Westborough once had as many as nine, during the late 19th century.
When Santa’s sleigh arrives in Westborough overnight, it will fly over the sleigh atop Westborough Town Hall. The weather vane symbolizes Westborough’s thriving sleigh making industry of the late 19th century. As many as nine sleigh makers operated here at one point, Westborough Historical Society member Kris Allen says. The industry’s height here was from the 1870s to about 1885, she says. “There was as many as about 4,500 sleighs produced annually in Westborough. And they were the ‘one horse open sleigh’ that is talked about in the song. They were lighter. That's why they could go faster.” “Carpenters and wheelwrights, in the wintertime, that’s what they would be doing.” Brothers William and Frank Sibley were among the most successful …
42.267887
-71.615148
Westborough Historical Society
13 Parkman St, Westborough, MA
/articles/sleigh-makers-once-prominent-here
805942
/locations/8444495
The Westborough Historical Society's open house Sunday was the first of two programs there on consecutive days.
A sleigh-maker's home welcomed guests Sunday as Westborough residents began feeling the holiday spirit. The Westborough Historical Society held an open house at its home, the William Sibley House on Parkman Street. Sleigh-maker William H. Sibley built the home in 1844 "for his bride, Jane Caroline Gibson," according to a historical society pamphlet. Today, the home will host Marlborough resident John Gately discussing “Collecting Works of Historical Americana, Including Books and Ephemera," at 7 p.m. Admission is free to this historical society program.
42.267887
-71.615148
Westborough Historical Society
13 Parkman St, Westborough, MA
/articles/sleigh-maker-s-home-welcomes-guests
805942
/locations/8210753
