Dr. A. Warren Stearns (1885-1959) by Margaret Ingraham and Alec Ingraham

There has always been a Stearns in Billerica, beginning with John Stearns who arrived in 1653 when the area was called Shawshin.  Dr. Stearns, the tenth generation of that family, received his medical degree from Tufts College and eventually became Commissioner of Corrections for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  When the House of Correction was built in the 1930’s in West Billerica Dr. Stearns’ novel idea of using it as a farm was introduced. Here the inmates performed many tasks which provided them with skills, exercise, and fresh air.

In addition to being a Selectman and a School Committee member, he was president of the Billerica Historical Society for forty-five years.

This article was extracted from the Spring 2000 edition of The Yankee Doodle Times, newsletter of the Billerica Historical Society.