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September 23, 2004
• Walking through history Walking through history Weather willing, don't let the upcoming weekend of Heritage Walks go by without stretching your legs and expanding your knowledge of the rich history of our region from the Vermont border all the way down to Litchfield County. The Upper Housatonic Heritage Area and its supporting organizations have organized over 45 fascinating (and free!) guided walks, bike rides, bus tours and hikes on the weekend of Oct. 2-3. The walks range from challenging 10-mile hikes along the Appalachian Trail to a wheelchair accessible stroll on the Mary Flynn trail in Stockbridge. Each of them is led by volunteer expert guides steeped in knowledge about the region and eager to share it. History buffs can explore Shaker waterpower technology in Pittsfield, New Marlboro's mills, the Richmond iron works or Eden Hill’s gilded age estate. Historical town walks will cover Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield in Massachusetts, and Norfolk, Kent and Falls Village in Connecticut. Nature lovers might be drawn to the fall birding walk at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield or one of the 14 hikes along the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts that are offered this year. There are also several "bike hikes" to choose from, including ones covering North and South Egremont led by architectural designer and local historian Nancy Kuntz, and another one in Canaan, Conn., that takes riders along beautiful backroads. The Upper Housatonic Heritage Area is a not-for-profit group working to have the region declared a national heritage area in recognition of its valuable historical, cultural and natural resources. Legislation to confer this designation has passed the House of Representatives in Congress and is awaiting passage by the Senate. The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Act would designate the region as part of the National Park Service system, and would authorize $1 million in grants annually, up to a total of $10 million, for activities that conserve significant natural, historical, cultural, and scenic resources, and provide educational and recreational opportunities in the area.
Ron Jones, president of the group, still hasn't decided, but he’s drawn to Eden Hill in Stockbridge, where he’s never been, and the Dalton-Hinsdale walk along a recently cleared river trail, led by Dennis Regan of the Housatonic Valley Association. Ivory encourages individuals and organizations who are knowledgeable about scenic, historic and cultural aspects in the upper Housatonic region to get in touch with him if they'd like to propose walks for next year. "We’ve barely dented the surface of everything this area has to offer," said Ivory, noting that other heritage areas, like those on the Hudson Valley or Cape Cod, sponsor over 100 walks a year on similar weekends. "It's great fun, a great family activity, and a great way to see the beauty of the area and learn more about its history," he said. For more details and descriptions of this year's Heritage Walks, visit www.upperhousatonicheritage.org or contact Paul Ivory at 528-4384 or housatonic@hotmail.com to request a brochure.
The walks and hikes Saturday, Oct. 2 Walks 1 through 14 cover the entire Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts. Dress appropriately for the weather and don't forget lunch and water. 1. South Egremont, 8:30 a.m. Sages Ravine to Race Brook Falls Trail: Ten miles. Meet at Race Brook Trail parking area on Route 41 in South Egremont, 3 miles south of Jug End Road. 2. South Egremont, 9 a.m. Race Brook Falls Trail to the east and north to Jug End Road: A strenuous hike of 7 miles. Meet at the Race Brook Trailhead on Route 41. 3. Great Barrington, 9 a.m. Home Road to Benedict Pond: A moderately strenuous hike: 7.5 miles. Meet at Guido's Market, across Route 7 from Great Barrington Fairgrounds. 4. Tyringham, 9 a.m. Fernside Road to Goose Pond Road: A moderate 7.5-mile hike. Meet near the Tyringham Fire Station on the Main Road. 5. Lee, 9 a.m. Route 20, Lee, to PIttsfield Road, Washington: 9.5 miles. Meet at the Appalachian Trail trailhead on Route 20 just east of the Lee/Becket town line. 6. Cheshire, 9 a.m. Route 8, Cheshire, to Mount Greylock summit: A strenuous 7 mile hike. Meet at the Jones' Nose parking area, approximately 4 miles past the Mt. Greylock Visitors’ Center, Rockwell Road, Lanesboro. 7. North Adams, 9 a.m. Pattison Road to Mount Greylock summit: A 5.5-mile, strenuous hike. Meet in the Heritage Park parking area. 8. Williamstown, 9 a.m. Massachusetts Avenue to the Vermont border: 8 miles of fairly strenuous hiking. Meet at Cole Ave and North Hoosic Road in Williamstown. 9. Tyringham, 9:30 a.m. Benedict Pond to Tyringham Cobble: Moderately strenuous, 9 miles. Meet at the Trustees of Reservations Tyringham Cobble parking lot on Jerusalem Road, Tyringham. 10. Pittsfield, 9:30 a.m. Pittsfield Road, Washington, to Grange Hall Road, Dalton: A pleasant, moderate hike of 7 miles. Meet at the Williams Street Plaza, Pittsfield. 11. Sheffield, 10 a.m. Jug End Road, Sheffield, to Boardman Street: A moderate hike of 5.5 miles. Meet at Guido's Market, across Route 7 from Great Barrington Fairgrounds. 12. Lee, 10 a.m. Route 20 to Goose Pond Road: 5.5 miles of moderate, scenic walking. Meet at the Friendly's on Route 20 in Lee. 13. Cheshire, 10 a.m. Cheshire to Gulf Road, Dalton: About 8 miles of mostly moderate hiking. Meet at the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail parking lot on Depot Street in Cheshire. 14. Dalton, 1 p.m. Housatonic Street to Grange Hall Road: 4 mile round trip. Meet at the Appalachian Trail crossing at the junction of Housatonic Street and Depot Street in Dalton. 15. New Milford, Conn., 9 a.m. Hunt Hill Farm Natural Area: The farm is located at 44 Upland Road, New Milford. From the Berkshires, take Route 7 south to Cornwall Bridge, CT. Turn left (south) onto Route 45 to New Preston. Take Route 202 south towards New Milford. In Northville, take a left onto Upland Road and the Silo Store Gallery and Cooking School (the starting point). 1.5 hours, 1.5 miles. 16. Egremont and Sheffield, 9 a.m. Egremont bicycle tour: Meet at the library parking lot, located at the junction of Routes 23/41 and the Sheffield Egremont Road in South Egremont. 1.25 hours, 8 miles. 17. Great Barrington, 9 a.m. Great Barrington Heritage Walk: 2 hours, 3.5 miles. Meet in the parking lot of the Big Y Shopping Center on South Main St., across from the Fairgrounds, Great Barrington. 528-1357. 18. Lenox, 9:30 a.m. Lenox Mountain loop; A 2 hour, 2 miles scenic short walk Meet at Olivia's Overlook. From Tanglewood in Lenox, drive up Lenox Mountain Road (the right fork after the parking lots at the Main Gate on Route 183). Olivia’s Overlook is at the top of the ridge on the left. 19. Norfolk, Conn., 10 a.m. A walk through Norfolk's Inductrial Age: Led by historian Richard Byrne. Meet in the center of Norfolk at the Norfolk Historical Society, 13 Village Green, at the intersection of Routes 44 and 272 (south). 20. Lenox, 10 a.m. Exploring The Mount's grounds and gardens: Betsy Anderson, lead garden guide, leads 1.5 hours, 1 mile tour. Tour starts at the Ticket Office at The Mount, 2 Plunkett Street (off Route 7), Lenox. 21. Sharon, Conn., 10 a.m. A bus tour with several short hikes around historic Sharon: Tour with historian and author Ed Kirby. Pre-registration required by Friday, Sept. 24 with $10 per person. To register call 860-364-5688. Hikes at each stop are short and generally fairly easy. Allow about 4.5 hours. Meet at the Sharon Historical Society, 18 Main Street, Sharon, Conn. 22. Dalton and Hinsdale, 10 a.m. Old Mill Trail exploration: Meet at the Partridgefield Trading Co, 371 Old Dalton Road, Hinsdale. 1 hour, 3/4 mile. 23. Sheffield, 10 a.m. Architectural walk: Call 229-2694 to reserve a place. The walk begins at the Society's Dan Raymond House headquarters, 159 Main Street (Route 7), Sheffield. Approximately 1 hour. 24. New Marlboro, 10 a.m. Mill walk: Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet when wading across the Konkapot River. Tour starts at the New Marlboro Town Hall parking lot, Mill River. From Sheffield, take Maple Street east approximately 10 miles to Mill River. 2 miles 25. Canaan, Conn. 10 a.m. Roads less traveled: A 3-hour, 25 mile distance bike hike. Meet in the parking lot on the southerly side of Route 44/7, across from McDonalds, Canaan. 26. Stockbridge, 10 a.m. Main Street, Stockbridge: Meet at the Stockbridge Library Room, basement level of the Library, at the corner of Main and Elm Street, Stockbridge. 1 hour; approximately 1-mile. 27. Stockbridge, 12:00 p.m. Eden Hill: A Gilded Age estate: The tour starts at the Marian Gift Shop adjacent to the mansion. From the junction of Routes 7 and 102 (Main Street) in the center of Stockbridge, turn onto Pine Street and head straight up the hill to the Marian entrance. Follow signs to parking and the tour. Approximately 45 minutes, 1/4 mile. 28. Monterey, 1 p.m.
29. West Cornwall, Conn., 1 p.m. Housatonic Riverbelt Greenway: To reach West Cornwall, travel east on Route 128 from its junction with Route 7, cross the covered bridge, and take the first right onto Lower River Road. Park in the small parking area on Lower River Road just south of the library, 0.5-1.0 miles. 30. Lee, 1:30 p.m. Lee's historic Main Street: Meet at the Lee Chamber of Commerce booth in Park Square, Main Street (Route 20), westbound side in downtown Lee. 1 hour, 1 mile. 31. Pittsfield, 2 p.m. Fall migration at Canoe Meadows: Walk starts at the parking lot to Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Holmes Road, Pittsfield. 2 hours, approximately 1.5 miles. 32. Stockbridge, 2 p.m. Autumn stroll on the Mary V. Flynn Trail: Wheelchair accessible. Meet at the Goodrich Memorial Footbridge at the end of Park Street, Stockbridge. A Mobil gas station is on the corner of Park and Route 7 at the southern entrance to the town. Park at the far end of the Recreation Park and walk a short distance to the end of the street. 45 minutes; 1.2 miles round trip. 33. Stockbridge, 2:30 p.m. Site, Studio, Sculpture: Meet at the front terrace of the Norman Rockwell Museum, located on Route 183, .5 mile south of Route 102. 45 minutes; 1 mile or less with one hill. 34. Great Barrington, 3 p.m. Great Barrington Housatonic River Walk: Meet at River Walk's "Upstream" entrance, 195 Main Street. 1 hour, 0.5 miles. 35. Falls Village, Conn., 3 p.m. A walking tour of Falls Village: Meet at the Falls Village Railroad Depot on Railroad Street, diagonally across from the firehouse. 1 hour, 0.9 mile. 36. Huntsville, Conn., 12:30 p.m. The Huntsville Walk: Meet at the 1804 South Canaan Meeting House on Route 63 near the intersection with Route 7 just outside Falls Village. Sunday, Oct. 3 37. Dalton and Hinsdale, 10 a.m. Old Mill Trail exploration: Meet at the Partridgefield Trading Co, 371 Old Dalton Road, Hinsdale. 1 hour, 3/4 mile. 38. Lenox, 10 a.m. Exploring The Mount's grounds and gardens: Tour starts at the Ticket Office at The Mount, 2 Plunkett Street (off Route 7), Lenox. See www.Edith Wharton.org for directions. 1.5 hours, 1 mile. 39. Kent, Conn. 11 a.m. Main Street of yesteryear: Walk starts at the Swift House, next to the Patco Station in the center of Kent. 1 hour; 1 mile. 40. Stockbridge, noon Eden Hill: A Gilded Age estate: The tour starts at the Marian Gift Shop adjacent to the mansion. From the junction of Routes 7 and 102 (Main Street) in the center of Stockbridge, turn onto Pine Street and head straight up the hill to the Marian entrance. Follow signs to parking and the tour. Approximately 45 minutes, 1/4 mile. 41. Monterey, 1 p.m. Fish Hatchery tour: Starts at the Wildlife Center at the Hatchery, located on River Road (off Route 57 in Hartsville), Monterey. 1.5 hours. Less than 1/4 mile. 42. Great Barrington, 1 p.m. Great Barrington's African-American heritage: Led by Bernard Drew. Meet at the Rain Garden at the entrance to River Walk at the foot of Church Street, behind Searles Middle School (Bridge Street), 2 hours, .5 mile. 43. Lime Rock, Conn. 2 p.m. Historic Lime Rock: Meet at Walker Hall of Trinity Episcopal Church, located opposite the Outfield Entrance of Lime Rock Park on Route 112. Enter via Dugway Road and park in Trinity Field, 1.5 hours, 2 miles. 44. Richmond, 2 p.m. Richmond Iron Works tour: Walk starts at the Richmond Library, on the right side of Route 41, approximately .5 mile north of West Stockbridge/ Richmond town line. 2 hours, 1.5 miles 45. Stockbridge, 2 p.m. Autumn Stroll on the Mary V. Flynn Trail: Wheelchair accessible. Meet at the Goodrich Memorial Footbridge at the end of Park Street, Stockbridge. Park at the far end of the Recreation Park and walk a short distance to the end of the street. (Limited parking at the end of the street will be reserved for those with restricted abilities.) 45 minutes; 1.2 miles round trip. 46. North Egremont, 2 p.m. Egremont bicycle tour: Explore the history of North Egremont and Sheffield on a bicycle hike. Meet at the parking lot of the Academy Building, located at the junction of Route 23/41 and the Sheffield Egremont Road in South Egremont. 1 hour, 6 miles. 47. Salisbury, Conn. 3 p.m. Salisbury Heritage Walk: Meet at the fountain by the Salisbury Town Hall, along Routes 44/41 in the center of the town, 2 miles. 48. Pittsfield, 3 p.m. Shaker water power tour: Meet at the Hancock Shaker Village Visitor Center, main entrance, on Route 20, five miles west of Pittsfield. 2 hours, 1 mile. 49. Falls Village, Conn., 3 p.m. A walking tour of Falls Village: Meet at the Falls Village Railroad Depot on Railroad Street, diagonally across from the firehouse, 1 hour, 0.9 mile. |
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