6 minute read
Midwinter Road Trip- Massachusetts
By Renée Gordon History Travel Writer
Massachusetts, filled with natural, cultural and historic marvels, is worthy of wandering in every season. The humid continental climate ensures four distinct seasons with long winters and shorter summers. From the first settlements, the economy was driven by the climate. Because the growing season was briefer than average, the colonists concentrated on the fur trade, lumber and subsistence farming. From these commonalities settlements began to develop based on their population, belief systems and skills.
Springfield began as a settlement on the shore of the Connecticut River in 1636 and the river quickly emerged as the main traders’ “highway” bearing goods both upstream and downstream. Two rivers fed into the Connecticut creating a river transit intersection that, coupled with the Boston Post Road, made Springfield as a significant transportation hub. In January of 1646 the town hired a blacksmith introducing metal work into the economy. The last years of the 1600s witnessed the onset of the industrial revolution as mills were established along waterways and the area became known for its gunsmiths and John Pynchon founded an iron works in 1697. Springfield, from its inception, was a city of creativity, innovation, skilled industry and diversity.
Springfield Arsenal was established by George Washington and the Continental Government in 1777. It was designated an armory in 1794. They produced army weapons from muskets to M1 rifles until it closed in 1968. A later 1847 armory on the campus of Springfield Technical Community College showcases the world’s largest collection of historic American military firearms.
An African American Heritage Trail exemplifies the city’s stance on and involvement with the question of slavery. Because of access to water, rail and road transportation Springfield was a haven for fugitive slaves. It is estimated that there were as many as 20 underground railroad stops. John Brown moved there in 1846 and it is there that he first met with Frederick Douglass in 1847. The 1850 Fugitive Slave Act caused some of the 250 blacks living there to move to Canada and moved others to become resistant when confronted by slave hunters. Slavery was abolished in MA in 1791. africanamericanheritagetrailsgf.org
Jewels in the city’s crown are in downtown Springfield. These five superior museums, arrayed around a quadrangle, feature art, history, science and the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss and Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Since 2016 they are Smithsonian affiliated. Each museum has highlights but not to be missed are the world’s largest collection of Indian Cycles and artifacts in the History Museum. The Indian Manufacturing Company was established in Springfield in 1901. The company produced America’s first brand of motorcycle. The amazing World of Dr. Seuss honors the life and works of Dr. Seuss. Ground floor galleries are dedicated to his books and characters and the 2nd-floor exhibits his studio and personal items. @springfieldmuseums
James Naismith invented basketball, while a physical education instructor, at the Springfield YMCA in 1891. His goal was to create a sport that athletes could play indoors in the colder months. Springfield is the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The museum was established to preserve the history of the game and honor people who have impacted the game and stimulate interest in the sport. More than 400 inductees are in the Hall of Fame, there are greater than 40,000 square feet of exhibit space filled with videos, mini-galleries, memorabilia and photographs and The Court of Dreams where visitors can experience the game firsthand. @hoophall
MGM Springfield is a centrally located 4-star hotel and casino. The public spaces are beautifully appointed and the 240 guestrooms have state-ofthe-art technology and deluxe amenities. There are 8 restaurants and a renowned sports bar. @mgmspringfield
The Nimpuc Indians lived in the area now Worcester when the first European settlers arrived in the 1670s. They established a colony named Quinsigamond Plantation and in 1684 renamed it Worcester. The colonists were driven out twice by the Nimpuc before founding a permanent settlement in 1713. In general, the people were always politically minded and took up such causes as abolition and women’s rights.
The 1898 Worcester Art Museum is an outstanding small museum that interprets a collection encompassing 50 centuries. Highlights of a tour are the internationally famous 3,000 Japanese print Bancroft Collection and a reconstructed 12th-century Romanesque chapter house from a French monastery. @worcesterartmuseum
Salisbury Mansion is Worcester’s only historic house museum. The home was built in 1772 as a house and shop by Stephen Salisbury in High-Style Georgian with Federal touches added later. The store no longer functioned after 1812 and the mansion became completely a residence with all of the space once used for the store as living quarters. It now reflects the 1830s time period based on the mansion’s historic documents. Family furnishings are displayed throughout the home.
Wachusett Mountain is 2006-ft. high and offers a menu of events for all seasons. A number of festivals are hosted that include vendors, entertainment and food trucks. The 3,000-acre Wachusett Mountain State Reservation encourages taking to the trails to hike or bike for panoramic views. In winter there are 27 ski trails and 8 lifts with a1,000-ft. vertical drop. Ski packages, rentals, clinics and lessons are available. Wachusett Mountain Peak’s lift will take you up the mountain for spectacular views. @wachusettmtn
Groton began as a trading post. The native Nashaway referred to it as Petapawag, “swampy land.” In 1655 colonists settled there and renamed it The Plantation of Groton. The colonists found the land good for farming and a town was established.
Gibbet Hill Farm and the Gibbet Farm Grill are located in Groton, MA. The Grill is on the cutting edge of the farmto-table movement and 3-acres of the farm are set aside for the purpose of growing produce for use in the on-site restaurant. The chef creates the menu based on available seasonal and fresh local food. The dishes are phenomenal and give diners the opportunity to experience New England heritage cuisine. Dine in an incredible setting. Reservations are strongly recommended. @ gibbethillgrill
Amtrak is ideal for this trip. Travelers get an opportunity to enjoy the passing scenery without the hassle of navigating from place to place. Most sites are within walking distance of each other and accommodation and dining options. See something unexpected that takes your breath away!
