Location: Eleventh St, the village of Turner Falls in the town of Montague, MA
Parking: There is a small area by the shoulder of the road to park. There is also off street parking available and most people seem to ride the bicycle or walk or run along the bridge and walkway.
Cost: Free
Highlights: Peaceful area (when it’s not rush hour), scenic, abundant wildlife, views of the Turner Falls Canal
This may not be the bridge of Turner Falls but it is a bridge in Turner Falls. The more popular bridges in Turner Falls are Gill-Montague and the Turner Falls Roadway. But, since I was in Montague visiting the Montague Bookmill, I thought I would make a quick stop here.
This 11th Street Bridge pictured below was built by the Turner Falls Company. According to the Historic American Engineering Record, the bridge is a double-intersection Warren through truss, with a pair of trusses on either side of the roadway, and lateral bracing between each pair, but none over the roadway.
This 2.5 mile section of the Turner Falls Bikeway. The bikeway, which people also use for jogging and walking, is wide enough to accommodate heavy traffic. The walkway and bridge offer pretty views of the river and surrounding community.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
There are additional bridges on the roadway. Some, like the partially destructed bridge below, is no longer in use. Out of service since the industrial shops closed some time ago, the foundations of the bridge still remain. These remains are symbolic of the jobs and economic downturn the other otherwise idyllic neighborhood felt after many of the jobs left.
These steps led off the main trail but didn’t seem to go anywhere as the street and residences were right next to the trail. It may give walkers a closer look at some of the wildlife I heard rustling in the trees and underbrush.
There’s no swimming allowed in the canal. But, a life ring is there, just in case.
Even though the Falls Turner Canal walkway is only a segment of the bikeway path, it is a great place for a peaceful stroll along a beautiful waterway.
Please connect with me on Facebook to see additional photos, videos and other posts that are not included in my blog posts: New England Nomad
Parking: about 8 parking spots. Parking is also available at the beach which is located about half a mile away on Quincy Shore Drive and is an easy walk to Moswetuset.
Highlights: great views, easy trail, secluded, not usually very busy, a lot of historical significance
Mosewtuset may seem much like all the other small parks that dot the Massachusetts shoreline. But, its significance in the historical landscape of Massachusetts and all of the colonies and commonwealths should never be minimized.
Moswetuset is not only significant because the commonwealth of Massachusetts derived its name from Moswetuset but it is also the original trading place of Chickatawbot Sacamore and Myles Standish in 1621 that spurred the trade of the early settlers and the Native Americans. Moswetuset was also the area they used as their planting grounds.
What does a funky name like Moswetuset mean, you may ask. Moswetuset has been translated into “shaped like an arrowhead” (the area does have a distinct arrowhead shape) and “site of the great house.” The area is shielded by rows of trees and growth.
The trail is an easy loop with a very minor incline.
Only underscoring how small things can be very big in their place in history, Moswetuset is only a quarter of a mile loop, if that. But, it does offer some pretty views and it is a nice place to take a short stroll or sit on one of the many rocks along the beach (Moswetuset is located next to Wollaston Beach). It was low tide when I went so I was able to get out onto the rocks and get some decent views of the water and the surrounding neighborhood of Squantum (which is technically part of Quincy) which is in the background of the photos.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Of course, what would a park or attraction in Quincy be without graffiti? There were some interesting works of graffiti at Moswetuset.
Moswetuset is a popular place for dog walkers. But, for some reason, there weren’t any dog walkers at Moswetuset when I visited. I found Buddy, though, on my way to my car as I walked along the beach.
Location: Main St, Agawam, MA (corner of School St & Main St)
Parking: There is no off street parking but there are some lots across the street and a small parking area just before the memorial.
On this important day, I thought it would be good to showcase one of the many war memorials in the Western Massachusetts area. The Veterans Green Memorial Park, nestled in front of the Phelps Elementary School, is one of these tasteful memorials.
The memorial, which recognizes every person who has died in war from the Agawam area dating all the way back to the American Revolutionary War.
Due to the inclement weather and unpredictable weather patterns of the area (it is New England after all), parades and memorials were cancelled this year which gave me full access to the site but probably disappointed a lot of likely parade watchers. There is usually a ceremony each year at the site and it looked strange not seeing any parades or people reveling in the streets and sidewalks during the day.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The Benjamin Phelps Elementary School is located behind the memorial and a gazebo stands just off the side of the memorial.
What stands out most about the memorial is the bell. It symbolizes so much; the tones rung out during remembrances, the readiness and alert nature of our armed forces and the ringing out of victory and freedom.
Happy memorial and remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Do you like books? How about mills? Then I have just the place for you. But, this is no ordinary book store. A former gristmill now operating as a used book store, the Bookmill has gone through many changes throughout its history. But, it still keeps true to its beginnings. The structure is largely the very same one that operated as a mill so long ago and the brook that runs along the two floor book shop is the very same one they used to power the gristmill so long ago.
Upon arriving at the Bookmill, the first thing you notice is the brook fed by a waterfall adjacent to the shop.
A short easy to walk path takes you to the source of the stream of water.
The short waterfall and stream can be pretty fast in some spots. But, when I came to visit it slowed down after it plummeted down the waterfall.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
After the short walk back up the trail, you can access the bookstore by a wooden walkway with some more views of the waterfall and stream.
Or, you can just walk straight across (the easier route, less scenic route).
The great thing about the Bookmill is that it has kept much of the original charm and design of the past. Narrow stairwells and cozy corners are the hallmark of the shop. Memorabilia, such as old style typewriters, are scattered throughout the store. The staff doesn’t rush you nor do you feel a sense that profit is their main driver. Service and a respect for books seems to be the most important thing t the staff. It’s a great place for any book lover and anyone who loves to lounge around historic places.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
They even have newspaper clippings and memorabilia along the walls in the more private areas.
The Bookmill is not the only shop in the area. In the shopping area there is also a cafe, The Lady Killigrew Cafe, located next to the book store and The Alvah Stone, a restaurant. There are also two art studios and an entertainment/media store called Turn It Up. Turn It Up specializes in selling cd’s, dvd’s, vinyl and even cassette tapes. They also sell other memorabilia. It’s a unique store in a very unique shopping area.
The owner of Turn It Up let me photograph his 10 year old dog and part owner, Daisy.
Below is a video of the waterfall and stream next to the Bookmill.
Please stop by and connect with me on my Facebook page: New England Nomad
Location: Ross Parking Garage, Ross Way & Parking Way, Quincy, MA
Parking: Not for long
Hours: Not many more left
Like a lot of the biggish towns that many of us grew up in, Quincy, Massachusetts has seen a lot of changes over the years. Businesses have come and gone. But, the one thing that has remained a staple of the area for so long may seem rather mundane, a parking lot. As funny as it may seem, it is the one place most everyone has been to, either in their car or their friend’s car. Or, for some other reason people may not want to divulge.
The demolition of the garage, slated for the end of May, is just another example of the changing face of the Quincy landscape. The three story garage, which has 700 parking spots and has been around since 1984, will be replaced by a hotel. Even though it’s just a garage, and not a very state of the art or pretty one at that, it represents the changing of the city. And some people are pretty shook up about it for some reason.
Since the garage was blowing demolished sometime in the near future and the garage was being closed for good May 23, the city organized a block party and let some of the artists in the area paint some murals and art work on the walls of the garage the weekend before the garage was officially closed.
I caught this artist working on his mural
Here is the end result of all of his work
On the other side of this wall, I found this cool Quincy themed mural.
The road next to the garage was blocked off to traffic so people could congregate and enjoy the art work like the murals and art below.
Even the little kids at the block party got into the action.
The paintings in the upper levels of the garage were more graffiti than artsy.
“Be fearless in pursuit of what puts your soul on fire”(an unattributed famous quote)
I didn’t realize just how creepy abandoned parking garages can be until I went to photograph the Ross Parking Garage on its last day. It just doesn’t seem right.
Goodbye, Ross Parking Garage. You’ll be missed. Well, not really.
Parking: There is a lot that can accommodate about 30 or so cars behind the waterfall off Meridian St (a side road off Deerfield St where the bridge is) or you can park in one of the lots of the local establishments and walk to the park, after patronizing them of course. You can’t park on Deerfield St.
It’s not often that you see a silver fish on a pole while you’re driving down the main streets of a busy suburb. So, when I saw Brookie, the mascot of River Works Park, I had to stop and check it out.
The River Works Park is a quiet place (if you can ignore the passing traffic on Deerfield Rd) where residents and visitors can sit on the benches or walk along the sidewalk or bridge and admire the Green River below.
For a roadside attraction, the River Works Park is full of surprises and beauty. One of these surprises is the walk way along the sidewalk that is blocked off by a fence. Of course, there was an opening in the wire fence. The views from the walk way weren’t so great though and I only managed to get a few scratches when I walked along it.
The walkway, which was dedicated in November of 1999, has several memorials and plaques along the sidewalk. This bench was dedicated to Barbara Tillmanns, Greenfield’s “#1 cheerleader.” Tillmanns was a town councilor for Greenfield and very active in the community. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 72. One of her endeavors was to begin an initiative to establish a series of commemorative benches throughout Greenfield. Here’s one:
A sign remains where the J. Russell Co once stood. The company made Green River Knives. Greenfield Tap & Die also stood there once upon a time. The J. Russell Co and Greenfield Tap & Die were the main employers of the area for much of the 1800’s and the J. Russell Co made the highly touted Green River Knife.
If you look closely at Brookie, the mascot of River Works Park, you can see the forks, spoons, cutlery and other utensils collected from the residents of Greenfield and Franklin County that make up the shape of the fish as a tribute to the J. Russell Cutlery Co. (you may have to zoom into the photo).
The aptly named Green River, runs through the park. There were some modest waves and ripples in the river. The reason for this will soon be evident.
I thought made for a pretty backdrop.
However, just beyond the bridge, we found this pretty waterfall.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
There is no sidewalk on the side of the road where the best views of the waterfalls are so I had to keep the video short since I shot it during a red light.
There is a lot of interesting historical information about the J. Russell Co and the area which you can access in the links below
As the name suggests, there are lots of birds to watch at Francis William Bird Park. Either there are lots of robins at the park or I photographed the same one over and over.
There are more than birds at the park to catch your attention.
Such as trees and flowers
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
the ponds and streams
and the bridges (each bridge is made slightly differently)
The trails are easy and branch off to side trails. But, since it is all concentrated in one area it is hard to get lost there.
The tree below was planted in memory of Charles Sumner Bird, a paper manufacturer, candidate for governor of Massachusetts, resident of Walpole MA and the son of William Francis Bird.
Tip of the day; don’t get too close to a goose and his or her Cheetos.
You’re not supposed to feed the birds at William Francis (and you’re especially not supposed to feed them Cheetos). It’s not good for them physically and it creates more messes on the trail. But, of course, people still do.
Along the trails, there are benches and places to enjoy the outdoors. Or, you can just chill on a rock or log. There is also a restroom (open seasonly)
Charlot (pronounced Char-lo) is a local (local to Walpole) artist, storyteller and cultural and historical expert. He specializes in Haitian art and culture. He likes to go to the park to paint and relax. He was kind enough to let me photograph him painting. He calls the first painting Silhouette Of The Drum. he was also touching up a painting he had finished previously.
Charlot is very talented. You can find out more about him here.
There are also a variety of attractions for sportsmen and sportswomen. The trails make for great running surfaces. There are four tennis courts as well as a basketball backboard (but not a court) . There are also musical and other types of events during the summer by the main field.
Birds aren’t the only animals you will find at Francis William Bird Park. The park is also popular spot for dogs. The trails and open spaces make it a great place to take your pooch.
Henry is a 3 year old Basset Hound. Cute freckles on his left front paw!
Sophia is a 5 year old Newfoundland. Sophia reminded me of a Newfoundland we had. Beautiful dog.
Buddha is a 3 month old Hound mix. I love the eyebrows!
The beach, dogs and summer-like weather. Who could ask for more? Not me. Usually, I do most of my photography and trips during the weekend. But, with unusually high temperatures for this time of the year (60’s and low 70’s) and later sunsets, I decided to head to the local beach in the hopes of photographing some cute dogs. I wasn’t disappointed. There are so many distractions at the beach, especially for our furry friends. But, they all posed so well and made my job easy.
I met Tooko, 4 years old, in the parking lot. Tooko was a barker, but a friendly barker. His bark was much worse than his bite (he really doesn’t bite). But, he sure does likes to play. We played for a while and I continued on the way to the beach.
Pedro is a 3 year old boxer. Loved his markings.
Chuckles (on the left), that is the name of the dog not the man – at least I hope it is, is am 11 year old Chihuahua. Buddy is a 7 year old Cocker Spaniel. They were a little camera shy but I still thought they were cute dogs.
Marley is an 8 year old Beagle. Her guardians also think she might have some fox hound in her. I have always been a sucker for Beagles! So, I had to get her photo.
Penny (short for Penelope) is an 8 month Corgi and Australian Sheepdog. As if on command, Penny lied down on the sand and struck a pose. Her markings were very striking. You go, Penny!
Kayser is a 4 year old German Shepherd and a Massachusetts native. The color of his coat and his sharp features caught my eye. He clocks in at 110 lbs.
Annie is a 3 year old Shepherd Husky. Her sibling is Oakley. Get it…Annie Oakley. Annie is from Tennessee. She’s the only ten I see in the photo! Love the one ear up and one ear down pose and she looked very pretty against the rising sunset.
Each year hundreds of kayak and canoe racers come to the Western Massachusetts to test their mettle against the rapids of the Westfield River.
The Westfield River, one of the longer rivers in Western Massachusetts, runs 78.1 miles and has a 497 square miles drainage area consisting of several tributaries. It attracts enthusiasts, recreational competitors and people who just like to challenge themselves. It also attracts an array of boating fans.
The Westfield River Whitewater Races, which have been held every year since 1953, are the oldest consecutively run canoe races in the US. People come from all over New England and farther to participate in the races. The races consist of novice and expert divisions. The novices race lasts 8 miles and the experts race for 12 miles. The participants race in two person canoes or one person kayaks. As if the rapids weren’t challenging enough, the race officials have the water behind the dam held for three days before the race to give more momentum to the current.
I never knew how popular kayaking, canoeing and boating was in Western Massachusetts. It was hard enough to find a good place to pull over or park along the route of the race. I was able to find a place on the side of the road to catch some of the novices who had already started.
Since the river wasn’t very active here, we drove to the Knightville Dam, the launch point for the race. The area was very pretty and the river was more active here. I even caught some enthusiasts who weren’t participating in the race.
At the main parking area, one of the racers let me photograph his boat.
Still not happy with my location, I found a better spot along the side of the river past a precarious rocky decline. Watching the racers expressions was fascinating. Some were determined. Others looked focused and even a bit bewildered. Others just looked like they were having a grand time. Then, there were others who didn’t seem to be having fun at all.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Not every racer made it to the end.
Eventually, they were able to wade across the river to the other side, no easy task given the strength of the rapids.
Monty, an 8 year old Siberian Husky, came along to watch the race.
Below is a video of a canoe racing tandem fighting the rapids. You can hear the strength of the tide. Rumor has it that it gets even rougher farther down the river.
The Keystone Arches Bridge Trail is full of surprises. One of these surprises is a waterfall which is only a short jaunt down the main trail (about quarter of a mile from the entrance).
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Another short walk brings you to the main attraction, the Keystone Arch Bridge.
The bridge was made from local Chester blue granite and reach up to 70 feet. There is a weathered, crumbling stairway up the side of the bridge. Bear in mind, the stairs are a little tricky if you do take this route. I took this stairway as far as I could. The views were very pretty.
There is a train railroad that continues on to the bridge
The Keystone Arches Bridge Trail encompasses area that used to be an artist colony. There are remnants of the colony present off the main trail
There was a clock tower
and the remnants of what used to be a swimming pool. Anyone want to take a quick dip?
and some other foundations of what were once buildings
Along the trail there are many pretty trees, plants, waterfalls and other interesting structures and rocks.
The Keystone Arches Bridge Trail boasts a variety of wildlife such as moose, bobcats, fox and a variety of other animals. I found this critter during my travels.
The 5 mile loop at Keystone Arches Bridge Trail are dirt trails with some jutting rocks and holes which often form puddles and dirt which must make it challenging for the cyclists who frequent the trail. The trails are easy to moderate with some challenging inclines. The website cautions the trail is not suitable for novice cyclists.
There are other arches and bridges at the Keystone Arches Bridge Trail and it is not unusual to see people climbing up some of the arches. However, we only went about a couple miles before turning back because of time constraints (see future blog post). The kayakers who frequent the stream at the Keystone Arches Trail, were absent due a white water race that particular day. But, normally they are present in large numbers.
Along the trail are some impressive rapids.
I couldn’t help notice how the rapids mirror our own lives: rapid and frenzied activity one moment, calm, serene the next.
The video below gives a glimpse of the power, beauty and serenity of the rapids.
Durango, a 12 year old Australian Sheepdog, is the mascot of the Chester Railway Station And Museum and he’s a great tour guide. The Chester Railway Station Museum had organized a tour of the trail and Durango went along with them.
New England Nomad 