Church & State Walking Tour: Forbes Municipal Building

45 West Main Street

Frank and Fannie Forbes were active members of the community and funded many programs and renovations in Westborough. In the early 1920s, Frank and Fannie saw the need for a new high school. It was completed in 1926 on the site of the Whitney Hotel that had burned down on West Main Street. [By the way, I have some great pictures of the Whitney Hotel fire that you can use.] This new building had 14 classrooms, a gymnasium, a shop room, and cooking rooms, all with fine carved woodwork. At this time, the family also created a scholarship fund for high school students. The Forbes Building was used for both high school and junior high students until 1956, when only junior high students attended the school. In 1968, sixth grade and some kindergarten classes filled the hallways. In 1981, the building was renovated to house the new police headquarters. The building then became known as the Forbes Municipal Building, honoring Frank and Fannie’s many contributions. Again, in 2018-2019, the building underwent a modern renovation and today houses the Police station along with school offices and town department offices.

Approx. 1994 (Westborough Public Library)
The Forbes Building 2019

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