spotstory: spots near Ware River Spillway

The Smith Mansion (Quabbin)

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:08:46 +0000

This eighteen room, six thousand square foot mansion was built by a Ms. Marion Smith in the late 1930s. The Smith family developed the weaving industry in the town of Enfield, Massachusetts. One of two villages in Enfield, Smith's Village was named for the family who developed its industry. The family brought a number of Irish weavers to the area; the cotton, wool, and wool-silk cloth was world-renowned for its quality.During the deconstruction of Enfield and Smith's Village in...

Abandoned Elevated Track (Gilbertville, MA)

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:45:24 +0000

On the Hardwick (Gilbertville), Massachusetts bank of the Ware River runs a few hundred feed of abandoned elevated rail track.The track runs north under Bridge Street and disappears from view. South of Bridge Street, the rail starts level with the pavement and gradually increases elevation. Several hundred feet south of Bridge Street at a height of about fifty feet, the elevated rail abruptly stops.Just beyond the end of the elevated rail are some factory buildings. These buildings appear...

Gilbertville Covered Bridge

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:11:24 +0000

The Gilbertville Covered Bridge spans the Ware River and joins the Massachusetts towns of Ware and Hardwick (in Gilbertville village). The bridge also joins the Massachusetts Hampshire (Ware) and Worcester (Hardwick) counties. The bridge was built in 1886 and restored for its 100-year anniversary in 1986. It is one of three remaining indigenous covered bridges in Massachusetts (the Smith bridge in Colrain and the Burkeville bridge in Conway are the other surviving examples).The bridge is...

Our Lady of the Elms College

Wed, 02 May 2007 16:22:35 +0000

Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee is now known as Elms College after going co-ed in 1998. It was originally named on August 22, 1899 and was established as an academy for girls, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The academy was first used to train girls to become teachers in Massachusetts. It became a Catholic liberal arts college in February of 1928. The college sits on 25 acres of land in Chicopee, MA, right outside of Springfield.Elms College website:...

Highland Cattle

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:17:10 +0000

These Highland Cattle are very impressive animals if you have never seen one before. There is a small area by the side of the road where you can pull over a view the cattle. Children are sure to get a kick out of these Highland Cattle. http://www.suttonmass.org/links/suttonknoll/

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:23:56 +0000

Purgatory Chasm is a state park in Sutton, MA known for its rock climbing and hiking trails. The rock walls can reach heights of 70 feet from the upper edge to the chasm floor. There are public picnic areas provided as well. The chasm was formed approximately 14000 years ago and the state reservation was established in 1919. Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation

Fisherville Mill, Grafton, MA

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 15:32:17 +0000

The Fisherville Mill was a 19th century mill that gave name to the Fisherville section of Grafton. Sitting along the Blackstone River and Fisherville Pond, this rather large mill was opened in 1880. Previous to this, mill the site held a smaller mill that was build in 1831 and had been expanded several times before it had at least partially burned down. [Postcard of first mill on the site.] These mills were owned by W.A. Fisher, and early on owned in partnership with Peter Farnum who also...

Boston Marathon Starting Line

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:23:41 +0000

The starting line of the Boston Marathon is located in a quaint square in Hopkinton, MA.

Boston Marathon 1 Mile Marker