Welcome to Maynard
Hip urban town with a downtown anchored by a historic mill
Maynard is a hip urban town located around 22 miles west of Boston in the MetroWest area of Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Maynard originally developed around a historic mill on the Assabet River and was formally incorporated as a town in 1878. Maynard’s downtown area is still anchored by the mill’s large buildings which have now been redeveloped into the Mill & Main office complex.
Housing options in Maynard include both contemporary and well-maintained vintage properties dating back to the early 1900s. Homes here are located in peaceful residential neighborhoods surrounded by tranquil woodland.
What to Love
- Hip urban town
- Downtown area anchored by historic mill
- ArtSpace galleries, studios, and theater
Local Lifestyle
Maynard is a welcoming small town with lots of history and a great mix of modern and long-serving businesses. There are many historic structures within the town including the dramatic old mill buildings. Maynard also features a vintage mid-century movie theater and a thriving arts center with studios, galleries, and a theater housed within early 20th Century school buildings. The drive to Boston can be completed in less than 50 minutes.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Market Basket is Maynard’s go-to supermarket. This family-owned local chain is stocked with fresh produce and grocery essentials. Ready-to-eat items include delicious baked goods and brick-oven pizzas. There’s also a butcher’s counter selling high-quality meats, a market café, and a sushi bar.
110 Grill is a family-friendly contemporary American restaurant serving garden salads, gourmet sandwiches and burgers, and chef-driven meat and seafood entrees. 110 Grill also offers a robust selection of specialty cocktails. Erikson’s Ice Cream has been a Maynard institution since 1937. This vintage ice cream continues to delight new generations of Maynard residents with delicious homemade ice creams and unique seasonal flavors.
Many other shops and eateries can be found along Main Street, which straddles the Assabet River near the former Assabet Woolen Mill in the town’s historic downtown district. Highlights here include Amory’s Tomb Brewing Co. for local craft brews, Boston Bean House for coffee plus baked goods and breakfast and lunch plates, Roasted Peppers for brick-oven pizza and wraps, Café of India for traditional Indian dishes, and Gigi’s Restaurant for authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Things to Do
Along with the historic mill, Maynard is home to a variety of landmarks reflecting the town’s rich history. Fine Arts Theatre Place is a three-screen movie theater that first opened in Maynard in 1949. This charming movie house shows new releases alongside an eclectic program of arthouse, independent, and classic film screenings. Old school buildings dating back to the 1910s and ‘20s now house Artspace, an arts facility featuring a gallery and 47 working studios. Artspace also has a 70-seat theater used for diverse productions from the local Acme Theater group.
Other historic structures include Saint Bridget’s Church, a Roman Catholic church built in the 1880s. 23-acre Glenwood Cemetery is one of the town’s oldest historic sites. The cemetery was created in 1820. There are 54 Civil War veterans among its 6,000 graves, as well as the crypt of the Maynard family who founded the town’s mill.
The Assabet River offers lots of recreational opportunities including fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The 2,230-acre Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge is a popular fishing and hunting destination with nine miles of trails for hiking and biking. The Assabet River Rail Trail follows the path of a former railroad along the banks of the Assabet River, running for 9.2 miles between Acton in the south and Hudson and Marlborough in the north. There are also sports courts, fields, and running tracks at Alumni Field, a baseball field at Crowe Park, and nine holes of golfing at the public Maynard Golf Course.
Schools
Maynard is served by the Maynard School District.
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Green Meadow School, Public, PK-3.
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Fowler School, Public, 4-8.
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Maynard High School, Public, 9-12.
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The Imago School, Private, Christian, K-8.