Gardner, Massachusetts is a city in Worcester County that was first settled by Europeans in 1764 and officially incorporated as a town in 1785. It was named after Colonel Thomas Gardner, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill¹

Gardner became a center for lumber and furniture industries in the 1800s, earning its nickname as “The Chair City”. By 1910, there were 20 chair factories that produced four million chairs per year. The city also had a thriving silversmithing business and a state hospital¹²

Today, Gardner has a population of about 21,000 people and covers an area of 23 square miles. It is part of the Springfield metropolitan area and offers a mix of rural and urban features. Gardner has many historic buildings, such as the Church Street Historic District, and natural attractions, such as the Dunn State Park and the Quabbin Reservoir. Gardner is a place of rich heritage, diverse culture, and scenic beauty¹³⁴