15 Best Things to Do in Spencer (MA)

Located a few miles west of Worcester in central Massachusetts, the city was not permanently settled until about 300 years ago, but came to prominence in the 19th century as a mill town supported by the wire and shoemaking industries.

Spencer's undulating countryside is full of interesting bits of industry large and small, including several man-made ponds that once powered mills, while the Spencer State Forest is home to the estate and birthplace of Elijah Howe. Who invented the sewing machine?

Spencer's greatest assets are its many acres of forests, meadows, ponds and wetlands, protected by city-owned conservation areas, state forests and the Mass Audubon Burncott Pond Wildlife Refuge.

Many of these sites are connected by the Midstate Trail, which passes through the city on its 92-mile route through Worcester County.

1. Saint Joseph’s Abbey

Founded in the 1950s, the Trappist monastery is located on a wooded hill in the far north of Spencer.

The roots of Saint Joseph’s Abbey can be traced back to a community of monks who arrived in Tracadie, Nova Scotia in 1825, moved to Rhode Island in 1900, and then to Spencer after a fire.

Several parts of the Cistercian-style abbey are open to the public, including the Guest Chapel where services and prayers are held for Lauds, Mass, Sext, None, Vespers and Complaints.

There is also a gift shop that sells a variety of handicrafts made by the monks. Until recently, the monastery brewed Trappist beer, but today the highlights are the preserved fruit, honey and fine liturgical vestments.

2. Spencer State Forest

Divided into three sections, this Massachusetts state forest spans over 900 acres in Spencer.

The largest and most prominent of these is located a few minutes south of downtown Spencer, on the former grand estate of inventor Elias Howe (1819-1867), whose design is remembered for the modern sewing machine.

There is a fieldstone memorial marking Spencer's birthplace, and the original stone threshold has been preserved.

The park has a network of trails through woods and streams, while Howe Pond is very scenic, and has a cascading drainage channel at its northern end with a picnic grove nearby.

3. Spencer Town Center Historic District

In historic downtown Spencer, along the winding stretch of Main Street, you can see many buildings constructed during the city's industrial heyday in the late 19th century.

Spencer's main products at that time were shoes and wire, and the success of these industries led to rapid growth in the center.

One impressive building from this period is the Sugden Building (circa 1890) at 117 Main Street, named after Richard Sugden, an English-born wire manufacturer.

The same man was also responsible for founding the town's library, which still bears his name. The Richard Sugden Public Library was completed in 1889 in the Romanesque Revival style.

In addition to the stained glass windows and carved oak fixtures, the building also houses the collections of the Spencer Historical Society, so if you want to learn more about the city's past, you should visit.

4. Depot Rail Trail

In Spencer, you can walk along the abandoned tracks of a railway that was laid in 1878.

The Spencer Railroad connects downtown Spencer to the Boston and Albany Railroad, which still runs through South Spencer and is used by CSX for freight.

The trail was completed in phases in the 2000s and takes you from Chestnut Street on the southwest edge of downtown to S Spencer Rd to Spencer State Forest.

Traveling south, you'll quickly leave the city behind as you pass through a landscape of forests, former farms, ponds and wetlands. The trail has a stone dust surface, and there is parking and a kiosk at the south trailhead.

5. Midstate Trail

Worcester County is traversed by 92 miles of scenic footpaths, extending from the Rhode Island border in the south to the MA/NH line in the north.

Spencer is one of 14 cities on the MidState Trail, most of which extend east of the city.

Marked by yellow triangles, the route passes through several parks and protected properties, including Moore State Park, Spencer State Forest, and Burncote Pond Wildlife Refuge.

Away from these places, you'll drive along quiet back roads, without much traffic. There is a trail shelter near the summit of Buck Hill, and you'll find several places around Spencer where you can park your car and hike a short distance.

6. Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary

This Massachusetts Audubon Society preserve, a short drive east of the Spencer Center, is located on the edge of a pond that provides important habitat for resident and migratory wildlife.

Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary has two miles of trails, through a landscape of fields, mixed hardwoods, pine forests, wetlands and streams.

One trail, the Flat Rock Trail, takes you to Richards Overlook, which offers a stunning north view of the pond.

The refuge also has a large collection of mountain laurel trees, which produce stunning pink and white flowers in late spring.

7. Luther Hill Park

Located near downtown Spencer on the south shore of Lake Whitmore, the city's only natural lake, this attractive public park covers just 50 acres.

Luther Hill Park traces its roots back to 1888 with a donation from a prominent businessman, judge, and civic leader.

The park is 14 acres and has a beautiful pine grove, a golf course, a playground, a skate park, and several picnic tables.

Although the park is located on a lake, swimming was not permitted when we wrote this article, although the car-top boat launch was open to the public.

8. Sibley-Warner Farm

Another thing to love about Barncote Pond Wildlife Sanctuary is how it connects to large city-owned properties to the north and west, allowing you to ride for miles through nature, and never see the same sights twice.

The more than 300-acre Sibley-Warner Farm was purchased by the city in 2011 and is now managed by the Greater Worcester Land Trust.

One of the trails that runs through the property is the Mid-State Trail, while this wooded area is traversed in the winter by the Spencer Snowbirds Snowmobile Trail.

9. Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn

Not far from the Spencer Centre, there is a quaint 19th-century warehouse that has served as a destination for handcrafted Christmas gifts and gifts for half a century.

The Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn is usually open from midsummer until Christmas Eve, and is stocked with everything you might need to decorate your home for Christmas, from linens to bows and centerpieces.

The ideal time to visit is during the holiday season when it is impossible not to get into the Christmas spirit.

10. Bayberry Bowling Center

In Spencer you are close to where the sport of Kendall Penn Bowling was born. This variation on ten-pin bowling was first played in Worcester in the 1880s, and the tradition continues in New England and the Canadian Navy.

Candle bowling is less forgiving, as the ball is smaller, while strikes are rare due to the long, narrow pins. For a game, head to the Bayberry Bowling Center, which has been open in some form since 1966 and has 16 lanes and a billiards room with eight tables.

11. Moore State Park

Across the city line in Paxton, picturesque Moore State Park is the site of a bustling cottage industry in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Here, Turkey Hill Brook operated a series of mills and mills when it toppled a 400-foot mill.

During your visit to the park, you'll see interesting remnants of the settlement that formed here in the mid-1700s, including a hotel, schoolhouse, mine, restored sawmill, and trefoil.

The Mill Race descends over 90 feet along its way, with a series of beautiful man-made waterfalls. There are also various plants to admire, including azalea trees, rhododendrons and mountain laurel.

12. Thompson Pond

Located northeast of Spencer, it is a 116-acre pond in part of the Spencer State Forest.

Thompson Dam was built to power the sawmill, and was the last dam built to power most of the wire mills along Turkey Hill Brook.

There is a bridge along Thompson Pond Road that separates the small lower part of the pond from the upper area.

Here you'll find an unofficial launching point for non-motorized boats, and a small area where you can cast a line for bass, perch, bluegill, bullhead, black crappie and the like.

13. Buck Hill Conservation Area

Trails to the section of Spencer State Park around Thompson Pond also lead west to this city-managed protected area.

Buck Hill Conservation Area borders the state forest and is also crossed by the Mid-State Trail.

It leads to the summit of Buck Hill, which is about 1,000 feet high. There is a shelter near the summit that is placed as part of the trail.

To the north, the trail takes you to the shores of the 10-acre Buckhill Lake, with spurs leading to the eastern and southern shores.

At the far north end, near Thompson Pond, is Camp Marshall, open since 1952 and operated by the Worcester County 4-H organization.

14. Bemis Farms Nursery

A thriving family business dating back to 1947, Bemis Farms Nursery is known locally for its plants, plant-related products and friendly advice on all aspects of gardening.

The greenhouses are open spring through mid-December, and there are many seasonal events, such as an Easter egg hunt and a pumpkin patch in the fall.

Unlike large farms, these celebrations are usually intimate and small in scale. Beams Farms is also known for its workshops, holding dozens each year, on everything from container gardening to hanging baskets and Christmas decorations.

15. The Spencer Fair

The Spencer Fairgrounds are located about a mile west of downtown and host many events throughout the year, from dog shows to business conferences and concerts.

The big date on the calendar is the Spencer Fair on Labor Day weekend. It is a traditional, old-fashioned agricultural programme, centered around exhibitions and demonstrations of livestock and ancient rural skills.

The Midway is open on Thursday evenings, with rides, classic fair games and a wide variety of food. Also check the schedule for tractor pulling, bull and horse pulling, live music and demolition derbies.