Middleboro, Massachusetts

Middleboro, Massachusetts was incorporated in 1669 and is the second largest town by land area in the state. Middleboro has substantial wetlands areas, fed by a network of rivers, brooks, and ponds. The Taunton, Nemasket and Weweantic Rivers have shaped the local economy, providing power for industry, migratory routes for herring and alewife, and bogs that have made Middleboro "the cranberry capital of the world."

First settled in 1660, Middleboro was an industrial town almost from the beginning. Dams built along the Nemasket River in the 18th century produced waterpower for numerous businesses during the 18th and 19th centuries. A cotton mill operated near the Upper Factory dam from 1813 to 1867, when it was replaced by a shovel and hammer mill, which burned down in 1868. Another textile factory, the Star Mill Corporation, produced ladies' dress goods from 1863 until the 1920s. Subsequent tenants included an innersole company, a leather company and Winthrop-Atkins Co., manufacturer of desk calendars. When the calendar company decided to expand in 1965, a portion of the river was filled to create the needed land, and a new channel dug so as not to disturb the annual herring run. River power was even central to Middleboro's early electrical power industry. In 1893, the town acquired the Middleboro Gas & Electric Company. The power plant's two water-wheel-driven arc machines generated electricity for 103 streetlights, one 600 light alternator, and one 150 horsepower steam engine. The water power was not sufficient to operate the plant round the clock, and electricity was not available during daylight hours until about 1908. Middleboro's bogs are ideal for growing cranberries, one of three fruits native to North America. In 1930, a group of cranberry growers founded the Ocean Spray cooperative, which continues to produce a well-known line of cranberry-based beverages and snacks.  

Use of asbestos-containing materials for construction and renovation, especially of older buildings, may have put Middleboro workers at risk for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma information, including top doctors and cancer centers in and around Middleboro are listed at the bottom of this page. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma in Middleboro, you should also consider contacting an asbestos attorney.

Jobsites in Middleboro where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Middleboro, MA have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Middleboro, MA

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Middleboro, MA. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.

Mesothelioma Doctors Near Middleboro, MA

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma doctors who are located within a 100 mile radius of Middleboro, MA. Please click on a doctor link to obtain more information about his/her background, areas of expertise, professional affiliations and office locations.