Experience Rural History on the Connecticut River Byway

Published on Jul 21, 2005

Historic sites dot the landscape of the Connecticut River Byway, each beckoning you to stop and visit. The Upper Connecticut River Valley evokes the way things used to be. You'll feel like you are home here. Many buildings remain unchanged, although they were built over one hundred years ago. Museums aplenty line the byway, each offering different exhibits. Complementary to the charm of neighboring historic communities, the byway landscape showcases the beauty of the Connecticut River.

As the byway winds north through the pastoral farmland of Massachusetts, you'll encounter the Hockanum Rural Historic District, which runs from the border of South Hadley to Skinner State Park. This rural district is one of the few historic districts in the country based primarily on agriculture. Farmhouses built in the traditional styles of the 18th and 19th centuries sit alongside fruitful fields, where traditional agricultural practices leave the land virtually unchanged from year to year. 

Settled in 1659, Hadley Center in Hadley, Massachusetts, is listed on the National Register of Historic Districts. This amazing district contains more than 800 historic properties -- churches, shops, private homes and schools -- many more than 350 years old. There's plenty to look for! As you stroll though the preserved city commons, keep an eye out for different architectural styles of the area, including the traditional elegant lines of Colonial Revival, the Greek republic-inspired columns of Federal, and the simple square symmetry of Georgian. The Hadley Center also includes the Hadley Farm Museum, which preserves local colonial history and features displays of the first broom-making machine, spinning wheels, period farm tools, and a restored stagecoach from 1848.

Further north on the byway you'll come to Deerfield, Massachusetts. At the Historic Deerfeld living history museum, a New England village is brought to life by war reenactments, hands-on demonstrations, and special events like honey collecting and open hearth cooking classes. The village features seven houses, a world-class collection of antiques, and a tavern. If you are in the mood for a peaceful stroll, take the Channing Blake Meadow Walk for beautiful views of rural farmland while learning about the geology, natural history, and Native and European influences on the land from interpretive signs along the way.

For more historical sights, visit Vermont's Rockingham Meeting House, a National Historic Landmark that remains practically unchanged from the time of its construction in 1787-1801. The meetinghouse was used for civic business and Town Meetings until 1869. As you gaze at its Puritan simplicity, imagine the spirited religious revivals and heated political discussions that took place inside this innocuous two-story building. The neighboring cemetery houses graves dating back to 1776, and is said by locals to contain some of the finest gravestone art found in New England.

Do you love war history?  Just across the border in Charlestown, New Hampshire is a living history museum, Fort No. 4. The fort showcases life on the frontier during the French and Indian War between 1754-1763.  In addition to battle reenactments, artisans and other museum volunteers in period dress demonstrate the day-to-day chores of colonial settlers. At the museum, meander past province houses, lean-tos, the Great Hall, a working blacksmith shop, and a watchtower.

In Littleton, New Hampshire, near the northern terminus of the byway, the Littleton Grist Mill sits on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River. Constructed in 1798, this mill eventually became the cultural hub of Littleton. Today, this recently restored, working museum still operates, grinding grain using huge millstones just like they did in the 19th century.  The mill offers its freshly ground grain products, including flour, mixes, and cereal, for sale, too.

Rich and exciting, the byway brings New England history to life. Museums and historical sites yearn to tell tales of hundreds of years ago. Architectural gems glitter like the waters of the Connecticut River. In autumn, brilliant foliage provides for spectacular photos. Between the adventures of the past and the escapades of the present, the Connecticut River Byway is an enticing venture into a vibrant, rural culture.

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