Maynard, located on the Assabet River, was originally known as “Assabet Village.” The village, named after Amory Maynard, who along with William Knight bought water rights to the river, was part of Stow and Sudbury until incorporated as an independent town in 1871. The two men began constructing a dam in 1846, completing it the following year. They then built the Assabet Woolen Mill, the maker of the highest percentage of wool used for military uniforms during the Civil War.

Maynard’s mills have been repurposed as office and manufacturing space, serving as headquarters for Digital Equipment Corporation from 1957 to 1998. After sitting empty for a decade, it was renovated and renamed Clock Tower Place and later Mill & Main Place, housing businesses including Powell Flutes. It remains home to the oldest working hand-wound clock in the country.