About the Athol, Massachusetts Area 

Athol, Massachusetts is located along the Millers River in northwestern Worcester County, in the North Quabbin region.  The town covers just over 32 square miles and has a reported population of 11,299 as of the 2000 census. 

Athol was settled as a typical New England mill town along the river in the 1790's, and has been home to a number of tool making concerns, earning it the nickname "Tool Town."  The area's largest employer to this day remains the L.S. Starrett Company, which has been headquartered in downtown Athol since 1880 and still enjoys a solid reputation as a manufacturer of quality tools.

Only a few hundred feet down Main Street from the Starrett Company are two great resources for the local community, sitting directly across the street from one another.  On the North side of the street is the Athol Public Library, which has a full children's library, and adult/reference section, and computer workstations.  On the South side of the street is the Athol area YMCA,  which boasts an indoor olympic-sized pool, squash courts, basketball court, as well as state of the art weight and cardio training equipment.

Athol is lucky and proud to be home of their own 6 day per week newspaper (a rarity for a town this size) in the Athol Daily News.  The Daily News reports on all the local goings on, as well as reporting major regional and national stories -- a must read for any local resident.

Athol and Orange host an annual canoe race along the Miller's River that has gained quite a bit of local notoriety.  The "River Rat Race" started some 46 years ago as a bet between some friends, and now it has grown to a local institution that attracts canoe racers from across the Northeast US!  And Mike's wife Michelle will be quick to point out that her grandfather, Sonny Soucie, was on the winning team of that inaugural race years ago.

For golfers, Athol is home to a gem of an 18-hole course in Ellinwood Country Club.  Ellinwood opening in 1929 with 9 holes designed by the legendary Donald Ross.  Some time later, the final 9 were added from a design by Geoffrey Cornish.  Ellinwood is a par 71 that plays 6,200 yards from the back tees, but is unusual in that it has 6 par 3 holes and 5 par 5's.  Each hole has it's own character...there are no straight back and forth holes.  Almost all holes have woods on both sides of the fairway.  Add in lots of elevation changes and small, well-protected, fast greens and Ellinwood presents a scoring challenge to even the most advanced golfer.  Best of all, the club is semi-private but unless there's a big tournament, it's always easy to get a tee time. 

Athol has been home to Godin Real Estate since 1956...over 50 years!  We're housed at 181 Main Street in an antique building that is full of character.  Stop by and see us sometime!

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