History Medway (originally Midway) was first settled in 1657 and was officially incorporated in 1713. At that time, Medway began as a farming community of two hundred thirty-three. It was not long before the water power of the Charles River and Chicken Brook stimulated the formation of cotton and paper mills, straw and boot factories, and a variety of cottage industries. Medway demonstrates the central importance of the Charles River and the thriving town that grew alongside it. Today, the one-room schoolhouses are gone and the country stores have moved to the mall, but the open town meetings continue.
HiSTOry medwaY (oRiginally MidWAy) WAs First Settled iN 1657 and Was OfficiaLLY inCorpOrateD in 1713. At That tIme, medway began as a farmInG communitY Of tWO HunDRed Thirty-ThrEe. iT WAS not long beforE tHe wATer powEr of THe chaRLes river aNd chiCKEn brook stimuLaTed the formatIoN of cOtton And pAper mIlls, stRaw and Boot FaCtoriEs, and a vaRiETy of COttage induStRiEs. MeDwAy demOnstrAtes the CeNtRAl iMpOrtanCe of the cHArleS rIver and thE thrivinG tOwn ThaT Grew aLongside iT. todaY, tHE oNe-rOOm SChoolhouses ARe GoNe aNd the CouNTry storES haVe moVED to The malL, but the open tOwn meetINgs coNtInuE.