You Ask, Patch Answers

What's Happening at First Baptist?

The latest 'You Ask, Patch Answers' addresses that question.

Editor's note: In our column "You Ask, Patch Answers," we help you to find answers to your questions. Email westborough@patch.com if you have a question that you would like us to investigate. Today, we answer this emailed inquiry: I see construction at the old First Baptist Church. What's happening? Shriver Nursing Services/Family Lives is renovating the building at 36 West Main St. for its new, expanded office space. The local home health care agency bought the 144-year-old church for $443,000 on Aug. 15. The firm will move from rented space at 200 Friberg Parkway, Suite 200. CEO Carolyn Brennan said Thursday the agency anticipates starting to move in around mid-February, and completing the move in March. The space will include training …

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Westborough's First Baptist Church Sold

A local home health care agency has bought it.

Westborough's 144-year-old First Baptist Church has been sold to a local home health care agency for $443,000. Shriver Nursing Services/Family Lives' deal to buy the church, at 36 West Main St., last Wednesday, Aug. 15, according to the online real estate listing. "We had numerous showings on it. I'll bet as many as 30 to 40 showings to all sorts of different interests," Gosselin Group real estate agent Robert Gosselin said today. Gosselin said he and David Curley of O'Brien Commercial Properties co-brokered the deal. Shriver Nursing is located at 200 Friberg Parkway, Suite 200, Westborough. The church's real estate listing notes that the building dates back to 1868 and is "a classic example of 19th century New England church architecture…

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Then and Now

The Great Hurricane of 1938

The powerful storm damaged two church steeples in Westborough.

As I was going through my pictures this week, I came across this photo of the First Baptist Church on West Main Street, and was reminded of the 1938 hurricane which became known as “The Great Hurricane of 1938." Not only did it destroy the church steeple, but it caused other damage throughout the town. There was damage to the Congregational church steeple and the Westborough fire tower. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the hurricane began near Africa during the second week of September in 1938, travelled across the Atlantic Ocean and up the east coast, made land fall in Long Island, New York, on Sept. 21. It terminated in southern Canada a day later.  The hurricane moved at a brisk 60 to 70 mph, …

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Sam Kurtz

8:49 pm on Monday, April 4, 2011

Thank you, Mary! I'll keep my eyes open for a photo of Trank & Sons Shoe Store. If I find one, I'll let you know.   more ›