Foxborough Town Common

The Foxborough Common is the most notable feature in the Town of Foxborough. It was not always present nor a beautiful place. Erastus Payson Carpenter, founder of the Sylvanian Association, sought to transform the wasteland in the center of town into a public area in 1857. It is surronded by a unique fence forged by Otis Cary of the Foxboro Foundry. Now, it contains War Memorials, a centennial marker, police memorial, firefighters memorial, a bandstand and beautiful open space in the center of Foxborough.

Route 140 (Central and Main Streets) and the streets of Rockhill, South, Cocasset, Mechanic and Bird extend from this rotary.

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At the time of this historic photo (in the 1860s), the left to right view includes the Carpenter house, The Cocasset House, Cocasset Street, General Store (with Union Straw Works in the background), Central Street and the burial ground (Note - Memorial Hall not built yet). In the foreground is the Common, the focal point of Foxborough with 8 sections in an oval shape with sidewalks and a flagpole in the center. The first flagpole had a bandstand around it. Later a second bandstand was constructed on the School Street side. The current bandstand built by the Foxboro Jaycees is at the north end of highway 140. Concerts on the Common series are sponsored by the Jaycees on Thursday evenings during the summer. It continues to be a gathering place for events and for reflection of the busy center of the town today.

Additional information is available at the Foxborough Historical Commission.

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