We want to thank everyone who helped the Town raise the matching funds to design our downtown historic walking tour. We look forward to creating/ constructing this walking tour in 2026, if we're able to secure more Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) funding. We applied in previous years and weren't awarded. We'll try again next year. Wish us luck!

**Accomplishments to Date: **
The Town of Southbridge hired a branding/ marketing consultant to help our various boards create one cohesive vision for a historic walking tour with audio/ visual components, tying it to our treasured Optical Heritage Museum, to then hired a designer to design signs and kiosks. The Local Historic District Study Committee created maps highlighting the historic homes and landmarks in Southbridge’s downtown thanks to help from a map maker. We are eager to see a walking tour developed as all have great pride in Southbridge’s history and want Southbridge’s story told. We are promoting Massachusetts’ rich history with an added value tour in our region, further highlighting how Old Sturbridge Village came to be and what the Wells family created, not just with its contributions to hand tools but with its and others’ successful manufacturing, the identity so many of our Massachusetts towns have.

We are continuing to accept donations. The can be made out to Town of Southbridge by check. Please write in the memo "historic walking tour", mail to Town Hall, ATTN: Collectors' Office, 41 Elm Street, Southbridge, MA 01550. Please contact Steve Brady with any questions related to this project or how to make a donation: stevenkbrady@gmail.com.