The small town of Pepperell is situated 35 miles northwest of Boston in
rolling hill country at the junction of the Nissitissit and Nashua Rivers
adjacent to the New Hampshire border. Once a thriving mill town and
farming community, there are two paper mills and a braiding factory still
in operation in the east village section. Bypassed by major transportation
routes, the town is more isolated and less developed than other towns and
has become a predominantly commuter suburb. More than 10,000 people call
Pepperell home, yet the town does not have a chain supermarket, a
commercial bank, a fast-food restaurant or even a traffic light. Several
large undeveloped land areas along with three 200-acre farms and the lack
of extensive commercial and industrial development support residents in
their characterization of Pepperell as a rural community.
The town takes pride in several unique attractions and events. Pepperell
spring water, first place quality winner the 1939 World's Fair, continues
to be sold by commercial bottling companies. The Warrant Veterans
Fireman's Association owns and shows antique firefighting equipment
throughout New England, while the volunteer fire department hosts a
firemen's muster annually in August. A day-long Fourth of July celebration,
a 300-team soccer tournament that brings in over 50,000 people in October,
homemade ice-cream and what residents boast of as the cleanest, best trout
fishing river in the state all provide pleasure to Pepperell residents and
visitors.
