Editing Auburn, Massachusetts (section)

== History ==
The Auburn area was first settled in 1714. On April 10, 1778, parts of [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], [[Sutton, Massachusetts|Sutton]], [[Leicester, Massachusetts|Leicester]] and [[Oxford, Massachusetts]] were incorporated as the Town of Ward, in honor of [[American Revolution]] General [[Artemas Ward]] (second in command to George Washington). In 1837, the town changed its name to Auburn after the [[U.S. Postal Service|Post Office]] complained that the name was too similar to the nearby town of [[Ware, Massachusetts|Ware]].<ref name="hs_auburn" />

Before incorporation, most of Auburn was known as the South Parish of [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]]; other portions fell within the town limits of [[Leicester, Massachusetts|Leicester]] and [[Millbury, Massachusetts|Millbury]].

[[Robert H. Goddard]] launched the first liquid-fueled rocket from Pakachoag Hill, on his aunt Effe Ward's farm, in Auburn on March 16, 1926.  Goddard is commemorated in Goddard Memorial Park, located downtown next to the Auburn Fire Department Headquarters. The park features a model of Goddard's prototype liquid-fueled rocket and a [[UGM-27 Polaris|Polaris missile]] (Type A-1). A second replica of Goddard's prototype stands at [[Auburn High School (Massachusetts)|Auburn High School]]. Goddard's launch is also commemorated with a small monument, the [[Goddard Rocket Launching Site]], between the first and ninth holes of Pakachoag Golf Course.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/Lists/MA01.pdf National Historic Landmarks Survey, by State - Massachusetts], page 8, accessed October 19, 2007.</ref>