495-South - Franklin, MA

The neighborhood has an abundance of rich culture and history. Medway began as a farming town with only 233 families. In 1670, the first road was built. This road, modern-day Village Street, was originally known as Old Mendon Road.

To learn more about the history of Medway head to the Medway Historical Society Museum on Main Street. The museum has been open since 1902, and harbors artifacts, tools, paintings, photographs, journals and more. Learn all about the history of Medway, the neighborhood of 495 South, and all of the surrounding New England regions. The museum also has a gift store and holds many programs for those interested in helping the museum.

Head down Main Street to find all of the restaurants. Irish cuisine, Chinese, fresh sushi, pizza, and more can be enjoyed while over by Main or Milford Street. Menus range in price depending on where you go, but nearly all of the restaurants remain reasonably priced.

Mickey Cassidy’s Irish Restaurant and Public House features premium taps for $5.50 and domestic taps for $3.75, while the menu features great Irish bar foods. Try the citrus grilled shrimp, New York sirloin, or one of the many burgers or sandwiches on the menu. Most burgers stay priced around $10, and come with shoestring fries and a roll. All of the main courses range from $12.99 to $17.99.

When craving Italian cuisine, head to Restaurant 45 on Milford Street. The large patio with bright-green table umbrellas and the warm interior provide plenty of seating inside and outside for guests. For all of the dishes found on the menu, expect fresh ingredients with a burst of sophisticated taste.

Unless you want to enjoy a cold brew at any of the restaurants or cafes in the neighborhood, most of the nightlife exists nearer to Boston or Holliston’s town center. However, the Medway Café on Main Street has a cozy dining room with a large wooden bar in the center. Happy hours continue Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sip on your drink while socializing with friends and admiring the sports memorabilia all over the walls.

Traveling within the neighborhood presents easy-to-navigate roadways, and many locals can be seen walking or bicycling leisurely. Main, Winthrop and Holliston Streets provide easy access to wherever you might need to go, while Interstate 495 provides access to other surrounding regions, including Boston.

Free parking and sidewalks await on streets throughout 495 South. Cabs and bus routes don’t exist within the neighborhood, but head north to Framingham or south to Franklin to jump on the commuter route to Boston. Uber also provides rides to Boston for reasonable rates.

Residents enjoy places to enjoy time outdoors sit throughout the neighborhood’s borders. Even a dog park sits right on College Street. Medway Dog Park has a shaded fenced-in area for dogs to run free. Pet owners can sit amongst each other and chat at one of the many picnic tables as long as they get their Dog Park License first.

Choate Park seems to be where the locals gather most throughout the neighborhood. The park houses a variety of amenities, including athletic fields, a little village for children to play, walking paths to get some exercise and an abundance of seating areas, among other things. The park also has events such as Christmas in the Park, where everyone gathers for fireworks and fun. The creative event, Art in the Park happens in the warmer-weather months for children who love to paint and create. Fall activities and other events happen often, so keep up with the park’s calendar to remain in the loop with the locals.

Milk Pond in 495 South provides fisherman with a great place to catch some fish. Among others, big-mouth bass can be caught in the pond, and this waterway provides many great areas to sit while you fish for a day. However, anyone planning on making a fishing trip to the pond needs to have a fishing license.

Living in 495 South gives residents the opportunity to live near Boston without having to pay the higher costs. For example, the median rental rate for a one-bedroom in 495 South stays steady around $1,298, while Boston’s rentals average around $2,000.

To get to Boston by an UberX ride, expect to spend around $63. Grabbing a cold draft at the pub costs about $5, while dining out costs about $13 per meal. Even though fuel averages at about 1 percent higher than the national average, it remains cheaper in 495 South than Boston.

Nearly everything you could possibly need to go shopping for sits on Main Street. 495 South has antique shops and thrift stores situated throughout the neighborhood. Among these shops sits the Chic Boutique on Milford Street. The shop sells fashionable clothing for women. Jewelry and accessories come in a wide selection for all types of occasions.

For the music enthusiasts, check out Barnstorm Music on Main Street. The shop has new and used musical instruments for sale, music equipment and other miscellaneous items. Those who want to learn to play an instrument can do so by lessons with one of the professional musicians working at the store.

While on Main Street, go to Anne’s Market of Medway. Here you can purchase all of your deli meats, bread and fish. They even have a menu with sandwiches, soups and fresh salads. Other typical grocery items need to be purchased from the Star Market down the road.