Carter Purple is using 21st-century tools to link to the town’s past. Purple, a Westford Academy senior and member of Boy Scout Troop 159, recently completed his Eagle Scout project — creating markers for five historical sites in town.
- the original Westford Academy site, which housed the school 1792-1896;
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory, which houses a radio astronomy science center;
- the Westford Town Farm at 35 Town Farm Road, which some served as a home for poor residents;
- the Westford Museum and Center Fire Station;
- MacDougall Ski Hill.
Carter partnered with Westford Remembers to create the historic signs
Hidden History-MIT Haystack Observatory/MIT Lincoln Laboratory Millstone Facility
https://youtu.be/WdzQQxtmP6E MIT Haystack MIT first broke ground at this location in 1956 with the Millstone Radar antenna, which served as an early warning prototype system for incoming ballistic missiles and
Hidden History-Westford Town Farm
https://youtu.be/sb_Mt_xitSw Westford Town Farm The town of Westford purchased this land in 1824 and built the large two-story brick building that remains at this site in 1838. Before the days
Hidden History-MacDougall Ski Hill”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g65nS9tUcU MacDougall Ski Hill From 1957 to the late 1960s, the MacDougall family from Boston Road operated a ski tow right here on this hill. The tow was powered by
Hidden History-Westford Museum/ Center Fire Station
https://youtu.be/3VlMJRT_p2o Westford Museum Building Westford Academy was founded in 1792 and this building was erected opposite the west end of Westford Common in 1794. The original granite step was placed
Hidden History-Original Westford Academy Foundation
https://youtu.be/9YrM6Oq3iB0 Original Westford Academy Foundation From 1794-1897, Westford Academy was located here. It had a classroom on each floor. The second Westford Academy building, now the Roudenbush Community Center, opened