Sharon (Images of America)

At the turn of the 20th century, Sharons very existence was threatened by the collapse of the local iron industry as the towns economy and population began to decline. However, the popularity of automobile transportation and Sharons accessible distance from New York attracted a class of wealthy visitors who fell in love with the rolling hills and quiet valleys. This new weekend population purchased land and built stately country homes, reigniting interest in the area. Steady growth in construction provided much-needed work, and commerce began to thrive again. Early businesses expanded, and new operations opened. Local residents could shop at stores run by the Gillette brothers and A.R. Woodward, fill their tanks at Herman Middlebrooks gas station, and have their health care needs attended to by doctors at the state-of-the-art Sharon Hospital, built in 1916. Eastern Europeans became the towns newest residents, taking advantage of the affordable, cleared land to fuel a large number of highly successful farms. Sharons residents thrived as they reshaped their town, welcoming newcomers and nurturing a community of inclusion that lasts to the present day.