15 Best Things to Do in Oxford (MA)

First settled by Christians in the late 17th century, Oxford is a city of just 13,000 people located on the French River.

The unusual thing about the Oxford landscape is that much of the city belongs to the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood control purposes.

You can visit two USACE facilities in and around Oxford at Hodges Village Dam and Lake Buffumville, one of the best public golf courses in New England.

Oxford's most famous daughter is Clara Barton (1821-1912), founder of the American Red Cross, whose remarkable and inspiring story is told in the house in which she was born and raised.

1. Oxford Center

Where the busy streets of Main Street, Sutton Street and Charlton Street meet, the central area of Oxford is protected as the Oxford Main Street Historic District.

Along the main street are some fine residences, most of which date from the first decades of the 19th century and were built in the Greek Revival style. Oxford's Italianate City Hall, built in 1872 to honor the city's Civil War soldiers, has an interesting story.

At 325 Main Street, it was built on the site of a house long known for unsavory parties, so the city seized the property by eminent domain.

There are a few locally owned businesses worthy of your attention downtown, and we'll talk about a couple of them in a bit.

2. Clara Barton Birthplace Museum

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was born in North Oxford.

Barton is noted for being a philanthropist and philanthropist at a time when opportunities for women were few. She was influential in the field of education, and later became one of the first women to hold the US Patent Office. A man for work.

Her phone was found during the Civil War, when it helped distribute medical supplies on the battlefield, and then reunited families after the war.

Her work at that time helped make her famous, and in 1881 she founded the American Society of the Red Cross, serving as its first president until 1904.

After touring Barton's birthplace and childhood home, you'll come away with a vivid portrait of one of the most influential figures of the 19th century.

3. Buffumville Lake Park

Just minutes east of Oxford Center, this flood control project is one of two sites within easy reach of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Buffumville Lake Park is open to the public, and is known for its disc golf course, which we'll talk about in more detail later.

If you're here to stretch your legs, you can hike along the Blue Lakeside Trail, which circles the entire lakeshore for 7.2 miles. Also check out the park's ranger-led programs, including guided dam tours.

The Corps maintains the park's beach area, which includes 300 feet of sand, a volleyball court, a horseshoe pit, and two picnic shelters.

4. Midstate Trail

In Oxford, you can hike part of the 92-mile trail in Worcester County, from the line along the New Hampshire border to the Rhode Island border.

Somewhat similar to Greater Boston's Bay Circuit Trail, the Midstate Trail uses pre-existing public lands and trails, crossing Oxford from west to east.

You'll pass publicly accessible properties such as Hodges Village Dam, quiet back roads, as well as pastoral farmland and a series of ponds on the outskirts of Oxford and Sutton.

5. Carl’s Oxford Diner

This unassuming breakfast restaurant in central Oxford makes no apologies for its menu, even describing itself as the "birthplace of cholesterol." What draws crowds to Carl's Oxford Diner is the comfort food served in generous portions.

The place opened in 1990, but the core of the building is a prefab dinner car with tables and seating, dating back to the World War II era.

You can expect mountains of buttermilk pancakes, fluffy Belgian waffles under a cloud of whipped cream, gravy-soaked biscuits, piles of crispy French fries, and family-sized omelettes (the Western kielbasa is a winner).

6. Hodges Village Dam

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Hodges Village Dam in the 1950s as a flood control project following the 1936 disaster on the Thames River Basin in Connecticut.

The project is located on a large area along the French River, with plenty of hardwood forest and wetland habitat for visitors, along with water fishing and canoeing/kayaking opportunities.

There are 22 miles of trails, although motorized vehicles are limited to the orange-lit trails on the west side of the French River, while the blue-lit trails on the east side are for non-motorized use only. The big attraction is the 13-hole golf course that runs along the dam.

7. Carbuncle Pond

Found near Oxford Middle School, Carbuncle Pond is a medium-sized body of water, home to Oxford City Beach in the summer.

It is located on the north beach, with a small but well-maintained patch of sand, next to a beautiful beach house, grassy area and tall pine trees.

In recent years, the city has installed a spray pad here, with a variety of jets, sprinklers and benches for parents.

There is usually an open day at the beach at the beginning of the season in mid-July, with all kinds of free activities for children.

8. N & J Donuts

Located in the shadow of Oxford City Hall, this café has a loyal following in the Worcester area and has been featured in numerous media outlets including Phantom Gourmet.

N&J Donuts is a throwback in the best way possible, producing a fleet of delicious donuts, bagels and other baked goods, made fresh every day.

Featured menu items for the first time are the classic large chocolate brownies, as well as glazed marble creepers.

The pizza bagels are also special, and you can order bacon, ham or sausage as toppings.

9. Buffumville Disc Golf Course

Built in 2010, Buffumville Lake Golf Course has been named one of the best free courses in the area.

Starting on the right side of the dam, several holes contain water hazards, including Buffum Pond to the east. You'll also have to play through some narrow forests, taking into account changes in elevation.

All holes are marked, and there is a helpful map of the landscape and distance to the basket on the tee. In addition to the 18-hole tournament, there is a shorter nine-hole selection, ideal for beginners and casual players.

10. Huguenot Fort

The first Europeans to settle in what is now Oxford were the Huguenots, who had recently arrived in America after the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685), which ended legal recognition of Protestantism in France.

They arrived in the area in two waves starting in 1686, establishing an earthen fort but also being attacked by local Native Americans.

Near the Huguenot Trail you can see the remains of the fort, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

An information panel contains contemporary settlement plans, a biography of the colony's founder, Gabriel Brannon, and a list of families who resided here briefly.

11. Bartlett’s Bridge

The Clara Barton Way Carry across the French River in North Oxford is a rare surviving example of a 19th-century stone bridge in Massachusetts.

The Bartlett’s Bridge, which replaced an old wooden bridge, was built in 1889 to facilitate transportation the short distance east to the textile mill complex.

The bridge was named after factory owner Edwin Bartlett. The building has an oval arch that rises 13 feet above the river. The face of the bridge is made of rough granite, while the arch itself is made of more finely worked stone.

12. Webster Memorial Beach

One of the best public freshwater beaches in Massachusetts is located just a stone's throw from Oxford in Webster.

It is located on the west side of Lake Webster, which in the 1920s was given Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.

For non-residents, the best time to visit is during the week, when parking fees are $10, versus $30 on weekends.

A large expanse of sand, beautiful views of the lakeshore, a great children's playground, a basketball court, and a wide grassy area with picnic tables and tall trees for shade await.

13. Samuel Slater Experience

In Webster you can also take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the city's rich past. The city was founded in 1832 by industrialist Samuel Slater (1768-1835).

He is remembered as the father of the American Industrial Revolution, bringing British textile manufacturing technology and building the first textile mills in the United States. Webster recently opened an interactive museum telling the story of Slater and Webster.

You'll learn what made the area so desirable for textile manufacturing, discover the machinery that fueled the Industrial Revolution, visit a recreated Slater office, learn about the life of a mill worker, and see how Webster has changed since the 1830s.

14. Indian Ranch

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg has been a summer destination since the late 19th century. Indian Ranch has been an entertainment center for over 75 years.

Located on the East Coast, this amphitheater seats more than 3,000 people and has emerged as one of the largest summer music venues in the region.

A host of recent acts include Ziggy Marley, The Outlaws, The Mavericks, Three Dog Night and “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Besides the campground and restaurant, Indian Ranch operates the Indian Princess, a replica of a 19th-century paddle wheel that offers public and private cruises on the lake.

15. Blackstone National Golf Club

Sutton is a very popular 18 hole championship course east of Oxford. Designed by Rhys Jones, Blackstone National Golf Club's course accommodates the natural topography of the landscape and emphasizes the visual impact of each hole from the tee.

A recurring theme from the fifth hole onwards is risk/reward – you may be tempted to target the green via networks of bunkers, cut dogwoods or tee off on hole 11. Flirting with the Pond.

Club facilities include a national barbecue restaurant, a well-equipped pro shop and a golf academy with a team of professionals who provide lessons and clinics.