Harvard
Massachusetts
Town of Harvard
Harvard is a well preserved rural community with an interesting history extending back to 1732 when the town was incorporated. It has an open town meeting form of government and a five member Board of Selectmen. The population as of January 1, 2007 was 5,785 (includes 212 Devens residents). Situated in Worcester County, Harvard is 32 miles west of Boston, and 22 miles northeast of Worcester. The town is bordered by Ayer, Bolton, Boxboro, Lancaster, Littleton, Shirley, and Stow. Routes 2 and 495 run through the town, and the Nashua River forms its western boundary.
Throughout its 250 years, the town has been known for a series of unusual sociological and religious experiments. The most well known of these were carried out by Mother Ann Lee, who came to live in Harvard in 1781 and founded a Shaker Village, still to be seen today, and Bronson Alcott, who carried out a transcendental experiment in living with his family and friends here in 1843. The farmhouse where the Alcotts lived was called Fruitlands and is now part of the Fruitlands Museum on Prospect Hill. Harvard is characterized by colonial and victorian homes, churches, town hall and library clustered around a historic common; winding roads lined with trees and often marked by stone walls; many historic farm houses and several working apple and peach orchards in outlying areas; and the four centuries old village of Still River with its stunning western vistas.
Residents enjoy the intimacy of a small town, with its Fourth of July parade, Apple Blossom Festival and many other events, the majority of which take place in the vicinity of the historic town common. Another amenity is Bare Hill Pond, a 330-acre lake where swimming, sailing and canoeing lessons are offered in the summer and cross country skiing and skating take place in winter. There are over 2,000 acres of conservation land throughout the town, much of it interconnected by walking trails.
The town provides a kindergarten through grade 12 public school program on one centrally located campus. A major school building program was completed in 1991, resulting in a new elementary school and an auditorium and other improvements for Bromfield High.
Through its zoning and other town bylaws, conservation land purchases and historic preservation efforts, Harvard has long been dedicated to maintaining its historical, small town environment and open spaces.
Recent News
Town Of Harvard : Private Wells And PFAS Information Forum: March 23rd, 7pm
Do you have questions about your well and PFAS? Please join the Harvard Board of Health for an information session on Thursday, March 23rd, at 7pm. Live at Town Hall and on Zoom. Confirmed guest speakers include representatives from the MA…
Read More »Town of Harvard News - Black Bears are Active and Searching for Food Take Precautions
Black bears are active and searching for food take precautions If you have bird feeders or if you keep chickens, bee hives, or livestock act now to keep bears wild and out of neighborhoods. In the next few weeks, bears will begin to emerge…
Read More »Town of Harvard News - Upcoming NABH Rabies Clinics
Upcoming NABH Rabies Clinics The Nashoba Associated Boards of Health (NABH), in partnership with the Harvard Board of Health, will be offering a series of rabies vaccine clinics for cats and dogs in our region, from late March into April.…
Read More »Town of Harvard - The beach will be in full operation this year
After the pandemic disruption and subsequent lack of a Beach Director, the Harvard Town Beach operation, guards, swim & boat lessons and boat rentals will be back this year, better than ever. Our new Recreation Director starts near the end of…
Read More »Town Of Harvard : Pine Hill Village - Developer Reports - March 4, 2023
Week of March 6, 2023 Continue to remove the sedimentation from the constructed wetland Week of February 27, 2023 Bringing in a machine this week (a "track machine") to remove the silt/sedimentation with the construction wetland and this week…
Read More »Town of Harvard Boat Lottery OPens March1! Closes March 31, 2023
Click HERE for more information or go right to the REGISTRATION…
Read More »Town of Harvard Save-The-date: Wednesday, March 23rd At 7pm
Do you have questions about your well and PFAS? Please join the Harvard Board of Health for an information session on Thursday, March 23rd, at 7pm. Live at Town Hall and on Zoom. Confirmed guest speakers include representatives from the MA…
Read More »Town of Harvard Volunteer Opportunities for February 10, 2023
We need you! Each year in June the Harvard Select Board make various appointments to our many town boards/ committees/ commissions. The significance of volunteers to our community is immeasurable! Please consider reviewing the list of boards/…
Read More »Town of Harvard News : Track Clinic Regestration is OPEN!
Does your child like to run? to race? Is he or she fast? Enjoy this lifetime activity and learn about this Olympic sport!! Click HERE to learn more or use this link to…
Read More »Town of Harvard - Please Check Out The Town’s ADA Self-Evaluation And Transition Plan
The final plan can be found on the Harvard Commission on Disabilities page available here This assessment of the Town’s programs, facilities, and current policies is the culmination of multiple interviews and questionnaires, site visits, and…
Read More »Town of Harvard - Winter 2023 Drawdown Notice
JANUARY 9, 2023 Abutters to Bare Hill Pond Subject: Drawdown Refill Notice The refill of the drawdown will commence slowly from February 1, 2023, to protect the habitat in accordance with our Order of Conditions. A recent mechanical failure…
Read More »Town of Harvard - January 9, 2023 : More COVID-19 At-Home Test Kits Available
As of Monday, 1/9/23, the Board of Health has placed COVID-19, at home test kits at: the Public Safety Building (foyer), the Harvard Public Library, the foyer of Town Hall, the Council on Aging, and the Board of Health office (Tues and Wed,…
Read More »Town of Harvard News - COVID-19 at - Home Test Kits Available
COVID-19 at-home test kits available As of Monday, 1/9/23, the Board of Health has placed COVID-19, at home test kits at: the Public Safety Building (foyer), the Harvard Public Library, the foyer of Town Hall, the Council on Aging, and the Board of…
Read More »Town Of Harvard : Pine Hill Village - Developer Reports - January 5, 2023
Week of January 9, 2023 Installing the 2 step pools at PS7 Week of December 26, 2022 Working on the relative matters pertaining to the most recent November letter from Conservation, installing 2 step pools at PS7. Week of December 19, 2022 …
Read More »Dog Licenses 2023
ALL DOGS MUST BE LICENSED ACCORDING TO MASS STATE LAW AND HARVARD TOWN BYLAW - Pay Online, by mail or use the Town Hall Dropbox. FEES: Spayed Females: $20.00 Un-spayed Females: $25.00 Neutered Males: $20.00 Un-neutered Males:…
Read More »Town of Harvard News - Free COVID-19 Test Kits Available in Harvard
Free COVID-19 test kits available in Harvard The Board of Health has received more COVID-19 test kits from the State. These are available for residents to pickup at the Library, in the Town Hall foyer, at the Council on Aging, and in the foyer…
Read More »Town of Harvard : Employment Opportunities
Administrative Assistant (Land Use and Building Departments) An opportunity to define a new role, this 35-hour benefited Monday through Thursday position is responsible for processing applications for the land use boards, providing administrative…
Read More »Town of Harvard: Additional Free Home COVID-19 Test Kits Available Via USPS Delivery
Additional free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests are available from the federal government. Each household can request a set of 4 free tests for delivery by the US Postal Service by completing this webform: https://special.usps.com/testkits or by…
Read More »Town Of Harvard : Pine Hill Village - Developer Reports - December 8, 2022
Week of December 12, 2022 Working on the relative matters pertaining to the most recent November letter from Conservation Week of December 5, 2022 Working on the construction of the houses and landscaping on Sunrise and Tucks Way, along with…
Read More »Town Of Harvard : Active Applications For Zoning Board Of Appeals
The following applications will be on the agenda for the January 11, 2023 meeting. The agenda with log-in information will be posted 48-hours in advance of the meeting and can be found here. Special Permit - 90 Warren Avenue Legal Notice …
Read More »Town of Harvard: Pine Hill Village - Developer Reports - December 5, 2022
Week of December 5, 2022 Working on the construction of the houses and landscaping on Sunrise and Tucks Way, along with working on the relative matters pertaining to the most recent November letter from Conservation. Week of November 28, 2022 …
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