The Millers River meanders through both Athol and Orange, carrying with it not only the beauty on its surface, but a long history stretching back to when the river was first formed 25,000 years ago.

The first people known to be living near the river were the Nipmuc, who fished in the river, hunted along its shores and cultivated land on its floodplains. The Nipmuc named the river Papacontuckquash, a Nipmuc word meaning “split banks river.” The Papacontuckquash is first mentioned in an early Native American deed. A sign on the Athol History Trail commemorates the use of riverbank land by Indigenous people for growing corn and as an area of settlement, according to local historian Chris Coyle, who recently gave a talk titled “Miller’s River — The Jewel of North Central Massachusetts” at the Athol Public Library.

King Philip Rock, a large glacial erratic, is located in Winchendon along the bank of the Millers River just north of its confluence with the Otter River, according to Coyle. The rock is named for Metacomet (whom the colonists called King Philip).

“Arrowheads and other artifacts have been found at this site,” Coyle said.

Unknown early European colonists no doubt discovered the river in their exploration of the area.

“Legend has it that the name Miller was given to the river by the early European settlers when a man by the name of Miller was drowned while attempting to cross the river on his way to Northfield,” Coyle explained.

Early colonists used the river in a similar way to the Nipmuc tribe — fishing in the river, hunting along its shores and cultivating land on its floodplains.

“Agrarian activity persisted along parts of the Millers River in colonial times for the most part, although the existence of sawmills began to increase,” Coyle said.

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In 1825, a study was made to examine the feasibility of constructing a canal through the area for transport. Civil engineer Loammi Baldwin was tasked with making a detailed plan, Coyle said.

“However, the era of the railroad arrived before anything came of the canal proposal,” Coyle said.

The building of railroads in the mid-19th century led to more historical events along its banks, such as the tragic train wreck at Long Bridge in the Bearsden area on June 16, 1870, he continued.

Early industrial development along the Millers River took advantage of water power. Most mills and manufacturing concerns located along the banks of the Millers River in the 19th and into the 20th century used water from the river for one purpose or another. In Athol, the Athol Manufacturing Co., Gay and Ward (later Union Twist Drill Co.) and the L.S. Starrett Co. all used the river. Remnants of dams mark the sites of former industries.

The massive floods of 1900, 1936 and 1938 resulted in considerable news in the communities along the Millers River. A sign along Route 2 in Farley Flats, Erving, makes note that the floodwaters from the 1938 hurricane were 5½ feet above the highway.

Although discharging back into the river was once a common practice, pollution increased to an alarming level as the 20th century wore on, Coyle said. Industrial discharge, municipal and residential sewage were the chief sources of pollution.

“Farmers even began to fence the river to prevent their livestock from drinking from the waste-laden water,” Coyle noted.

The Millers River became increasingly used for environmental and recreational purposes in the latter part of the 20th century, particularly after efforts were made to successfully clean up the river to return it to its once pristine state.

Among the recreational uses of the river is the River Rat Race, dating back to 1963, when several friends bet each other who could go from Athol to Orange by canoe the fastest. The annual race has grown steadily over the years to become the spectacular event that is today, Coyle said.

As for the future of the river, Coyle said, “I hope that people will continue to use the Millers River in ways [that] will preserve the beautiful waterway and the land on its banks for future generations.”

Carla Charter is a freelance writer from Phillipston. Her writing focuses on the history of the North Quabbin area. Contact her at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net.