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1722
June 14: Incorporation of the town of Worcester.
1723
Spring: Jonas Rice discovered limestone on what was called the Bullard farm. (Prouty, 11)
1736
December: James Thompson and sixteen other persons obtained a vote from the proprietors to erect a house for public worship.
1722
June 14: Incorporation of the town of Worcester.
1723
Spring: Jonas Rice discovered limestone on what was called the Bullard farm. (Prouty, 11)
1736
December: James Thompson and sixteen other persons obtained a vote from the proprietors to erect a house for public worship.
1740
March 3: "At a general meeting of the citizens of North and south Worcester, held March 3, 1740, it was voted that the north half part of the township be set off a distinct and separate town, if an act to that effect could be obtained from the General Court." (Prouty, 14)
1741
January 2: Act to incorporate Holden was passed by the General Court.
1741
January 9: Governor Belcher signed act to incorporate the town
1741
March 26: John Bigelow, a principal inhabitant of Holden, was authorized to assemble the legal voters.
Estes, 388, gives the date as March 27.
1741
May 4: First annual meeting was held.
1742
July 19: Town voted unanimously to invite the Rev. Joseph Davis to become pastor of the church in Holden. (Prouty, 31)
1742
December 22: Organization of the First Congregation Church and ordination of the Rev. Joseph Davis as the town's first minister. (Zook, 23; Estes, 392)
1755
November 15: Earthquake. (Prouty, 147)
1759
Daniel Henchman of Boston donated land for the first burying ground. (Zook, 28)
1763
Construction of Abbott Tavern.
1768
Dr. Isaac Chenery arrived as Holden's first doctor. (Zook, 29)
1787
January: Thirty residents signed and published resolutions condemning Holden participation in Shays' Rebellion. (Zook, 38)
1787
December 10: Town meeting voted to build a new meeting house. (Zook, 39)
1789
John Hancock deeded common to Holden. (Prouty, 33)
1793
January 2: Joseph Davis preached 50th anniversary sermon. (Prouty, 32)
1795
May 20: Oldest map of Holden. (Prouty, 154)
1799
June 21: Legislature chartered the Sixth Incorporated Turnpike of Massachusetts to build a forty-three-mile road from Shrewsbury to Amherst. (Zook, 52)
1800
February 22: Citizens of Holden observed the day set aside for the commemoration of the death of George Washington, who died December 14, 1799. (Estes, 387; Prouty, 29.
1804
June 4: Records of the Baptist Society commence. (Prouty, 39)
1807
December 31: Organization of the Baptist Church. (Zook, 61)
1809
Eleaser Rider & Sons erected Holden's first textile mill. (Zook, 41)
1815
February 21: Establishment of post office. (Estes, 387; Zook, 52)
1818
February 23: Adoption of the constitution of the Holden Thief Detecting Society. (Prouty, 234; Zook, 52)
1820
Dedication of the first Baptist meeting house. (Zook, 63)
1824
Organization of a Gentlemen's and Ladies' Missionary Association. (Zook, 63)
1824
December 17: The Worcester County Encampment of the Knights Templar was constituted at Holden. (Prouty, 234)
1825
June 16: The Worcester County Encampment of the Knights Templar received its charter. (Prouty, 234)
Estes, 389, says that the Worcester County Encampment of Knights Templar was instituted on June 24, 1825.
1826
Town purchased land for Park Avenue cemetery. (Zook, 13)
1828
Organization of the First Baptist Society. (Zook, 63)
1829
September 15: Adoption of the constitution of the first Temperance Society in Holden. (Prouty, 237; Zook, 53)
1830
Town purchased a house and 280-acre farm to serve as a Poor Farm. (Zook, 65)
1831
January: The Worcester County Encampment of Knights Templar removed to Worcester. (Prouty, 234)
1835
December 24: Dedication of the present Baptist meeting house. (Zook, 63)
1836
November 14: First town meeting in the Town Hall. (Prouty, 229)
Estes, 392, gives November 11 as the first meeting in Town House.
1838
August 15: Murder of Philip Edwards by John L. Davis. (Estes, 390)
1841
Formation of the Washington Total Abstinence Society. (Zook, 53)
1841
May 4: Centennial celebration. (Prouty, 120)
1844
September 7: Last meeting of the Proprietors. (Estes, 391)
1854
August 24: Dedication of Grove Cemetery. (Prouty, 111)
1856
May 2: Dam at North Woods gave way, breaking the dam at French Woods. (Estes, 388)
1857
Organization of The Holden Rifles. (Zook, 66)
Late 1850s
Holden Dramatic Club provided skits, with music by the Chaffins Cornet Band, in Town Hall. (Zook, 79)
1860
November 20: Organization of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Club. (Prouty, 237) Disbanded 1918 (Zook, 79)
1860
Founding of Farmers' and Mechanics' Club.
1867
May 13: The dam at Alfred Morse's mill gave way and several bridges and buildings were swept away. (Estes, 389)
1867
Roman Catholic mission established in Holden. (Zook, 74)
1868
August 16: Dedication of St. Mary's Catholic Church at the center. (Prouty, 47)
1869
January 19: Organization of the Theron E. Hall Post No. 77 of the Grand Army of the Republic. (Prouty, 239; Zook, 79)
1871
September 4: First regular passenger train on the Boston, Barre & Gardner Railroad. (Zook, 67; Estes, 391)
1871
June 11: Cyclone. (Prouty, 148; Zook, 80)
1873
Construction of ice house on Parker's Pond by Fred L. Bryant. (Zook, 80). Closed in 1938.
1875
February 9: Founding of the Holden Grange, No. 78, Patrons of Husbandry. (Zook, 79; Estes, 386, gives January 9)
1875
June 24: Worcester County Encampment (now Commandary) of Knights Templar celebrated its 50th anniversary of its organization. (Prouty, 235; Estes, 389)
1876
October 4: Organization of the Holden Library Association. (Zook, 175)
1876
Town Hall was enlarged, and memorial tablets were installed by the Soldiers' Monument Association to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. (Zook, 67)
1880
First high school built in center. (Zook, 75)
1880–90
Chatauqua Club.
1881
December 1: Opening of Massachusetts Central Railroad. (Zook, 69)
1881
Founding of the Nondescript Club. (Zook, 79)
1883
City of Worcester takes ponds and land in Holden for the construction of Holden Reservoir No. 1.
1885
January 6: Dedication of the chapel at Jefferson. (Estes, 386)
1885
First graduating class, Holden High School.
1885
October 12: Formation of the Holden branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. (Zook, 55; Estes, 391)
1885
Construction of jail in Jefferson (demolished, 1948). (Zook, 145)
1885
October 12: Organization of the Holden branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. (Prouty, 241)
1886
First permit for telephone poles.
1886
First telephone connected the Jefferson Mill to the railroad station.
1887
Construction of ice house on Eagle Lake by Charles H. Marsh (closed in 1935).
1887
Massachusetts Central line opened through to Northampton from Jefferson.
1888
Mount Pleasant House opened by James Prendergast.
1888
Construction of ice house on Peter Carr's Pond, Princeton Street. Sold to Walker Ice Company, 1900. Closed in 1935. (Zook, 81)
1888
First telephone switch board.
1888
August 29: Presentation and Dedication of the Damon Memorial. (Prouty, 78; Zook, 77; Estes, 390, gives August 28.
1888
November 30: Gale Free Library opened for circulation of books. (Estes, 392)
1888
Stone entrance to Grove Cemetery. (Prouty, 111)
1888
March 12: Great blizzard.
1889
Elliptical water basin with fountain given to Grove Cemetery by Charles Flagg and William Howe (since filled in and graded). (Prouty, 111)
1889
July: Organization of the Holden Club. (Prouty, 242)
1889
November 5: Town voted to authorize co-operative care of the poor.
1889
November: Organization of the Village Improvement Society. (Prouty, 242)
1890
E.J. Miles opened guest house. (Zook, 87)
1890
April 1: Poor Farm Association was organized to serve Holden, Hubbardston, Paxton, and Princeton. (Zook, 91; Prouty, 227)
1891
Town voted to install oil-burning street lamps. (Zook, 93)
1891
April 13: Organization of the Theron E. Hall Woman's Relief Corps No. 140. (Prouty, 242)
1891
June 4: Fire destroyed Brick City-Jefferson school.
1891
June 28: Consecration of St. Mary's Church; architect, Stephen C. Earle of Worcester. (Prouty, 49)
1891
July 1: Celebration of 150th anniversary (sesquicentennial). (Prouty, 134)
1892
Jail constructed[?]
1892
December 8: Mill and other buildings burned at Jefferson. (Estes, 392)
1894
Establishment of the Alden Research Hydraulic Laboratories by Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (Zook, 93)
1895
June 14: Incorporation of The Swedish Christian Workers Association. (Zook, 89)
1895
September: Dedication of the Swedish Chapel. (Zook, 89)
1895
September: Dedication of the Swedish Chapel. (Zook, 89)
1896
May 30: Founding of the Alpha Club. (Prouty, 243)
1897
A town committee recommends a water system from Holden to Muschopauge Pond in Rutland.
1897
January: Founding of A.O.U.W. Holden Lodge No. 201. (Prouty, 243)
1899
July 15: Special town Meeting voted to establish a town seal. (Prouty, 229)
1900
July: Formation of school union, comprising Holden, Oakham, Paxton, and Rutland, with a single superintendent. (Zook, 91)
1901
City of Worcester takes lands for construction of Holden Reservoir No. 2. (Zook, 93)
1901
May 16: Damon Block destroyed by fire. (Zook, 146)
1901
Worcester and Holden Street Railway Co.
1903
November: Incorporation of The Scandinavian Evangelical Congregational Church at Chaffins. (Zook, 89)
1903
June: Worcester and Holden Street Railway connects Holden to Worcester. Sold to Worcester Consolidated in 1907. Discontinued in 1928. (Zook, 85, 87)
1904
February 21: Poor Farm buildings on Newell Road were destroyed by fire. Care for the poor reverted to the individual towns. (Zook, 91; Prouty, 228)
1904
Summit House opened to guests (destroyed by fire in 1915). (Zook, 87)
1904
September 22: After seventeen previous negative votes, the town meeting gave a two-thirds vote for a water system.
1904
October 1: Opening of Holden Cottage Hospital. (Zook, 97)
1905
September: Special town meeting authorized selectmen to organize one or more hose companies. (Zook, 149)
1905
October: Completion of the water system from Muschopauge Pond in Rutland to Holden. (Zook, 93)
1905
October 17: Organization of fire companies. (Zook, 149)
1906
Construction of two fire houses, one in Chaffins on Zottoli Road, the other behind town hall. (Zook, 149)
1911
June 20: Town meeting authorized selectmen to construct and equip a plant for the distribution of electricity. (Zook, 93).
1911
Municipal Light Department authorized by town meeting, (Zook, 154)
1912
January 26: First electricity (purchased from Connecticut River Light & Power Company) was sold to 69 customers in Holden and Chaffins. (Zook, 93, 154)
1913
March 28: Organization of the Capt. George Webb, Daughters of the American Revolution, Holden, Massachusetts.
1914
First 4-H clubs. (Zook, 105)
1915
June: The Holden Woman's Club was formed through the merger of the Fifteen Club and the Tuesday Club. (Zook, 105)
1916
Dedication of granite boulder honoring Hancock Common by Capt. George Webb Chapter, D.A.R.
1916
Purchase of first motorized fire-fighting vehicle. (Zook, 149)
1917
June 19: Warren tannery destroyed by fire.
1917
Men's Union formed by the Men's Club of the Holden Congregational Church and the Men's league of the First Baptist Church. Disbanded, 1937. (Zook, 106)
1918
February 20: Seventeen prominent residents decided to form a corporation, Holden Hospital. (Zook, 97)
1918
March 13: Last meeting of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Club. (Prouty, 238)
1920
June: Organization of the Holden Trowel Club. (Zook, 106)
1922
November 20: Holden District Hospital opens for service.
1924
State Police Barracks on Main Street. (Zook, 145)
1924
December 17: Erection of tablet commemorating organization of the Worcester County Encampment of the Knights Templar. (Prouty, 236)
1925
Memorial Chapel built in Grove Cemetery. (Prouty, 111)
1925
July 25: Start of bus service by the Worcester Street Railway Co. through Holden to Jefferson. (Zook, 87)
1926
Opening of Alonzo K. Learned High School.
1927–31
Construction of the 4.5-mile Holden section of the Metropolitan District Commission's 24.6-mile aqueduct diverting water from Quabbin and the Ware River to Wachusett Reservoir. (Zook, 95)
1928
August 29: Organization of Immanuel Lutheran Church. (Zook, 91)
1930
July 24: Quinapoxet School destroyed by fire (Dan McCauley)
1930
July 27: Tercentenary commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. (Prouty 143)
1933
June 5: The Holden Garden Club was formed by women from the Horticulture Committee of the Holden Woman's Club. (Zook, 105)
1934
June 29: State legislature authorized Metropolitan District Commission to construct swimming facilities in Holden. (Zook, 97, 141)
1935
July: Walker Ice Company's ice house on Quinapoxet Street was destroyed by fire.
1938
September 21: Hurricane. (Prouty, 150)
1938
Metropolitan Commission sponsored a sewer project. (Zook, 97)
1939
Construction of sewer line by Metropolitan District Commission along and in the vicinity of Main Street. (Zook, 151)
1940
Closing of Jefferson Manufacturing Company. (Zook, 105)
1940
Earthquake. (Prouty, 148)
1947
Formation of the Holden Exchange Club, Holden's first service club.; incorporated in July 1962. (Zook, 110)
1947
April: The Scandinavian Evangelical Congregation Church in chaffin changed its name to Chaffin Congregational Church of Holden. (Zook, 118)
1948
Demolition of jail in Jefferson. (Zook, 145)
1948
Construction of new building for Immanuel Lutheran Church. (Zook, 119)
1948
The town appointed a five-member planning board as provided by a new state law. (Zook, 123)
1948
Town purchased the Damon property at Highland Street and Main Street for office space. (Zook, 129)
1948
Appointment of a Recreation Committee with a budget of $800. (Zook, 143)
1948
December 14: Incorporation of Chaffins' Men's Club, Inc.
1950
June 29: The town voted to establish a regional high school district in conjunction with Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling. This was the first such district to be incorporated in Massachusetts. (Zook, 137)
1951
Town meeting authorized construction of standpipe near Reservoir Street and Avery Heights Road; elevated tank in Chaffins off Shrewsbury Street; well and pumping station near Princeton and Jackson Streets (Zook, 151)
1951
February: Founding of the Chaffins Woman's Club. (Zook, 111)
1951
September 30: Commencement of regular Episcopal services. (Zook, 116)
1951
Town meeting voted to petition the General Court for enabling legislation to establish a selectman-town manager form of government. (Zook, 125)
1951
June 14: Governor signed legislation authorizing Town Manager-Selectman form of government. (Kathleen Peterson, April 2001)
1951
Reed Rolled Thread Die Co. built its plant in Holden. (Zook, 127)
1952
December 1: Dana Whitman, Jr., became Holden's first town manager. (Zook, 125)
1952
October 1: Organizational meeting of St. Francis Mission (Episcopal). (Zook, 116)
1953
January: Organization of the Players Club of Holden. Disbanded in 1970. (Zook, 110)
1953
June 9: Tornado.
1954
First police cruiser put into service. (Zook, 145)
1954
Town adopted zoning by-laws. (Zook, 123)
1954
August 29: Dedication of Wachusett Regional High School. (Zook, 137)
1954
September 8: Wachusett Regional High School opened. (Zook, 13)
1955
January: Founding of the Holden Junior Chamber of Commerce.
1955
Appointment of a Parks and Recreation Commission. (Zook, 143)
1955
June: Opening of the Barker Playhouse, a summer stock company at the Fairbrook Hotel and Country Club (formerly the Mount Pleasant House). (Zook, 110). Destroyed by fire, October 1956.
1956
March 25: Dedication of Episcopal church building. (Zook, 117)
1956
October 28: Fire destroyed the Mt. Pleasant House at Holden Country Club. (Zook, 110)
1957
February 25: Opening of the new Dawson Elementary School. (Zook, 137)
1957
Construction of new fire station on Main Street. (Zook, 150)
1958
Center Fire Station behind Town Hall was torn down. (Zook, 150)
1959
Town acquired ten acres of land at Eagle Lake from Duesberg Bossom, Inc., for use as a swimming and recreation area. (Zook, 143)
1960
Construction of 2 million gallon concrete reservoir off Highland Street. (Zook, 151)
1964
Construction of municipal garage and fire station on Adams Road in Chaffins, replacing the wooden fire barn on Zottoli Road. (Zook, 150)
1964
New post office in Jefferson. (Zook, 110)
1965
New post office in Holden. (Zook, 110)
1965
Construction of the medical-dental building at 1010 Main Street. (Zook, 110)
1965
Construction of Holden Nursing Home on Mayo Drive. (Zook, 110)
1965
September: Creation of the Conservation Commission. (Zook, 129)
1965
Four patrolmen placed on full-time basis. (Zook, 145)
1966
Appointment of Police Chief. (Zook, 145)
1967
September 11: Opening of Mountview School.
1967
October 6: Incorporation of the Holden Historical Society.
1968
Establishment of town Department of Public Works. (Zook, 150)
1968
Formation of Holden Industrial Park. (Zook, 127)
1968
July: Formation of the Lions Club. (Zook, 111)
1969
Formation of the Holden Branch, League of Women Voters. (Zook, 114)
1969
June: Establishment of the Holden Historical Commission. (Zook, 131)
1969
The town appropriated funds for the purchase of land at Trout Brook. (Zook, 131)
1969
February: Home fellowship Bible study group commences, leading to the formation of The Holden Chapel, which was formally constituted as a church, June 11, 1972. (Zook, 117)
1970
Establishment of sanitary landfill on River Street. (Zook, 150)
1970
Acquisition of Trout Brook by the Conservation Commission.
1971
Change in the number of selectmen from three to five.
1971
Women's Auxiliary of Holden District Hospital is incorporated as the Holden District Hospital Auxiliary. (Zook, 99)
1972
April: Organization of the Senior Citizens Committee.
1973
March: Town meeting voted to create the Holden Historical Commission and the Holden Center Historic District. (Zook, 131)
1973
State authorized funding for the construction of Checkerberry Village. (Zook, 131)
1974
Holden Council on Aging. (Zook, 133)
1977
December 22: Creation of the Holden Center National Register Historic District.
1978
February 7: Blizzard of 1978.
1980
Fire destroyed Holden Junior High School.
1982
June 1: Rogers House, 28 Boyden Road, added to the National Register of Historic Places.
1987
Acquisition of Grove Cemetery by the Town.
1990
March 30: Closing of Holden Hospital.
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