle School: 112 Tiger Drive, Headmaster Scott Kellett, 900 students, 77 teachers, 508-946-2020.
• Henry B. Burkland School: 41 Mayflower Ave., grades 3-5, Principal Fred Morris, 913 students, 59 teachers, 508-946-2040.
• Mary K. Goode School: formerly the Mayflower School, 31 Mayflower Ave., grades 1-2, Principal Anita Rodriques, 596 students, 55 teachers, 508-946-2045.
• Memorial Early Childhood Center: 219 North Main St., grades full time K, Principal Virginia Levesque, estimated 300 students, 15 teachers, 508-946-2030.
• Chamberlin School: 1 Pleasant St., 508-947-7825.
• READS Collaborative: 101 East Grove St., 508-947-3660.
• Southeast Alternative High School: 49 Plymouth St., 508-947-0131.

TOWN WEB SITE
middleborough.com

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