The Matthews Mills were themselves a tribute to 18th century engineering, since they included several canals and tunnels which made the natural glacial kettle holes in the area part of a mill ponding complex for the fulling mill. The town avoided the deadly smallpox epidemics of the 1770's by inoculating over 200 people with weakened smallpox virus. People came from as far away as Worcester to receive the inoculations of the experimental vaccine from North Attleborough physicians, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Kittridge, and then to convalesce through a mild form of the disease in small hospitals the town built on the outskirts of the community.

Along with its neighboring town, North Brookfield sent 150 Minutemen to the Battle of Lexington and Concord. But they also demonstrated against the government they had helped create when residents of North Brookfield were involved in Shays Rebellion in 1780, holding meetings in town and hiding their weapons at Ayre's Tavern, one of the oldest buildings in town. Nineteenth century American poet William Cullen Bryant, lived in North Brookfield when he prepared for college with his uncle, the minister in town for 64 years. Bates Observatory was given to the town in the 1890's and on a clear day, townspeople say, you can see all the way to Boston. 

North Brookfield Mass is located in Central Massachusetts, bordered by New Braintree on the north and northwest, Spencer on the east, East Brookfield and Brookfield on the south, and West Brookfield on the west. North Brookfield is about 18 miles west of Worcester, 38 miles northeast of Springfield, 57 miles west of Boston.