Chelmsford, one of the Massachusetts Bay Colonies, was settled about 1653 by people from Concord and Woburn. In 1655 the Rev. John Fiske of the church in Wenham was secured by the Town, and came to Chelmsford bringing some of his church members with him. The Town was granted its charter by the General Court in May 1655, together with Billerica and Groton. As a frontier town it had its share of Indian fighting, and then, as it has ever since, it provided soldiers for the country's battles.

From its early days, until after World War II, Chelmsford has essentially been a farming community. A number of small businesses, however, have waxed and waned over the first 200 years of our history, including such useful ones as iron smelting, lumbering and wood products, and the manufacture of lime, bricks and glass. Chelmsford granite, which came into prominence after the Rev­olution and was used in Boston and other cities, is still being quarried. Large woolen mills were operated in North Chelmsford from the 1880's until about 25 years ago. Within the past 20 years, a variety of small industrial enterprises have become operative in the industrial zones of the Town.

In area Chelmsford was originally twice its present size. In 1729 the West­ern section, almost half the area of the original plantation, left to become the Town of Westford. Thirty years after its charter, Chelmsford purchased from the Indians their land between the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, known as "The Neck” to increase its amount of arable land. "The Neck" eventually became the major part of downtown Lowell, being separated in 1826 to form the Town of Lowell, which ten years later became the City of Lowell.

This development, which started within the bounds of Chelmsford, is recog­nized as being the first industrial community which was planned as such from the outset. Also remarkable was the Middlesex Canal, running 27 miles from Middlesex Village (now in Lowell) to Boston. It opened in 1803, and continued until com­petition from the new railroads forced its discontinuance in 1852. The canal was the first of its type in the nature of a public utility, and is considered to be the greatest single work of engineering improvement up to that time.

The farms of Chelmsford have largely disappeared between the years 1950 and 1980, and have been supplanted by extensive residential developments. During that time, Chelmsford was one of the fastest growing communities in the entire northeast. In view of this rapid growth some residents feel that it is appropriate, indeed urgent, that steps be taken to preserve at least a small portion of our older Town as a tangible physical link with our historic heritage, before change completely eradicates it.

Located in Middlesex County approximately 30 miles northwest of Boston, Chelmsford is a town of about 33,000. The town is named for Chelmsford, England and is the only town in the United States so named.

Timeline

1653
Citizens from Woburn and Concord settle and found Chelmsford.

1655
Chelmsford is incorporated, as are nearby Billerica and Groton.

1718
The first one-room school house is built on the Forefathers Burying Ground.

1798
The first post office in town opens.

1802
The Chelmsford Glass Works is established.

1803
The Middlesex Canal is completed connecting Chelmsford and Boston.

1835
The first Lucifer matches to be produced in America are manufactured in South Chelmsford.

1853
The North Town Hall is built on Princeton Street.

1879
The Center Town Hall is built on North Road.

1893
The Town votes to establish a Free Public Library.

1901
The Chelmsford Ginger Ale Company is founded.

1955
The Drum Hill Rotary at the intersection of Routes 3 and 4 is built.

1989
The legislative body of the town is changed from an open town meeting to a representative one.

2005
The town celebrates its 350th anniversary.