Historic photos: A town of Webster time capsule from our archives (2024)

Webster Lake with its many coves in 1968. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

On New Year's Day in 1969, Webster experienced one of the worst fires in its history when the B&W Footwear Co., Bentley Shoe Co. and Worcester Paper Box Co. were destroyed. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The sign welcoming visitors to Webster Lake in 1977. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Bartlett Vocational High School in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster Lake gets top billing at Bartlett High's cafeteria and study hall area in 1982. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Memorial Beach, Webster is deserted during a steady downpour in 1979. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Firefighters battle flames in the office building of the B&W Footware Co. on Jan. 1, 1969. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Memorial Beach in 1988. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A desolate ice covered shell is all the remains of the three mills that were destroyed on Jan. 1, 1969, and employed over 1,050 people. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Slender birch branches frame a misty Webster Lake scene off Thompson Road in 1979. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The old Webster train station in 1973. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Warren Jewelers in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The old Thompson School on Prospect Street in 1976. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The old Webster High School. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Mass. Electric Building on Main Street on the Dudley line in 1976. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

St. Anthony's Elementary School in 1979. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Patti's Place in 1991. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

East Main Street in Webster was a different place in 1986. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Tiffany Block in Webster in 1979. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The McKinstry block on Main Street in 1977. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The United Church of Christ Federated on Main Street in 1988. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The old freight terminal at Main and Davis streets in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A bridge over the French River in 1981. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Hotel DeWitt on Main Street in the 1880s. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster Drugs in the Puritan Building in 1973. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

This tower along Route 16, photographed in 1990, was an original structure from one of Samuel Slater's mills. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Main Street in Webster in 1979. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Webster landfill in 1973. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Downtown Webster in 1988. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Firestone Store on Main Street before it moved to the Auburn Mall in 1976. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Chet's Smoke Shop on Main Street in 1995. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The North Village School in 1986. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A aerial view of the site of the new intermediate school in Webster n 1959. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

An early 20th Century photograph of the Webster Fire Department. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The old Bartlett High School in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Webster Fire Department's rescue unit in 1991. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

St. Anthony's Church in 1978. It was closed in 1974. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

An aerial view of Webster in 1967. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Main Street in Webster in 1973. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Main Street in Webster, across from WCNB, in 1973. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Main Street in Webster in 1974. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Star Caf੠and Rose and Eddie's on Pleasant Street in 1982. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Main Street in Webster in 1988. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Dugan's Drugs in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster's 150th anniversary parade in 1982. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The town of Webster highway department building in 1978. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster Cooperative Bank in 1972. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The old Rock Castle School in 1981. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Opponents of the proposed dump on the Webster-Douglas line express their feelings before a hearing in 1992. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Columbia Block in Webster in 1986. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

In 1981, this 107-year-old bridge over the French River was deemed in need of replacement. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster Liquor Outlet Co. in 1978. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The old Bartlett High School in 1978. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A sign for Webster Fabricators Inc. in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

One of Webster's Civil War cannons in the Main Street Park in 1987. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The new Yankee Budget Inn at Treasure Island in 1977. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Webster Fire Department's vintage aerial ladder truck in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Lodge Restaurant on Route 16 in 1981. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Foodworks Restaurant in 1981. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Park Avenue Intermediate School in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A sign at Bartlett High School in 1990. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Webster Fire Department's engine building in 1977. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Main Street in Webster in 1973. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Harris Street Market in 1982. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

St. Anthony's School in 1971. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster Cooperative Bank in 1988. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A parade in Webster in 1991. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Teachers Patricia Fiorentino, left, and Janice Przygoda in 1980. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Pleasant Street in Webster is plagued with boarded-up buildings and empty lots in 1982. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Main Street in Webster in 1973. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The North Village Bridge in 1984. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Bookland store on School Street in 1979. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The North Village Bridge in 1992. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A thrift store on Main Street in Webster in 1975. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The dedication of Godfrey S. Rockeffeller Square in 1986. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Colleen's Restaurant and Lounge in 1984. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Commerce Bank in Webster in 1986. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Civil War cannon on the Town Hall lawn in 1954. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster Post Office on Main Street in 1954. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Some experts say thyis Webster cave, photographed in 1949, resembles those of the early Irish Druids. Its origin is unknown. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Waters washed away part of a road west of Webster after the 1938 hurricane. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster's new police and fire station in 1967. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Garden City in Webster flooded during the 1938 hurricane. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The headquarters of the Webster-Dudley Historical Society is the 142-year-old Little Red Schoolhouse on School Street in Webster in 1977. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Workmen of the Whitney Building and Wrecking Co. of Oxford began taking down the steeple and weather vane of the United Church of Christ in 1954. Formerly known as the First Congregational Church, it was first organized in 1838 and erected in 1842 with Rev. Sidney Holman, paster. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A vieew of Webster Fabricators Inc. from Main Street in 1979. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A crew of laborers work to fill in the section of roadbed that was ordered dynamited by Selectman Joseph A. Patenaude to provide an outlet for flood waters in 1936. Log supports were placed as temporary relief, until an earthen fill can be made. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church in 1953. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The summer home of W.E. Cassidy at Birch Island, Webster Lake was demolished by falling trees during the 1938 hurricane. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Birch Island, at Webster Lake, suffered most damage during the 1938 hurricane. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

St. Anthony's parish school on High Street Webste in 1971. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A Civil War statue next to Town Hall in 1988. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

St. Louis High School in 1968. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Joslin House Hotel is built in 1939. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

High waters flooding the yard of the Worcester County Electric Company and threatening transformers that furnish power to Webster and surrounding towns during the 1938 hurricane. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A 30-foot hole was torn out of the rear wall of St. Louis Church, Webster, at the height of the 1938 hurricane. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster Hospital in 1968. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The United Church of Christ, Federated at Church on Main Street in 1935. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The tower to the old Green Mill in Webster was restored and dedicated to Samuel Slater, recognized as the "Father of American Industry" in 1978. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Downtown Webster in 1977. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Pout Pond area of Webster Lake in 1972. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Webster in 1978. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Now that the ice has melted, these empty docks at the Webster marina have just a few weeks until they are laden with boats in 1981. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The Engine Building in 1978. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

The new Webster A-Mart is jammed on opening day in 1971. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

Work is under way on Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on East Main Street, Webster, in 1994. [T&G Staff/File Photo]

A dam at Hill Street on the French River in 1953. [T&G Staff/File Photo]