Wellesley History Timeline
Explore & discover the history of the town of Wellesley
Scroll below to see all the events that make up the past and history of our town of Wellesley.
The First Residents
Algonquin speaking Native Americans led by chiefs Waban (the Wind) and Nehoiden.
First Settler
Andrew Dewing becomes the first English Settler in what would become Wellesley near Grove Street.
First Town Founded
Settlers establish Dedham after their preacher’s hometown of which Wellesley is a part.
John Eliot
John Eliot and Native Americans build the Waban Brook Sawmill, one of the earliest in the country.
Chief Maugus
Settlers pay Chief Maugus 5 pounds currency and 3 pounds corn for the land that will become Wellesley.
Needham
Needham becomes independent from Dedham and includes Wellesley (then known as West Needham)
Revolutionary War
Amos Mills of Weston Rd. is killed fighting the British at the Jason Russell house in Arlington 1775.
George Washington
President George Washington stopped under this elm tree (formerly on the north side of Washington St between Ledyard and Columbia streets), for a drink of well water. This sketch of the Pratt House and Elm was made by Frederick Curtis in 1844.
Land of Many Names
Wellesley Hills originally Nehoiden then the Port, North Needhamand then Grantville (after Moses Grant who gave the bell to the now Wellesley Hills Congregational Church.)
The Turnpike
The Worcester Turnpike (on right side now Rt 9) is created to open Boston to commerce. It was used during the War of 1812 to transport troops from Boston to New York.
The Railroad
The railroad comes to West Needham bringing wealthy Boston businessmen and a 45 minute commute.
Dr. Morton
Dr. Morton (with flask) demonstrates the first use of ether as an anesthetic. Painting by Robert Hinckley.
Schoolhouse
A one room schoolhouse is built on Weston Rd which is now the Fells Branch Library.
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell moved to West Needham to recover from an illness; while teaching deaf students he worked on the telephone here.
Wellesley College
Wellesley College is founded.
Wellesley Independent
Wellesley, population 2,500, separates from Needham. The Town is named as a tribute to Horatio Hollis Hunnewell who named his estate Wellesley after his wife’s family (Welles).
Dana Hall
Dana Hall School is founded to prepare ladies for Wellesley College.
Football
Oldest high school football rivalry starts on Morton field. Wellesley beats Needham 4-0. Picture of 1913 team.
First Fire House
Hose 1 House was built on Church St for the Wellesley Volunteer Fire Brigade.
America the Beautiful
First performance of longtime resident Katharine Lee Bates’s America the Beautiful sung by Wellesley College and Wellesley Congregational Church’s choirs.
First High School
The first High School is built at 324 Washington St.
New High School
The second High School is built on Kingsbury St.
College Hall Fire
Wellesley College’s 1/8 mile long College Hall is destroyed by fire.
Village Church Fire
The Village Congregational Church is destroyed by fire.
Babson College
First classes held at Roger Babson’s house on Abbott Rd. Pictured is Knight Auditorium.
Isaac Sprague
Isaac Sprague donates fieldstone to build the Clock Tower, Sprague School, Central St. Fire Station and Hills Library.
Town Meeting
Wellesley Town Meeting changed from open to elected.
A New High School
The new High School is built on Rice St as a public works project. It is named the Gamaliel Bradford Senior High School after Wellesley’s famous biographer.
Roger Babson
Roger Babson runs for president as the Prohibition Party candidate.
New Police Station
A new police station allows prisoners to no longer be kept in lockup in the basement of the Town Hall.
Sylvia Plath
The disappearance of Sylvia Plath from her Elmwood home becomes the subject of her novel The Bell Jar.
The Maugus Club Fire
The Maugus Club a center of Wellesley’s social life is destroyed by fire
Revolving Globe
Roger Babson dedicates the 28 foot revolving globe along with the parlor from Sir Isaac Newtons London Home on the Babson Campus.
Operation Bookswitch
Hundreds of residents form a human chain to transfer books across Washington St. from the old library to the new.
Veteran’s Parade
Wellesley’s annual Veteran’s Day Parade began. Photo is from 1970.
Recycling
Wellesley becomes a ground breaking pioneer starting its award winning recycling program.
Elementary Schools Sold
The Brown, Kingsbury and Phillips schools are turned into condominiums.
Centennial
As a 100th birthday present the town creates Centennial Park.
New Fire Station
A new fire station headquarters is built on Worcester St replacing the 1889 building.
Community Playhouse
The Town’s movie theater for more than 50 years, the Community Playhouse shows its last film.
New Police Station
A new modern Police Station is dedicated on the site of the old one.
9/11
Four Wellesley residents (John Cahill, Neilie Casey, Edmund Glazer and Patrick Quigley) are killed in the terrorist attacks.
New Library
A new Public Library replaces the 1959 one on the same site.
New High School
A new modern high School is built for $115 million dollars on the same site as the 1938 building. Photo by Joshua Dorin.
New Hunnewell Elementary School
The new Hunnewell elementary school
The Wellesley elementary schools each serve particular neighborhood around town.