Downtown Walking Tour

Updated August 8, 2025

Hudson Historical Downtown Walking Tour

The Walking Tour was developed by Richard Gelpke with assistance from David Bonazzoli and Lorene Jean, Hudson Art & Framing. Printed by Nashoba Blue.

Hudson Historical Downtown Walking Tour

The Walking Tour was developed by Richard Gelpke with assistance from David Bonazzoli and Lorene Jean, Hudson Art & Framing. All content on this page is taken from Hudson History and Recollections.

1 - South Street Municipal Parking Lot

(HD 15,54,110) (PC 29)

Although this ‘empty lot’ is for parking now, originally it was an open field bordering the Assabet River that would flood in high water. For many years it was the site of a large shoe factory, one of many in Hudson. Initially the Thomas Logan Shoe. It was a 5 story, classic wooden building built late (around 1890). It was organized by floors: 1st = sole leather; 2nd = finishing & packing; 3rd = bottoming; 4th = stitching & bottoming; 5th = cutting. By 1903 the Brigham & Gregory Shore Factory is located here. The building then became the Ascutney Shoe factory which burned in a spectacular fire on October 31, 1971 causing a loss of $150,000.

1 - South Street Municipal Parking Lot

(HD 15,54,110) (PC 29)

Although this ‘empty lot’ is for parking now, originally it was an open field bordering the Assabet River that would flood in high water. For many years it was the site of a large shoe factory, one of many in Hudson. Initially the Thomas Logan Shoe. It was a 5 story, classic wooden building built late (around 1890). It was organized by floors: 1st = sole leather; 2nd = finishing & packing; 3rd = bottoming; 4th = stitching & bottoming; 5th = cutting. By 1903 the Brigham & Gregory Shore Factory is located here. The building then became the Ascutney Shoe factory which burned in a spectacular fire on October 31, 1971 causing a loss of $150,000.