"Hillside," the mansion house of John B. Gough, was built in 1848 in what is now called the "Morningdale" section of Boylston. Contemporaries regarded the house as one of the three loveliest mansions in the Commonwealth along with The Wesson Mansion ("White Cliffs") in Northborough, and Daniel Webster’s home in Marshfield.

The house is a spacious New England frame house, two stories tall with a single story bay on each side. It is done in an Italianate style with a large front porch and cupola. There are thirty rooms, some of which were added on in the early 1860’s. Downstairs rooms included a parlor, conservatory, library, and dining room.

Vast amounts of time and money were spent to grade the lawns and in developing a spring which supplied water to the house. Farm buildings included several barns, three hen houses, a carriage house, and a gymnasium with a bowling alley.

"Hillside" was a working farm. Gough kept 1000 chickens, numerous riding horses, cows, swine, sheep, and oxen. The land yielded grain, hay, vegetables, and fruit in abundance.

The scenic roadway leading to the house was lined with elm trees interspersed with syringa bushes that exuded a lovely fragrance.

The interior was tastefully decorated with paintings and engravings covering the walls. The library held 3000 books, many of which were exquisitely bound.

The famous and near famous visited "Hillside" including a former U.S. president, clergymen, artists, politicians, and temperance leaders.

"Hillside" is one of Boylston’s greatest treasures. It faces an uncertain future unless we band together to preserve it for future generations. We can not forget that its importance is not only local but that it figures prominently in American history. In 1975, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

This is an opportunity for all of us to show our children that we respect the past and honor those men and women who helped make our country great.