Boylston Hillside Farmers Market

Boylston-This Saturday, local producers will bring produce, eggs, goat cheese, honey, preserves, crafts, artwork and baked goods to a new farmers market on the lawn of the Gough House at Hillside.  The new Boylston Hillside Farmers Market highlights another aspect of the history of Gough Estate, a National Historic Landmark, most well known as the home of famous temperance speaker John B. Gough.

“John B. Gough had an extensive  working farm in the mid-19th century at Hillside. This farmers market is in keeping with his legacy of farming the land and bringing together members of the local community,” explained Sheila Killeen, Chairperson of the Hillside Restoration Project, which is hosting the market.

In addition to connecting to the agricultural history of the homestead, the market offers a source of fresh, local produce and other agricultural products, while providing a marketing outlet for local small farmers.  The atmosphere promises to be festive, with live music by a local musician. 

The HRP began as a community effort in 1998, to preserve, restore and adaptively reuse the Gough Estate, which had been dormant since the early 1980’s and had deteriorated due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance.  To date, restoration work to the Gough House has been primarily on the exterior of the building.  In addition, landscape work and repairs to the horse barn on the site have been on-going since 2004 and 2008, respectively.  The George and Sybil Fuller Foundation has generously supported much of these efforts, as well as many other local donors.

Most recently, with the assistance of Representative McGovern, the federal government awarded a $245,000 grant to the Town from the Economic Development Initiatives Program (EDIP) in 2008.  Following the development of an overall conceptual design for the House’s future use, and approval of plans and drawings by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, volunteers assisted with preparing the interior of the house for the construction project.   The project is currently out for bid.

Looking ahead, the next phase of restoration will concentrate on the interior of the back house with the construction of a multi-use conference room that will be available for town and community purposes.  Conference space will ultimately be available for rent to generate income for the sustainability of the house.  Possible future uses for the house include seminars, retreats, corporate meetings, educational presentations, cultural events, intimate social gatherings and ceremonies.

The market will be held on Saturday mornings between 10 am to 1 pm from August 20 through October 15 at 221 Main Street in Boylston.  WIC and senior food assistance coupons will be accepted.