Phillipston Congregational Church beyond the Town Common flags. Photo by Allen Young.

Phillipston’s history began as the spoils of war, in this case the conflict with the Narragansett Indians in 1675. General Josiah Winslow, governor of Plymouth Colony promised, “If you play the man, take the fort and drive the enemy out of the Narragansett country…You shall have a gratuity of land, besides your wages”. In 1733, the land grant, Narragansett No.6, was granted to 60 men and became Templeton. Residents of the area between Templeton and Pequiog (Athol) were dissatisfied with their inconvenient Church affiliations and decided to start a church of their own and soon after that a separate town.

This new town originally named Gerry after Elbridge Gerry, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1814, the townspeople petitioned the state to change the name of the town of Phillipston, honoring the then governor, William Phillips.

Town Statistics
Population:  1816 (2006) Tax Rate:  $8.55 (Fiscal Year 2006) Area:  32 square miles Median Family Income:  $40,069
Town Departments	Address	Telephone
Assessor’s Office	Town Common	978-249-1732
Cemetery	106 State Road	978-249-9068
Highway Department	Town Common	978-249-6851
Library	Town Common	978-249-1734
Memorial School		978-249-4969
Selectmen's Office	Town Common	978-249-6828
Tax Collector	Town Common	978-249-1731
Town Clerk	Town Common	978-249-1733
Town Hall	Town Common	978-249-6828
Fire Department
Ambulance	Emergency Only	9 1 1
To Report a Fire or Emergency	Emergency Only	9 1 1
General Business	5 South Road, Templeton	978-939-8875
Station	90 State Road	978-249-6302
Police Department
Emergency Only		9 1 1
Alternate Emergency Number	Templeton	978-939-5036
General Business	5 South Road, Templeton	978-939-8875
Station	90 State Road	978-249-6530