Ellen Racine, Curator of the Northborough Historical Society for the past nineteen years, is a long-time resident of Northborough. Her past research projects, using original source materials relating to local nineteenth century businesses and everyday life, have resulted in many of the society's educational programs and reference files. She has a background in Graphic Arts and is a graduate of the New England School of Art and Design in Boston. Her interests include painting, photography, museum displays and an appreciation of the society's pipe organ. She is co-author with Robert P. Ellis of Images of America Northborough (2000).
Early in its 250 year history Northborough presented a varied environment. The town's rich soils supported family farms while its location on the Assabet River encouraged water powered manufacturing. Positioned...