Southborough, MA made me the person I am today

It wasn’t until I left it, that I really appreciated where I’m from. I grew up in Southborough, a small town in central Massachusetts, and I went to a regional high school which was located in the neighboring town, Northborough.

Algonquin (“The Gonk”) connected the towns, making both towns the home of the Tomahawks and my two-for-one “hometown.”

While I’m sure people from small Northeastern suburbs can relate and probably have their own variable version of my town’s features, the thing is: no one really knows what it’s like to live in my hometown or yours— and they never will.

No matter how many times I try to explain my home to outsiders  (“It’s a small town, kind of outside of Boston, we have a few pizza places…”) I can’t truly sum it up. No one knows the intense feeling of distaste I experienced when I handed over my $100 check just to park at school for a semester, no one understands what I mean when I say I’m craving Uhlman’s (ice cream) or Honey Dip (breakfast and coffee)—well, no one other than my fellow N/Sboro natives.

And that’s what I mean when I say “appreciate where I’m from”. I’m certainly not dying to go back and make it my forever-home, but my eighteen years of life experiences, up until last Fall, are all because I lived in the heart of Massachusetts and I can only really share those with others back home.

I came up with all the things that I think sum up the essence of living in the Boros, and I’m sure if you’re from my hometown (or maybe even small town MA), then you’re familiar with almost every single one.

Harry’s

Harry’s isn’t in the North or South Boro, but it may as well be! You have probably been here more times than you could feasibly count and if you haven’t tried the cheese fries (and shamelessly made a not-so-well-balanced meal out of it), then where ARE you from?

Algonquin vs. Westborough rivalry

Tomahawks vs. Rangers: a rivalry to end all rivalries (in our eyes)… or end our creative license in the fan section (If I say “Rangers”, you say: “swal–w!”). Either way, the T-Hawks almost always brought out the school spirit and arguably the most scathing chants. See you at the annual Thanksgiving football game!

There’s not much going on—including crime

Southborough ranked in the top 15 safest towns in MA in 2016 (according to Safewise). The police blotter is often the most “interesting” thing in the Villager, the local newspaper. It’s perfect if you’re interested in strange animal sightings, a couple of burglaries, or “concerned” citizens reporting speeding on their road. It was a great place to grow up, and you’ve probably never felt particularly unsafe around either town. And, for those who grew up in the southern Boro your parents surely let you walk downtown to Southborough House of Pizza with your friends all the way from Trottier Middle School on half days.

 

Saying you’re from Boston because no one knows Southboro or Northboro

Some people from MA don’t even know where Southboro/Northboro is, so if you’re talking to anyone from out-of-state, you know you’re better off saying you’re from Boston than explaining your actual Western, semi-proximal relation to the big city.

Route 9

Everything is off route 9. Where do you live? Off route 9. How do you get to school? Take route 9.

Summers on the Cape (or in Maine or New Hampshire)

It seems like everyone congregates in Cape Cod for the summer months. Either you have a beach (or lake) house, your friend does, or you rent one for a bit every summer. If not, you’re probably stuck in the Boros, wishing you weren’t.

Your parents know your friends’ parents and they all know more gossip than you

If you thought the Gonk girls were gossipy, have you met their mothers? Do they have an email chain? A Facebook group? Why were they a week ahead of the news getting around school? Either way, I’m glad my mom and my friends’ moms always had the DL and were able to tell me all about the Gonk breakups, relationships, and troubles that I needed to know.

Living close to Boston

Boston is approximately a 30-45-minute drive on the Mass Pike away and you’ve definitely taken the commuter rail in at some point with your friends or family to see a Red Sox game or go shopping on Newbury.

Natick Collection vs. Solomon Pond Mall

You’ve probably spent ample time at one or the other—especially as a pre-teen. We all know the better mall. And, we also know there are few brave Northborough-ians willing to make the longer trek for Natick’s far superior store selection to avoid Solomon and the flocks of middle schoolers that hang out there.

Recognizing someone every time you go anywhere in or around town

If you want to avoid seeing someone you know, you avoid Dunkin Donuts/Chipotle/Panera. There is a 99.9% you will see someone you know or recognize— your friends, peers, the entire basketball team, and their mothers—it’s almost guaranteed.

Your neighborhood

You probably lived in a pretty tight-knit neighborhood and are familiar with block parties, neighborhood get-togethers, and carpooling.

Summer Nights, Applefest, Heritage Day

Ah, annual town events. At some point you’ve been to each one and you likely wouldn’t enjoy them now as much as you did when you were a pre-teen, but when the whole town gets together it’s some great, wholesome, family fun! *Not mentioned: the Gobble Wobble and childhood favorites Pumpkin lighting and Santa Landing*

 “Boring Boros”

Our downtowns are a “blink and you’ll miss it!”-type deal and you’re probably familiar with the back-and-forth group message deciding between getting food or going to someone’s house because “Ugh, there’s nothing to do”. While the Boros may have not been the most happenin’ place to live (and I have voiced my fair share of complaints), you wouldn’t change where you grew up. Whether you’re thanking your lucky stars that you got out/are leaving or you’re planning to live there forever and raise a family, Northborough and Southborough will always have a place in your heart and mine.