OUR TOWN

ASA WATERS MANSION TASK FORCE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, and the Citizens of Millbury:
We hereby submit our Annual Report for the fiscal year of July 1, 2011 through June 30,
2012.
During the course of this fiscal year we once again worked with the Friends of the Asa
Waters Mansion to fund many preservation projects for this historical site including
interior painting, plastering the kitchen ceiling, various plumbing and electrical upgrades,
and the fabrication of several new mahogany spindles for the bandstand. We were able to
complete the painting of the garage which was funded with a grant from the John H.
Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor with matching funds
provided by Millbury Savings Bank and the Friends of the Asa Waters Mansion. The
National Heritage Corridor also financed the design of two historical interpretive signs to
be placed on the grounds of the estate which highlight the importance of the Waters
family, Waters' armory and its role in the War of 1812.
Numerous events were hosted in conjunction with the Friends of the Asa Waters Mansion
including our annual Christmas festival, various historical programs, and group tours
conducted throughout the year. We continued the tradition of hosting themed children's
teas and a variety of formal high teas. We received a Grant from the Millbury Cultural
Council to sponsor a special Veterans Day commemorative program for 11-11-11
"George Washington: How He Won the Unwinnable War." In the spring we created an
educational program titled “Mrs. Waters Grand Luncheon" featuring an historical
interpreter as Mrs. Waters in the 1800's, and hosted a successful "Home Shopping Gala"
fundraiser. The fiscal year came to an end as we welcomed a capacity crowd for "We the
People" honoring the 225th anniversary of the United States Constitution.
Through their efforts the Friends of the Asa Waters Mansion once again contributed to
the beautification of the Mansion including the grounds and gardens. The flowers create
outstanding backgrounds for family and group pictures, truly evidenced in the spring
when the Mansion and its grounds are set aside for Millbury High School prom photos.
We were fortunate to have one of our Junior Volunteers, Timothy Born, beautify the
entrance on School Street by creating a scenic Welcoming Garden which resulted in
Tim's achieving his Eagle Scout status.
As a service to our community The Friends of the Asa Waters Mansion continued their
long time commitment generously volunteering their time to staff bereavement receptions
this past year.
Our Director, Catherine Elliott, remains active in aggressively promoting the Mansion
into new markets. She continues to serve on the Blackstone Valley Chamber of
Commerce Tourism Association. The Mansion has become a primary area of interest for
visitors to this region evidenced by the increase in the volume of guests journeying to the
Mansion as a tourism destination.
Through all the growth and increased activity we continue to adhere to our unwavering
goal of allowing Millbury Community Service Organizations to utilize the Mansion free