In the 1700s, the Nemasket River became a major source of water power for mills on the river's banks. Dams and mills were located along the river, including at present-day Oliver Mill Park (middlebororec.com). The park is named after prominent resident, loyalist, industrialist and judge Peter Oliver, who operated an iron works complex at the site. The park is a popular spot for picnics and features restored stonework and fish ways. In the spring, visitors can observe the river's herring migration at the park.
The Middleborough Historic Museum (middleboroughhistoricalassociation.org) features many local artifacts. The museum includes the Tom Thumb Museum, which houses memorabilia associated with General Tom Thumb and his wife Lavinia Warren. General Thumb, also known as Charles Sherwood Stratton, was a dwarf who performed in the United States and Europe with P.T. Barnum in the 19th century. Among the artifacts at the museum include Levina's sewing thimble, which is similar in size to a pencil eraser. Open every Wednesday, visits can also be arranged by appointment.
The sprawling size of Middleborough once included independent villages, such as Waterville. Built in 1877, the Waterville Schoolhouse on the corner of Plymouth and Carmel streets served the village and nearby Eddyville. Typical of the era, the wooden schoolhouse survives as a private residence. Visitors can also see one of Judge Peter Oliver's former residences, a modest English colonial-style residence built in 1769. Other buildings of interest include the Victorian-style Town Hall and the Greek revival-style town library (midlib.org).
East of Middleborough is Route 58, part of the Cranberry Harvest Trail (cranberries.org). The route provides access to several cranberry bogs and farms near Middleborough and neighboring communities. One of the region's many cranberry farms is Flax Pond Farms (flaxpondfarms.com) in neighboring Carver, which features a century-old building with antique equipment and a gift shop with cranberry products. West of Middleborough is the Spring Rain Farm (springrainfarm.net) in East Taunton, a 112-acre farm where visitors can pick their own strawberries from Memorial Day until late June.
