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Leominster is a city of about 43,000 people in north-central Massachusetts, in Worcester County about 45 miles west of Boston, forming twin cities with neighboring Fitchburg. Incorporated in 1740, it grew along the North Nashua River and Monoosnoc Brook as a mill and manufacturing town.
Leominster made combs from animal horn in the 1800s and later became a center of the plastics industry, earning the nickname Pioneer Plastics City. The famous pink plastic lawn flamingo was designed and made here in 1957. It is also the birthplace of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, born in Leominster in 1774. Historic Monument Square, the public library and the Drake House, linked to the Underground Railroad, reflect its long history.
Today visitors come for apple picking at city-owned Sholan Farms, the trails and meadows of Doyle Community Park and the new Twin Cities Rail Trail. Leominster State Forest, Wachusett Mountain and the towns of the Nashoba Valley are within an easy drive.
A city-owned farm and orchard on a hillside, run largely by volunteers, where you can pick apples in autumn and other fruit earlier in the season. It also hosts farm events. Check the farm's posted picking days and hours before you go, and come early on busy autumn weekends.
A public park on land once owned by the Doyle family, now run by The Trustees, with grassy meadows, a pond, woodland trails, a boardwalk and a community garden. It is quiet and good for an easy walk or picnic. Late spring brings blooming rhododendrons along the paths.
A paved rail trail along an old rail corridor linking Leominster and Fitchburg, with bridges over Route 2 and local streams. It is flat and good for walking, running and biking. Several access points have parking; plan for a round trip of a few miles between the two downtowns.
A state forest on Leominster's southern edge, extending into neighboring towns, with miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking plus Crow Hill Pond, which has a swimming beach and climbing ledges. Fall foliage here is excellent. Parking fees apply in summer; wear sturdy shoes on rocky trails.
The historic center of Leominster with a Civil War monument, the First Church, old brick blocks and memorials. Shops and restaurants line Main Street nearby. Walk around the square to read the historical plaques, then continue to the public library and the historical society buildings.
A large public library on West Street, with a classic early 20th-century main building joined to a modern addition. It hosts local history materials, exhibits and community events. It is free to visit; check hours and look for displays about Johnny Appleseed and Leominster's plastics history.
A restored 19th-century house that was a stop on the Underground Railroad, where the Drake family sheltered people escaping slavery. It has been preserved as a historic site with exhibits on abolition in the area. Opening times are limited, so check for scheduled tours before you visit.
A marked site on Johnny Appleseed Lane remembering the birth of John Chapman in Leominster in 1774. He later became famous for planting apple nurseries across Ohio and Indiana. It is a small roadside stop with a marker; combine it with apple picking at Sholan Farms in autumn.
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Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
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Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
