Above: Joseph Burnett circa 1891 (photo from the Southborough Historical Society)
Southborough benefactor Joseph Burnett was born on this day in 1820 in a small home on Gilmore Road. Burnett would eventually become anentrepreneur and gentleman farmer who had quite an impact on the town of Southborough.
Burnett founded St. Mark’s School and St. Mark’s Church. He also founded Deerfoot Farms which he ran with the help of his sons. In 1850 he and wife Josephine built the “stone house” on Main Street between Parkerville and Deerfoot Roads. They lived there with their 12 children.
The legacy of Burnett and his family (cousins Elize Belle Burnett Fay and Harriet Marcella Burnett founded Fay School) is a fascinating one. You can learn more, and see artifacts from Burnett’s day, at the Southborough Historical Museum located in the old Flagg School behind Pilgrim Church. The museum is open on Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
Stop by the museum at 2:00 pm on Sunday and you can also hear stories of Southborough in the 1920’s through 1950’s shared by local historian and author Donna McDaniel.
