Historical Trolley Tour of Northbridge

Don’t Miss Ken Warchol’s Final Historic Trolley Tour of Whitinsville

 The Northbridge Historical Commission, in partnership with the Northbridge Historical Society, is pleased to offer its popular Historical Trolley Tour of Northbridge on Saturday, May 18, 2024.  Three tour times are available: 9 AM, 11 AM, or 1 PM, and space is limited.  This tour is extra special as it will roll for the last time with Ken Warchol as narrator and guide.

Northbridge historian, teacher, and long-time chairperson of the Northbridge Historical Commission, Ken Warchol, will guide you on a leisurely 2-hour trolley tour of Northbridge Center and The Historic District of Whitinsville. Ken began providing historic tours of his hometown in 1977 and has since celebrated and shared Northbridge’s history with countless students and community members of all ages. Riders will learn about the vital role Northbridge played in the Industrial Revolution and its growth from a village to a thriving industrial global center under the direction of the entrepreneurial spirit and engineering prominence of the Whitin family.  From humble beginnings at the Fletcher Forge to the establishment and growth of Whitin Machine Works into the 1920s, Whitin Machine Shop became the world’s most prominent textile machine shop.  The tour includes aspects of village life and explores the architectural skeletons and landmarks that remind us of a bygone era.  The tour begins at the 1770 Colonel James Fletcher Homestead, former home to James Fletcher, founder of the Fletcher Forge and now the home of the Northbridge Historical Society. It continues with a stop at the Town Hall and on to more historical places and scenic views.

There is no charge for the tour, thanks to a generous donation from Unibank.  Seating is by registration only, and tours fill up quickly. To request seat(s), email [email protected]. Include your contact info, number of seats requested, and preferred tour time (not guaranteed). You will receive a confirmation email with details.