Stoneham Water Department (MWRA Supply)

Stoneham Water Department (MWRA Supply) Municipal Water Report Info

Stoneham is a charming residential community situated less than 10 miles northwest of Boston. Approximately one-third of the town lies within the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) Middlesex Fells Reservation, including the scenic Spot Pond. Originally known as Charlestown End by early settlers, Stoneham's initial residents were primarily agricultural families.

The community's growth was gradual following its 1645 establishment. By 1725, when the taxable male population reached 65, residents petitioned the General Court to separate from Charlestown. On December 17, 1725, their request was granted, and Stoneham held its first Town Meeting just one week later.

The construction of a major roadway connecting Medford to Andover in 1806 shifted the town center from the Summer and Pleasant Street area to what is now Main Street. During the Federal Period (1775-1830), while agriculture remained the economic foundation, small shoe workshops began appearing throughout the community.

The 1830s saw the establishment of larger workshops, often alongside general stores. Public stagecoach service connecting North Reading to Boston began traveling through Stoneham on the Medford-Andover Turnpike in 1833, improving transportation access. Gradually, farmland along the Turnpike corridor was subdivided to develop homes for shopkeepers, shoemakers, carpenters, and various craftsmen.

Churches were constructed in 1840, followed by the Stoneham Five Cent Savings Bank and John Hill's Factory on Main Street in the 1850s. The Industrial Revolution brought significant growth and commerce to Stoneham, with home-based shoemaking gradually consolidating into more than forty shoe manufacturing facilities. The town seal prominently features shoe manufacturing, tanneries, and box factories, highlighting their historical importance.

The twentieth century brought continued growth, expanded transportation services, increased demand for construction trades, and as the shoe industry declined, the arrival of E.L. Patch Company, a pharmaceutical manufacturer that became the town's largest employer. Stoneham also briefly emerged as "Detroit of the East" with a growing automobile manufacturing industry, until a devastating fire changed this trajectory.

Known as "The Friendly Town," Stoneham's success was evident in its numerous Olympic Team members following the introduction of the modern Olympics. Today, Stoneham has established itself as a premier suburban community featuring low crime rates, excellent schools, outstanding local services, convenient roadway connections, and a desirable location for both residents and businesses.