Millville Main Street

Millville Main Street, once lined with stately elm trees, was drastically changed in the 1930s when Elm Blight decimated hundreds of trees across the state and the town’s tree-lined image was lost. The south side along the railroad had been lined with buildings, many of which were taken down but later replaced. Town Hall, meat markets and grocery stores, barbershops, gasoline stations, a hotel, a general store, hardware store, a bus terminal, car dealership, and social hall brought people to Main Street daily. Open space on the north side was never again used for buildings and instead became Veterans Memorial Park through the efforts of the Home Service Club, a town-wide membership that supported Millville’s servicemen and women through the war years. On March 25, 1945, Millville citizens voted to set apart land for Memorial Park on Main Street to honor the service and sacrifices of those who had served their country in all wars. The park was completed in November 1946, and dedication of Memorial Park and the World War II Honor Roll took place in July 1947 with a Welcome Home Parade and weekend ceremonies. A 57mm World War II gun was added later in 1947. In 1965 the Memorial to Veterans of All Wars was dedicated and inscribed with the names of wars from World War I through Afghanistan. At the Annual Town Meeting on March 30, 1970, part of the parkland was released to provide space for the Millville Fire Station. On Flag Day 2009, the original honor roll was replicated and rededicated in the Veterans Room at Longfellow Municipal Center. Memorial Day ceremonies and the lighting of the community Christmas tree became park traditions, local groups used the park throughout the year, and the American flag traditionally flies there twenty four hours daily and at half-mast to mark the death of a Millville veteran.

Millville, Massachusetts · United States