NEW RESIDENT
INFORMATION
Welcome to the Town of Sturbridge! We are glad you’ve chosen to make Sturbridge your home and we recognize you have many questions on the services provided by your local government as well as private business services every residents needs to coordinate with when moving to a new community.
Sturbridge is a vibrant town located at the crossroads of New England. Long before the first English settlers came to Massachusetts, the Native Americans called this place Tantiousques and knew it well as the place where the Bay Path and the Connecticut Path met. Today these early thoroughfares have been replaced by the Massachusetts Turnpike, Routes 20 and 131 and Interstate 84, and many travelers still pass through our town each day.
Identified by the English as early as 1640 as a place where valuable graphite (or lead) could be mined, after two unsuccessful requests the General Court was finally convinced by the early land owners or "proprietors" that this rough land could be farmed, and Sturbridge was incorporated in 1738.
The first settlers built small saw mills and gristmills along the Quinebaug River, and soon after the industrial revolution began, larger factories were constructed in the Fiskdale and Westville villages of Sturbridge.
This industrial growth away from Sturbridge Center has preserved this area much as it appeared in 1840. In a book published in 1942 on the old bay paths, the author wrote: "Sturbridge is an unspoiled village, a rare example of what New England villages ought to be. Its shaded green is unmarred by filling pumps or other unsightly encumbrances." The Common area has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Sturbridge citizens continue to work to preserve this jewel today.
Since 1946 Sturbridge has been well known as the home of Old Sturbridge Village, and tourism has become an important part of our economy. Excellent restaurants including the historic Publick House, which has been the focal point of the Sturbridge Common since 1771, numerous antiques and craft shops and many comfortable motels, inns and bed and breakfasts await our visitors.
While the old textiles mills are gone, many new industries have come to Sturbridge in the past fifty years, which helps to keep our tax rate stable while providing employment opportunities for our residents. Sturbridge businesses play leadership roles in fiber optics, laser technology, environmental products, plastics, machining and metal fabrication.
We have an excellent school system, a strong industrial and commercial tax base and caring and committed town employees. Sturbridge is a great place in which to live or work, and we welcome you to our community.
The following is the list of information the Town has compiled, should you not see some service that you need, please contact me at ssuhoski@town.sturbridge.ma.us and we’ll do our best to add to the list as needed.
Shaun Suhoski
Town Administrator
Ambulance Service
The Town of Sturbridge operates the ambulance service in Sturbridge and can be reached by calling 911 for emergencies or (508) 347-2525 for non-emergencies.
Birth, Death, Marriage Licenses and Certificates
Cable Television
Cable Television is provided by Charter Communications. Cable can be ordered at www.charter.com or by calling (888) GET CHARTER.
Child Care Providers
The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care provides a list of state-licensed childcare providers in Sturbridge which can be obtained at the following webpage www.eec.state.ma.us
Dog Licenses
Drivers License/Vehicle Registration
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is responsible for issuing driver’s licenses and registration of motor vehicles. The closest Registry office is in Southbridge at 926 West Main Street (Route 131). Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Electricity
National Grid provides electric service in Sturbridge. They can be reached at (800) 322-3223.
Fire Department
The Town’s Fire Department operates out of the Sturbridge Public Safety Complex at 346 Main Street and can be reached at 911 for emergencies and (508) 347-2525 for non-emergencies or by clicking on the Fire Department link in the Department director at the Town’s homepage www.town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Garage/Yard Sales
The Town of Sturbridge regulates garage and yard sales and signage for such sales. Permits are available by contacting the Sturbridge Building Inspector’s Office at (508) 347-2505 or by email at dlindberg@town.sturbridge.ma.us
Garbage
The Town of Sturbridge operates a recycling facility where garbage/rubbish may be taken at no charge. Recyclables must be removed from the non-recyclables and disposed of at the recycling center. There is no charge for using the Town’s recycling center, although a resident sticker, available at the Town Hall is required. More information can be obtained at the Town’s website www.town.sturbridge.ma.us by clicking on the Board of Health’s webpage or by calling the Board of Health at (508)
347-2504.
Private garbage service is also available for a fee from the following companies:
Checka Waste Removal (508) 248-9759
LeBoeuf Rubbish Removal, Inc. (508) 764-6677
Pratt Trucking (508) 943-5000
Allied Waste (BFI) (508) 832-9001
Hospital
Harrington Memorial Hospital,
100 South Street, Southbridge (508) 765-9771
Library
The Town of Sturbridge has one library, the Joshua Hyde Library located at 306 Main Street, across from the Town Hall. The library is part of the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System (CMRLS) and patrons can check out books from a variety of libraries associated with CMRLS. Library Hours are
Monday 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday - Thursday 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday & Saturday 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday (October 20 to Mid May) 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
The library can be contacted at (508) 347-2512 or by clicking on the Library link on the Department directory on the Town’s homepage at www.town.sturbridge.ma.us
Newspapers
The Town of Sturbridge is covered by two newspapers
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette can be reached at (508) 764-2519 or at www.telegram.com
Old Sturbridge Village
Old Sturbridge Village is a recreated New England Village from the time period 1830’s and is an international attraction to New England. Residents of Sturbridge are allowed to enter Old Sturbridge Village (known locally as OSV) at no charge with proof of residency. Old Sturbridge Village can be reached at (508) 347-3362 or online at www.osv.org
Police Department
The Town of Sturbridge has an award winning accredited police department which is located at the Sturbridge Public Safety Complex at 346 Main Street and can be reached at 911 for emergencies and (508) 347-2525 for non-emergencies or by going to the Police Department webpage link from the Department directory on the Town’s website www.town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Post Office
The United States Postal Service has two branches in Sturbridge at the following locations:
Fiskdale – 458 Main Street (800) 245-8777
Sturbridge – 316 Main Street (800) 245-8777
Property Valuation
Properties are valued for tax purposes by the Board of Assessors who can be reached by calling (508) 347-2503 or by email at wmitchell@town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Public Meetings
The Town of Sturbridge holds a variety of public meetings throughout the year by the Selectmen, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Design Review Committee Community Preservation Committee, Council on Aging and several other boards and committees. The public meeting schedule is posted at the Town Hall, 308 Main Street and can be accessed online by clicking on the Upcoming Meetings link on the Town’s website www.town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Recreation
The Town’s Recreation Department operates the Town Recreation Area at Cedar Lake and the Summer Recreation Program for kids at the Recreation Area. The Recreation Department also coordinates all activities on the Town Common, including the Summer Concert Series and coordinates with all youth and adult recreation leagues. For more information contact the Recreation Department at (508) 347-2506 or by email at recreation@town.sturbridge.ma.us or stop by the Town Hall.
Restaurants and Lodging
Sturbridge has many fine restaurants and lodging facilities. A listing is available by clicking on the Dining, Lodging and Other Information link under the “For Visitors” section of the Town’s website www.town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Recycling
The Town of Sturbridge operates a recycling facility where garbage/rubbish may be taken at no charge. Recyclables must be removed from the non-recyclables and disposed of at the recycling center. There is no charge for using the Town’s recycling center, although a resident sticker, available at the Town Hall is required. More information can be obtained at the Town’s website www.town.sturbridge.ma.us by clicking on the Board of Health’s webpage or by calling the Board of Health at (508)
347-2504.
Schools
Sturbridge has both a local elementary school and regional jr. & sr. high school, all located in Sturbridge. They can be contacted at the following telephone numbers or by clicking on the Sturbridge Schools link on the Town’s website or by going directly to the schools website at www.tantasqua.org
Burgess Elementary School,
Burgess School Road, Sturbridge (508) 347-7041
Tantasqua Regional Jr. High School,
320 Brookfield Road, Sturbridge (508) 347-7381
Tantasqua Regional Sr. High School,
320 Brookfield Road, Sturbridge (508) 347-9301
Tantasqua Regional Vocational Division
320 Brookfield Road, Sturbridge (508) 347-3045
Senior Center
The Sturbridge Council on Aging is a municipal department that serves the needs of citizens aged 60 and over. Among the many services and programs provided by the Council on Aging are information and referral, outreach, fitness and other health-related programs, educational, recreational and social programs. The Council on Aging office and Senior Center are located at 480 Main Street and can be reached at (508) 347-2525 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM on weekdays. For more online information and resources please visit the Council on Aging link in the Department directory of the Town’s website www.town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Sewer
The Town of Sturbridge provides municipal sewer service to most of the commercial, industrial and suburban residential zones in town and around Big Alum Lake and Cedar Lake. The Town’s Sewer Department can be reached at (508) 347-2514 or by calling the Public Works Department at (508) 347-2515.
Telephone
Telephone service can be obtained from the following companies:
AT & T (800) 222-3000
Charter Communications (888) GET CHARTER
Choice One Communications (800) 832-5801
Lightship Telecom (877) 548-7447
MCI (800) 950-5555
Sprint (800) 877-7746
Verizon (800) 870-9999
Town Hall
The Town Hall is located at 308 Main Street and the Selectmen’s office can be reached at (508) 347-2500. Town Hall hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Town of Sturbridge Payments
Motor Vehicles Excise Tax bills are issued once annually. For more information contact the Finance Department at (508) 347-2509.
Real Estate Tax bills are issued twice annually. For more information contact the Finance Department at (508) 347-2509.
Water/Sewer bills are issued quarterly. For more information contact the Finance Department at (508) 347-2509.
All bills can be paid online from the Town’s website by clicking on the online services link on the homepage www.town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Water
The Town of Sturbridge provides municipal water service to most of the commercial, industrial and suburban residential zones in town. The Town’s Water Department can be reached at (508) 347-2513 or by calling the Public Works Department at (508) 347-2515.
Wetlands
The Town of Sturbridge has a local wetlands protection bylaw which extends the limits of the State Wetlands Protection Act. For more information contact the Conservation Commission at (508) 347-2506, or by email at ejacque@town.sturbridge.ma.us.
Winter Parking Ban
The Town of Sturbridge has a winter parking ban on public ways that is in effect from November 15th through April 1st during winter storms. The parking ban goes into effect from the onset of a snow storm until such time that all streets have been cleared. It is also prohibited to deposit or plow snow into a public way.
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