Southwick Zoo Coupon

Welcome to Mendon, the second oldest town in Worcester County founded in 1667- sometimes referred to as "Mother Mendon" or Albeeville after John Albee who was one of the first settlers, establishing a corn mill on Mill River. Home to the 90 acre Nipmuc Lake, Mendon is a lovely, rural community offering an Annual Country Fair and Strawberry Festival drawing many tourists. Many from near and far also enjoy New England's largest zoo, the  Southwick Zoo and several charming shops, including the wonderful Mendon Gift Barn and other sights.  Rolling countryside with rural farms and the Federal and Greek Revival architecture complete the beauty typically found in quaint New England towns. 

Mendon was the site of the first killings in the 1675 King Philip War as well as providing soldiers for many other early American wars, such as the American Revolution, the Civil War and Shays Rebellion. This lovely rural community offers tremendous historical tours and recreation, such as the newly established trail - at the end of Inman Hill Road, the trail begins from a grassy field designated for parking. Trails go through fields and into wooded areas with some streams being crossed. 8.5 miles of trails - more exected for 2005. Owned by Town of Mendon and abuts Quisset Wildlife Management area (Div of Fisheries and Wildlife). Quisset WMA also runs into Blackstone and abuts Daniels Farm protected under the auspices of Metacomet Land Trust. 800 acres.

Eli Thayer, head of the Emigrant Aid Society which led a strong anti-slave group into Kansas in 1855, was born in Mendon. 

Government is comprised of a three member Board of Selectmen with an Open Town Meeting held the first Friday after the first Monday in May. Its 18.1 square miles have a density of 269.1 people per square mile, but growth has come rapidly as many new homes grace former farmlands. The population as of 2000 was 5286 with an expected growth to 5935 by 2010. Per pupil spending is $6,280 and there are 2472 students within the shared Mendon-Upton school system. Schools include the Memorial Elementary PreK-2, the Henry P. Clough School for K-1, the Miscoe Hill Elementary for Grades 2-6 and the Nipmuc Middle/High School attractively located in Upton. The regional Blackstone Vocational School is also available for high school students. 90% of juniors take SATS and SAT median scores are 540 for math, 540 verbal. 80% of students go on to 4 year colleges and 18% further their education by two year schools.  The dropout rate is 3% and 100% of classrooms are wired with the internet.  There is school choice.

Churches include the First Baptist Church on Elm Street, St. Michael the Archangel on Church Street,  the Mendon-Upton Unitarian-Universalist on Maple, the Friendship Bible Church on Hastings Street and the Bethany Assembly of God Church on Cape Rd. that has been there for twelve years. The Bethany Assembly has a Wednesday night youth group called the "Fire Escape" as well as a K - 12 Christian School program..

      Helpful Phone #s / General Resources /Mendon Senior Center Schedule

Mendon Releases Aquifer Study Executive Summary

National Register of Historic Places in Mendon

Assets: Nipmuc Pond, Friends Cemetery, Old Cemetery, George Cemetery, Pine Hill Cemetery, Box Pond, Locust Hill Cemetery, Little Pond, Swandale (?) Cemetery, Visitor's Center, Mendon Aquifer (study), Mendon Senior Center, Southwick's Zoo, Mendon Steak and Seafood, Mendon Country Gift Barn, Alicantes Restaurant

MENDON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
3 Main Street, Mendon, MA 01756 508-473-0674 fax: 401-765-7271
Contact: Susan Ober Email address: sober@omirim.com

UNITARIAN CHURCH 
13 Maple St, Mendon, MA 01756 508-473-8681 / 508-473-9524
Contact: David Lowell

SOUTHWICK ZOO 
2 Southwick Street, Mendon, MA 01756 800-258-9182 fax: 508-883-0242
Contact: Betsey Brewer Email address: info@southwicks.com
Website: www.southwickszoo.com

There are no public sewers and most homes have onsite wells.  Mendon recently performed an aquifer study and results will be forthcoming soon on BlackstoneDaily. A small area of homes and their wells were found to have high lead content in 2002, but the State has been working to find the source, possibly development in the area. But Mendon has some lovely sites, especially along its scenic roads and is a lovely small town with that hometown feel.