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In June of 1901 the Railway Co. opened a dance pavillion, restaurant and theatre on the shores of Lake Chauncy. These entertainment facilities quickly became a popular place for people from Marlborough, Worcester, Milford, and even Boston to while away a summer day.
The Chauncy Park trolley ran from Marlborough to Westborough.
With dances being held three nights a week and "moving picture shows" taking place each evening, the park was constantly packed with visitors. Over the next twenty years bowling alleys, ball fields, and refreshment stands would be added making Lake Chauncy Park a noteworthy location for enterainment. Boating, picnics and roller-skating were among the most popular activities.
with a charmer divine
'tis the one place you're longing to go.
When you get tired of dancing
to music entrancing
then take in the vaudeville show.
You can sit at your ease
in the shade of the trees
with your Mabel or sweet Kittie Clancy.
There is only one place
to be found on the map
'tis the place that they call dear old Chauncy."
Westborough's town beach is currently located off of Lyman Street on the shores of Lake Chauncy. Although it's unlikely that Chauncy will every see another heyday like that of the early 20th century, it is still a prime location for boating, fishing and swiming here in town.
The first electric trolley line in town was part of the Worcester & Marlboro Street Railway Co. and ran from Westborough to Northborough along Milk St. (1897). Because of the Nortborough line's success, the Marlboro & Westboro Street Railway Co. was created and added a line running from the center of town out to the shores of Lake Chauncy via Lyman St. and on to Southborough (1901). Another line was established by the Westboro & Worcester Street Railway Co. that ran from the center of Westborough, down West Main St., on to Nourse St. (Rte. 30), then through Grafton to Worcester (1901). At this point it was quite easy for residents and workers to get around town for very little money, very quickly.
Because these lines were so popular, the Westborough & Hopkinton Street Railway Co. was established to create a line running from the center to Hopkinton via South St. (1902). Another trolley line was added by the Worcester & Boston Street Railway Co. that ran through town in an East/West configuration and followed the Boston/Worcester Turnpike for the Western third of it's journey through Westborough (1903).
In 1901 the Marlboro & Westboro Street Railway Co. announced the purchase of a tract of land alongside Lake Chauncy where it would build an amusement park that would attract visitors who would travel long distances by trolley to get there. Lake Chauncy Park opened with a dancehall, restaurant, boat house, and theatre that drew crowds from near and far. The Lyman St. line became known as the "Boozeville Trolley" because of the frequenly inebriated passengers returning from a day of leisure at the Park. During the 1920's, when prohibition was in effect, Lake Chauncy Park was a major concern for police. Bootleggers would frequent the grounds and it was quite difficult for the police to crack down on alcohol consumption when it was so rampant.