About Our Town

Mendon Info for New Residents

  • Established as a town on 15 May 1667
  • Located in Worcester County
  • Open Town Meeting form of Government

Annual Town Meeting

1st Friday in May

Annual Town Elections

Tuesday, 11 days after the Annual Town Meeting

Special districts

Massachusetts Districts Website

State

  • House, 10th Worcester Representative District
  • Senate, Worcester, and Hampden
  • Governor's Council, 7th Councillor District
  • District Attorney, Middle District
  • Register of Deeds, Worcester District

Federal

Schools

  • Mendon Upton Regional School District
  • Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District

Electric Service

  • National Grid 888-211-1111

Gas Service

  • Gas service is available in very limited areas of town. Most of the town has no gas service, and only bottled gas is available.

Water Service

  • The town has no public water supply except in the Route 140 area and the Route 16 area near the Hopedale town line. More Info: Mendon Water Commission
  • Most residents obtain their water from private wells. The town does not provide sewer service. Each residence has its septic system.

Trash Service

  • Trash service is available to all residences in Mendon. Bills are mailed semi-annually. Please contact the Board of Health for more Information.

Town Roads

  • Not all roads in Mendon are "accepted town roads". Roads that are not "accepted town roads" may not be plowed, sanded, or repaired by the town. "Accepted" means accepted by a vote of the town meeting. Check with the Town Clerk's office to determine if a particular road has been accepted.
  • Roads in new subdivisions are not accepted as town roads. It is the responsibility of the developer to plow, sand, and repair these roads. Once the subdivision has been completed and the road finished to town specifications, the developer must submit the plans to the town and ask that the road be accepted by a vote of the town meeting. Until all this has been done, the developer is responsible for the upkeep of the road.

Cable/Internet/Phone Service

  • Comcast
  • Verizon

Please note that these are the only wired high-speed ISPs available in Mendon. You may also be able to obtain TV/Phone/Internet services from any number of Internet or satellite-based services.

If you are using a VOIP (internet-based) phone system, please ensure your address is properly registered so it is available to emergency services through the E911 system.

Newspapers serving Mendon

  • The Milford Daily News
  • Worcester Telegram and Gazette

Town Website

Other Important Links

Mendon History:

The town of Mendon was originally settled in 1664 by fifteen families from Braintree and Weymouth. It was an eight-mile tract of land, called Squinshepauge, purchased from the Nipmuc Indians and included what are now the towns of Bellingham, Upton, Uxbridge, Northbridge, Blackstone, and Millville. Mendon was incorporated on May 15th, 1667; our first meeting house was built in 1668 on what is now called Founder's Park. 1675 marked the beginning of King Philip's War and the abandonment of the town. Several settlers were killed, and the remaining families fled back to the safety of Braintree and Weymouth, returning in 1676 after the death of King Philip.

In the late 1700s, the Blackstone Valley became the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in the United States. Although the eighty-five-acre Lake Nipmuc is located in the town, Mendon has no significant waterways; therefore, no source to turn the waterwheels necessary for powering textile mills. It was at this time that the surrounding towns broke off from "Mother Mendon," taking their tax dollars with them and diminishing Mendon's significant wealth. Instead, Mendon remained primarily an agricultural and cottage industry community. There were boot and shoe shops, a shoddy mill, and other small businesses, some of which remain today. The construction of the Blackstone Canal allowed Mendon's farmers to sell their produce to towns along the Blackstone River, providing an increased market and revenue source.

In the late 1860s, a new appreciation for the scenic beauty of Lake Nipmuc developed. The surrounding towns, although wealthier, were impacted by the pollution of their air and water. "Nature's Beauty Spot", as it was known, became a popular summer vacation destination for wealthy people from out of town. In 1882, the park became the site of commercial entertainment. Nipmuc Hall was dedicated, and canoe, sailboat, and steamboat rides were available on the lake. Over the years, the hall booked well- known entertainers such as Stan Laurel, of Laurel and Hardy fame, and Fred Allen. It now exists as a function hall. Lake Nipmuc is still a popular recreation spot, and Southwick's Zoo, established in 1963, brings over two hundred thousand visitors to the town each year.

Incorporated in 1667, Mendon is the 2nd oldest town in Worcester County, the 50th oldest in Massachusetts, the 86th oldest settlement in the United States, and the 173rd oldest settlement in North America.

Please visit here for historical information, documents, and more