Oak Grove Farm Delivery Wagon
Oak Grove Farm
The town of Millis purchased the 108-acre Oak Grove Farm in 1984, exercising its right of first refusal under Chapter 61 of the Massachusetts General Laws, in response to plans to sell to a Medway developer. The plan of the developer had been to construct houses and condominiums on the 108-acre farm. When the town learned of the potential sale, it realized that this was the last large tract of land near the town center that could be used for recreational purposes. At the time the town purchased the property, the house was unoccupied, boarded up, and in disrepair. In addition, the historical significance of the house was not appreciated until the Millis Historical Commission lobbied to have the house transferred to its care.
In 1986, the Department of Public Works cleared areas, created jogging paths, opened the wide tree-lined lane from Island
Road, and mowed around the house. Soon thereafter, the house was transferred to the Historical Commission, which had a
report prepared describing the house (a copy of the report has not been found). Soon thereafter, the Historical Commission
partnered with the Tri-County Regional Vocational School in Franklin to re-roof the farmhouse with asphalt shingles
donated by GAF, a local shingle company occupying the old Steel Edge Stamping and Retinning Plant, originally built by
Henry Lansing Millis. The late 19th-century ell of the house was rehabilitated to accommodate a tenant, and restoration of
the main house was implemented over the next several years, including new windows, reconstruction of the front porch,
removal of modern drop ceilings, and removal of failed plaster on second-floor walls, which revealed vertical planks that
were an early finish.
In 1987, the Conway School of Landscape Design assisted the town in developing a Master Plan for the property. The
land, including the farmhouse, was divided into three zones: one area for community activities near the farmhouse,
including passive and active recreation; one area for conservation––the wetlands area; and an area for agriculture,
including hayfields and pastures, particularly in the northwest quadrant of the property.
Oak Grove Farm Master Plan designed with respect to the town's needs as well as it's heritage
The town of Millis purchased the 108-acre Oak Grove Farm in 1984, exercising its right of first refusal under Chapter 61 of the Massachusetts General Laws, in response to plans to sell to a Medway developer. The plan of the developer had been to construct houses and condominiums on the 108-acre farm. When the town learned of the potential sale, it realized that this was the last large tract of land near the town center that could be used for recreational purposes. At the time the town purchased the property, the house was unoccupied, boarded up, and in disrepair. In addition, the historical significance of the house was not appreciated until the Millis Historical Commission lobbied to have the house transferred to its care.
In 1986, the Department of Public Works cleared areas, created jogging paths, opened the wide tree-lined lane from Island
Road, and mowed around the house. Soon thereafter, the house was transferred to the Historical Commission, which had a
report prepared describing the house (a copy of the report has not been found). Soon thereafter, the Historical Commission
partnered with the Tri-County Regional Vocational School in Franklin to re-roof the farmhouse with asphalt shingles
donated by GAF, a local shingle company occupying the old Steel Edge Stamping and Retinning Plant, originally built by
Henry Lansing Millis. The late 19th-century ell of the house was rehabilitated to accommodate a tenant, and restoration of
the main house was implemented over the next several years, including new windows, reconstruction of the front porch,
removal of modern drop ceilings, and removal of failed plaster on second-floor walls, which revealed vertical planks that
were an early finish.
In 1987, the Conway School of Landscape Design assisted the town in developing a Master Plan for the property. The
land, including the farmhouse, was divided into three zones: one area for community activities near the farmhouse,
including passive and active recreation; one area for conservation––the wetlands area; and an area for agriculture,
including hayfields and pastures, particularly in the northwest quadrant of the property.
Oak Grove Farm Master Plan designed with respect to the town's needs as well as it's heritage
Oak Grove Farm with new paint
Oak Grove Farm Today
The town has generally adhered to the 1987 plan. Soccer fields, baseball diamonds, a playground, and two parking lots located in the southeast corner of the property, with access from Exchange Street and Island Road (just west of the lane marked by granite posts, which now is overgrown). The farmhouse sits on a knoll north of the active recreational land. The land slopes away from the house to meadows on the north and west sides, and a broad lawn slopes down to Exchange Street on the east side. Fields in the northwest quadrant of the property are cultivated. A cart path leads from the main house westerly through the property to trails that pass through open and wooded land. The Oak Grove Farm Commission manages the land, while the Historical Commission continues to be responsible for the farmhouse. The Commission holds monthly meetings here, and opens the partially restored farmhouse to the public with some regularity. The town ownership has preserved a rich resource for residents of and visitors to Millis.
The town has generally adhered to the 1987 plan. Soccer fields, baseball diamonds, a playground, and two parking lots located in the southeast corner of the property, with access from Exchange Street and Island Road (just west of the lane marked by granite posts, which now is overgrown). The farmhouse sits on a knoll north of the active recreational land. The land slopes away from the house to meadows on the north and west sides, and a broad lawn slopes down to Exchange Street on the east side. Fields in the northwest quadrant of the property are cultivated. A cart path leads from the main house westerly through the property to trails that pass through open and wooded land. The Oak Grove Farm Commission manages the land, while the Historical Commission continues to be responsible for the farmhouse. The Commission holds monthly meetings here, and opens the partially restored farmhouse to the public with some regularity. The town ownership has preserved a rich resource for residents of and visitors to Millis.
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