Happy Birthday, America!

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

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Postcard: "The Puritan" by Augustus St. Gaudens

'Springfield Present and Prospective, Art and Literature' (Pond & Campbell 1905)

Half of the year already behind us...Where does the time go?

This week's segment of EWM's Sunday historical book transcription series is worth devoting a few minutes to as we continue the chapter 'Art and Literature,' by Charles Goodrich Whiting, from the 1905 book, 'Springfield Present and Prospective' (Pond & Campbell.) Enjoy.


Title/contents page

Art and Literature (previous segment)

Art and Literature (cont.)

The other extraordinary record of Springfield in the line of art has been the series of exhibitions of American paintings which James D. Gill (now collector of internal revenue in Boston) has carried on for twenty-seven years, with a success unrivaled in the country. If any man can assert himself a friend and furtherer of American art, it is Mr. Gill. These exhibitions, however, owe their initiative, their launching, to George Walter Vincent Smith, who in 1878 enlisted the ready interest of Mr. Gill, then dealer in books, art and stationery, who had already held some picture exhibitions in his store; and Mr. Smith filled an improvised gallery with a collection of somewhat more than fifty paintings by noteworthy American artists - his wide and intimate acquaintance with them all enabling him to secure a fine representative collection. He succeeded in selling here thirty-six out of the number hung, and in the next year gave valuable service in establishing that standard of excellence which ever since has been maintained by Mr. Gill, with resulting success in reputation and pecuniary reward that is quite unparalleled in the country. Mr. Gill has in the course of these nearly thirty years brought into Springfield more than three thousand oil paintings (and for one season, water colors also), and has sold from twenty-five to forty out of each separate display; thus he has placed in the homes of this city and its neighbors - sometimes, indeed, in cities hundreds of miles away - at least eight hundred, and probably more than a thousand, representative works of American art. In all this time, though often tempted to exhibit foreign paintings, Mr. Gill has remained true to that patriotic feeling; the only European work to receive a place in his exhibitions during these many years being a landscape by Rosa Bonheur - which, we regret to say, found no purchaser here. Mr. Gill has thus gained room in Springfield for some of the most admirable landscapes or marines of Inness, Wyant, Swain Gifford, Sanford Gifford, Jervis McEntee, Worthington Whittredge, Frederick E. Church, Winslow Homer, J. C. Nicoll, Maurice De Haas, John G. Tyler, Francis Murphy, Samueal Co,man, R. M. Shurtleff, Thomas Lachlan Smith, Robert C. Minor, James M. Hart, William Hart, Thomas Moran, Edward Moran, J. B. Bristol, F. K. M. Rehn, among others; the figure pieces of J. G. Brown, T. W. Wood, Leon and Percy Moran, F. S. Church, F. E. Bridgman, Hamilton Hamilton, Edgar M. Ward; the cattle or sheep pieces of Howe, Wentworth, Tait; the historical compositions of Wordsworth, Thompson, the genre work of E. L. Henry and Harry Roseland, - and more whom to name would make the list tedious. The exhibition of Mr. Gill has thus been for over a quarter century the art event of the year, and bids fair still to remain so. That American art has been encouraged and helped by Mr. Gill's ceaseless and intelligent business enterprise is patent to all who note this unrivaled record. He has known how to bring to his market the pictures that will surely sell, and with them also works of such eminence as must dignify the exhibition and may find a wise buyer. Many masterpieces of the foremost of our artists are owned in the city or near by because of Mr. Gill's shrewd judgment and educated taste.

The city is fortunate in possessing two works of art of the first order in their respective lines, the heroic bronze statue of "The Puritan," by Augustus St. Gaudens, on Merrick park, and the stained glass painting of Mary Magdala at the Tomb, by John La Farge, in the parish house of Christ church. The statue is the gift to the city of the late Chester W. Chapin, president of the Boston and Albany railroad and member of Congress, in honor of the ancestor of all "the Chapin tribe," now a very great one in this country, who was Deacon Samuel Chapin, one of the early settlers of Springfield and a sturdy man, as befitted the time and his duty. The statue is no portrait of any Chapin, but a composite in the sculptor's mind of the family type, and fitly given the ideal name, "The Puritan." Under that name it is famous in the wider world, and a cast in the Luxembourg ranks it in France with the foremost sculptures of the day, and indeed St. Gaudens is by worthy critics placed beside the men of the Italian Renaissance.

John La Farge is represented here by one of his most beautiful of glass paintings through the desire of Mrs. Daniel Putnam Crocker to memorialize her husband, a prominent parishioner of Christ church. There is in all this artist's work a quality of individual inspiration, especially in religious subjects, which glows in his very device of color. The window is one to remember. There are also in the parish house several other memorial windows, of simpler subjects, from the studio of Mr. La Farge, and others; and in the chancel of Christ church there is a group of windows wrought by the most eminent glass painting house in England, that of Heaton, Butler & Payne of London, which is well worth seeing. The Church of the Unity is adorned with a series of beautiful windows, mainly from the Tiffanys, but also from the Church Decorating company, and of these a copy of Correggio's "Holy Night," and a noble figure of Heosphoros, the Light Bringer, by Edward Simmons, are to be noted. The last mentioned is in memorial of Samuel Bowles.

Besides the St. Gaudens statue, there is on Court square a memorial of another first settler of Springfield, in the statue of Sergeant Miles Morgan with bell-mouthed gun over his shoulder and hoe in hand, as wrought in bronze by Jonathon Scott Hartley; a gift to the city by a New York banker, Junius S. Morgan, descendant of the sergeant. Also there is the soldiers' monument on Court square, given by Gurdon Bill, - a sentinel surmounting a granite shaft; while in the Springfield cemetery there is another soldiers' monument in the burial plot of the veterans, done by Manuel Power. The bust of President McKinley, the work of Philip Martiny, is erected in Forest park, on the southern point over the Pecowsic valley. It was placed there through the subscription of the citizens. The treasures of art that are kept in Springfield's homes are numerous, as the record of Mr. Gill's sales bears witness; but besides these are many paintings which the local public has not seen, the purchases of citizens in New York of foreign art. There are several collections, largely of the art of Paris, in the city and in near towns, such as that of James T. Abbe; and Dr. Luke Corcoran has a fine picture gallery at his home on Maple street. In the privacy of some of the few old houses and old families there are noteworthy portraits of past generations; perhaps no Copely, Stuart or Smibert, but work of artists of much fame in their day, as, for example, Chester Harding; one of the most striking portraits of the many Harding painted of Daniel Webster long hung in Highland Place, the mansion of the late Col. James M. Thompson, and is now the property of the Algonquin club of Boston.

Continued: Art and Literature (segment three)

'Springfield Present and Prospective, Art and Literature' (Pond & Campbell 1905)

Take a minute to peruse this installment of 'Springfield Present and Prospective,' the early 20th century non-fiction collaborative work that explores Springfield's place in the sun circa 1905.

This begins the chapter 'Art and Literature,' authored by Charles Goodrich Whiting, author, poet and longtime literary editor of the Springfield Republican.

Title/contents page

Art and Literature

There is probably no other city of its rank in this country so distinguished for its possession and its appreciation of art as Springfield. Its own production in painting or sculpture is not large, - in fact it has not produced a single sculptor; even its mortuary monuments are designed if not executed in Italy; while its painters, though we shall presently do them deserved honor, do not transcend in ability or exceed in number those of other cities no larger or more cultured. But the city which gives a home to the great and various art collections of George Walter Vincent Smith, - a home of beautiful architecture, without a fellow in its proportions and contents, - has no rivalry in comparison; and the support which for thirty years it has given to an annual exhibition of the art of American painters testifies to something very unusual in the constituency of the region.

The most extraordinary feature of the culture of this city is undoubtedly the Art Museum. It is now famed even beyond the boundaries of the continent; it is known in the European capitals and in the great east of far Asia. This is because it houses the collections of Mr. Smith. To this remarkable man is in simple truth due the credit for our reputation. The way in which he came to make his collections, and the causes which led him to choose the people of this city and its vicinage for his beneficiaries, must be known in the first place.

Mr. Smith is descended of a long New England ancestry, clearly traced from 1639. when Giles Smith settled in Hartford; and in his eight generations in America there came into his Puritan heritage twice a strain of the French Huguenot, which he regards as of moment in coloring his temperament and inducing his irresistible passion for art; which, while it never led him to essay any field of production, has swayed his whole life. Not to dwell upon the business career of many prosperous forebears, including his father, who died when he was two years old, it must be noted that he himself began work as a youth with a New York importing house, and rose to be its confidential assistant and manager; that later he engaged in a manufacturing enterprise on his own account and was prospered therein, but retired from it in 1867, when he was but thirty-five years old, to pursue a career more to his preference - the cultivation and development of his aesthetic tastes. He gave up money-making except as an incidental means of indulging these tastes, and having when only eighteen years old begun the acquirement of beautiful examples of art, this has been, ever since his retirement from active business pursuits, the one object of his life. Abjuring all display and luxury of living, he devoted his years to the culture of the art sense in Europe, in the society of artists and connoisseurs, and among the treasures of its galleries and museums, never neglecting interest in American art, and becoming the friend and patron of our home artists. He traveled widely, and became known first in Europe, and then by his purchases to the purveyors of Japanese and Chinese art. It is by this devotion to a single purpose that Mr. Smith gathered his marvelous collections, a considerable part of which are now in the Springfield Art Museum.

He came to be a resident of Springfield through marriage with Miss Belle Townsley, daughter of George R. Townsley, a highly-esteemed citizen of large public spirit and individual character. Various circumstances contributed to his determination to make here the final home of his collections and the repository of his lifework. The City Library association, under the wise management of Rev. Dr. William Rice, its first librarian, had been so chartered that it could include as a part of its educational scheme a permanent display of art in all fields, and when the time came, Mr. Smith offered to bequeath to the association his collections, and to endow them, on condition that they should be provided with suitable rooms for their display and their preservation intact and apart from all other gifts. At the same time Mrs. Smith offered her rare and fine collection of laces and embroideries. The conditions were accepted and the beautiful building, planned by the late Walter Tallant Owen of Springfield, in the noted architectural firm of Renswick, Aspinwall & Renwick, was built. From the bequest of $50,000 made by Horace Smith, $35,000 was drawn for the land, and toward the erection of the building sixty-nine individuals and firms of Springfield subscribed some $90,000, the larger conributors being Miss Harriet B. Hitchcock, John Olmsted, James A. Rumrill, James Kirkham, Miss Amelia Chapin Haile, P. P. Kellogg, Mrs. C. L. Covell and Mrs. Horatio N. Case. The names of all are inscribed on a bronze tablet at the entrance. The building, in Italian renaissance style, is one of the most beautiful examples of befitting architecture in the country. It should be noted that along its frieze, on the south-west side and on the front, are wrought in metal letters the names of the great artists, and for the first time in the world the names of Japanese and Chinese artists rank with those of Europe. In all this work, interior and exterior, Mr. Smith's taste was the governing factor.

There has not been too much space given to these preliminaries, since after all the collections are what make the city exceptional. Mr. Smith's scope of choice has been catholic; while the principal and striking feature of the collections is the predominance of the art in porcelains, cloisonne ware, bronzes, jades, iron, lacquer, and ivory, of Japan and China, there are also shown here the noteworthy examples of the armor of past ages, from complete suits of mail of the days of chivalry in Europe and Japan to the curious weapons of savage nations; missals and gospels of the Christian church before the days of printing, Jewish scrolls and Mohammedan manuscripts, Japanese books, and so on. There are also many examples of ancient carved furniture from Venice and other Italian cities. A striking rarity is a shrine by the famous Jacopo Sansovino. There are also vestments of the Roman church, and aristocratic coats and waistcoats and small clothes of the days "when a gentleman did not dress like a waiter." Several cabinets contain stuffs of the richest weaves and patterns from various lands. Wall cases contain rugs, the finest products of the patient weavers of Hindustan, Cashmere, Kurdistan, Turkistan, Daghestan and other Asiatic countries where this work is being done. Musical instruments are not made a specialty in the collection, but there are a few of these of curious interest - as curious as, more pleasing than, the kreeses of the Malay and the beheading knives - the cimeters - of the Filipinos, which make real to us the barbarisms of the East.

The display of Mrs. Smith's exquisitely chosen and arranged laces and embroideries occupies a number of cases in the largest hall of the museum, which was originally intended for a gallery of paintings, and which now has a few noteworthy canvases, among which is a portrait of a young Spanish grandee by Velasquez - presented to Mr. Smith by Mr. Renwick the architect, and in itself a distinction for a provincial town. There is also in this room a statue of modern Italian art given by Mr. Carnegie, in token of his admiration for the collections and the museum. It is a "Mercury in Repose." A noble wood interior by R. M. Shurtleff hangs on the walls, and a stunning example of the metallic style of painting, "The Village Tinker," by Henry Mosler. Around this gallery are distributed some of the most remarkable items of the Smith collection, among them a number fo Greek amphoras, rescued from the Ionian Sea a few years ago; some great Imari jars, beautiful old cabinets and fine suits of Japanese armor.

In the same building, on the first floor, is a large gallery of casts from the great Greek and Roman statuary, from the Italian Renaissance, from medieval religious sculpture, and though not a great collection, it is one wisely selected, and the room is called the Horace Smith hall of sculpture. There are two attractive audience halls, which open into each other, for the purpose of special meetings and of lectures in behalf of education and culture. These are adorned with many portraits of eminent citizens of Springfield, connected with the great city library institution, and in the halls and reading rooms of the William Rice building are many more portraits of historical value, not a few being also of importance in art; the works are by Chester Harding, William S. Elwell, Joseph O. Eaton, Thomas Waterman Wood, Irene Parmalee and others. The portraits of Doctor Rice, Samuel Bowles, Chester W. Chapin, Dr. David Smith, Horace Smith, George Bliss, Maj. G. W. Whistler - the railroad engineer, father of the celebrated artist James Abbott McNeil Whistler, - William Merrick, a generous benefactor of the city in many ways, after whom Merrick park was named, are here to be mentioned.

Continued: Art and Literature (segment two)

Photos: Civic Structures of Holyoke, Mass...A Century Past

City Hall, Holyoke, Mass. (c. 1908)

Post Office, Holyoke, Mass. (c. 1908)

Armory, Holyoke, Mass. (c. 1900-1910)

City Hospital, Holyoke, Mass. (c. 1900-1910)

Photo Source One: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection, Digital ID: det 4a22573
Photo Source Two: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection, Digital ID: det 4a22574
Photo Source Three: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection, Digital ID: det 4a22567
Photo Source Four: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection, Digital ID: det 4a22568

Photos: Elm and High Streets 1908, Holyoke, Massachusetts

Elm Street, Holyoke, Mass. (c. 1908)

High Street, Holyoke, Mass. (c. 1908)

Photo Source One: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection, Digital ID: det 4a22570
Photo Source Two: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection, Digital ID: det 4a22572

Things To Do In Western Massachusetts

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There is always something fun going on in Western Massachusetts! Use the handy index to find a specific activity or just scroll down the page and browse them all! ~ Updated July 10, 2013 ~

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Index:

• Amusement Parks
• Arts & Culture
• Arenas
• Comedy
• Dance
• Galleries
• Museums
• Music
• Theatre
• Distant Daytrip Destinations
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• New York
• Guides & Planners
• Historic Villages
• Kids' Stuff
• Outdoors
• Adventure
• Dinosaur Tracks
• Farms
• Gardens
• Local Parks
• State Parks
• Rail Trails
• Other Fun Things
• Shopping
• Malls
• Outlets
• Retail Attractions
• Sports
• Local Teams
• Participatory
• Racing
• Zoos, etc.

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Fairs and Festivals in Western Massachusetts, 2012:
http://explorewmass.blogspot.com/2010/08/fairs-and-festivals-in-western.html

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A M U S E M E N T    P A R K S

• Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort & Adventure Park
  37 Corey Road
  Hancock, Massachusetts
  (413) 738-5500
  
  "Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England, summer home to Mountain Adventure Park and the only mountain resort in North America to generate its own energy using alternative wind power." ~ From the Jiminy Peak web site.
  
  http://www.jiminypeak.com/accounts/69/homepage/
• Six Flags New England
  1623 Main Street
  Agawam, Massachusetts 01001
  (413) 786-9300
  
  "From thrilling rides to world-class entertainment, Six Flags New England has it all." ~ From the Six Flags web site.
  
  http://www.sixflags.com/newEngland/index.aspx

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A R T S  &  C U L T U R E

• A R E N A S
• MassMutual Center: Springfield
  1277 Main Street
  Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
  (413) 787-6610
  
  "When re-opened under the new name, the MassMutual Center (MMC) represents a major physical expansion and "elevation of services" of the original Springfield Civic Center building (SCC), which opened in 1972." ~ From the MMC web site.
  
  http://www.massmutualcenter.com
• Mullins Center at UMass-Amherst
  200 Commonwealth Avenue
  Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
  (413) 545-3001
  
  "The William D. Mullins Memorial Center sits on Commonwealth Avenue on the western edge of the UMass campus. Overlooking the outdoor playing fields and offering a wide vista of the Hadley Hills and the Holyoke Range..." ~ From the Mullins Center web site.
  
  http://www.mullinscenter.com
• Symphony Hall
  34 Court Street
  Springfield, Massachusetts
  (413) 788-7033
  
  "The 2,611-seat Symphony Hall is home to Broadway-style theatre, top-quality children’s programming, internationally-recognized speakers and numerous concerts and performances." ~ From the Symphony Hall web site.
  
  http://www.symphonyhall.com

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• C O M E D Y
• Happier Valley Comedy Show
  Arts Block Cafe
  289 Main Street
  Greenfield, Massachusetts
  (413) 253-1399
  
  "You need more laughter in your life. Don’t try to deny it. You know you do. So do I. We all do! Which is why the Happier Valley Comedy Show is not to be missed. On the second Saturday of every month at the Arts Block Cafe in Greenfield, we bring together incredible comedy talent to present hilarious, improvised shows in the Pioneer Valley! " ~ From the Ha-Ha Sisterhood web site.
  
  http://www.thehahasisterhood.com/Site/Happier_Valley_Comedy_Show.html

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• D A N C E
• Jacob's Pillow
  358 George Carter Road
  Becket, Massachusetts 01223
  (413) 243-9919
  
  "The Pillow presents dance from all over the world in all forms, styles, and traditions, plus approximately 200 free events each season, including performances, lectures, tours, film showings, exhibits, and talks with artists, which result in around 83,000 visitor experiences each summer." ~ From the Pillow web site.
  
  http://www.jacobspillow.org

• G A L L E R I E S
• Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom
  Box 176 Ashfield Street
  Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts 01370
  (413) 625-9833
  
  "Our unique setting is a restored post-and-beam grainery building called Salmon Falls Marketplace, set on a knoll overlooking the historic Bridge of Flowers and Glacial Potholes... Experience the museum-quality setting and see for yourself why everyone's excited!" ~ From the Salmon Falls web site.
  
  http://www.joshsimpson.com/site/salmon-falls-gallery.html
• The Wit Gallery
  27 Church Street
  Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
  (413) 637-8808
  
  "Since 1999 The Wit Gallery has been a showcase for joyful, musical, witty and thoughtful art in all media. An acronym for "Wonders In Time” The Wit Gallery focuses on art that brings a feeling of warmth and hospitality which transcends time. The Wit gallery strives to connect each individual collector to the art which will bring him/her pleasure for years to come" ~ From the Wit Gallery web site.
  
  http://www.thewitgallery.com/

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• M U S E U M S
• Museums of Western Massachusetts
  A list of nearly fifty local museums, including the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Mass. Museum of Contemporary Art, arranged by town.
  http://explorewmass.blogspot.com/2007/03/museums-of-western-massachusetts.html

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• M U S I C
• Berkshire Choral Festival
  Berkshire School
  Route 41
  Sheffield, Massachusetts 01257
  (413) 229-1999 (Box Office)
  
  "The Berkshire Choral Festival is a not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to enhancing the skills of choral singers while extending the knowledge and appreciation of choral singing and its tradition to singers and audiences." ~ From the Festival web site.
  
  https://www.chorus.org/index.php
• The Calvin Theatre and Performing Arts Center
  19 King Street
  Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
  (413) 586-8686
  
  http://www.iheg.com/calvin_theater_main.asp
• Iron Horse Music Hall
  20 Center Street
  Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
  (413) 584-0610
  
  http://www.iheg.com/iron_horse_main.asp
• Mohawk Trail Concerts
  Federated Church
  Route 2
  Charlemont, Massachusetts
  1-888-682-6873
  
  "Concerts are held in the Federated Church at Charlemont, which has been fully restored and air conditioned. The Church is a warm, intimate setting with superb acoustics, located directly on the Mohawk Trail amidst beautiful countryside and a wealth of other cultural and artistic attractions." ~ From the MTC web site.
  
  http://www.mohawktrailconcerts.org/
• The Pines Theatre at Look Park
  300 North Main Street
  Florence, Massachusetts 01062
  
  http://www.iheg.com/pines_theatre_main.asp
• Springfield Symphony Orchestra
  1350 Main Street
  Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
  (413) 733-2291
  
  "The established mission of the SSO is to maintain and develop a professional symphony orchestra that produces musical performances of high artistic quality; to entertain and educate our audiences; to expand and develop our audiences; and to sponsor related programs and concerts that enhance the musical life of the region we serve." ~ From the SSO web site.
  
  http://www.springfieldsymphony.org
• Tanglewood
  297 West Street
  Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
  (413) 637-1600
  
  "The Boston Symphony Orchestra presents its annual Labor Day Weekend Tanglewood Jazz Festival...at the orchestra’s summer home in Lenox, Massachusetts." ~ From the Tanglewood web site.
  
  http://www.bso.org/Performance/Listing?pageNo=0&perPage=10&brands=1182

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• S U P P O R T E R S
• Cultural Pittsfield
  City of Pittsfield
  70 Allen Street
  Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201
  
  "Visit our Online Events Calendar for upcoming arts and cultural events." ~ From the City of Pittsfield web site.
  
  http://www.pittsfield-ma.org/departments.asp?ID=239
• In the Spotlight, Inc.
  
  "Supporting the Arts in Western New England and Beyond." ~ From the Spotlight web site.
  
  http://www.inthespotlightinc.org/
• Northampton Center for the Arts
  17 New South Street
  Northampton, MA 01060
  (413) 584-7327
  
  "The Northampton Center for the Arts (NCFA) is a private, non-profit arts organization established in 1984 to promote the arts in the greater Northampton area. Located in downtown Northampton adjacent to the Academy of Music, NCFA provides low-cost exhibit and performance space for area artists and arts organizations in an elegant turn-of-the-century performance hall and two adjoining galleries. NCFA is dedicated to programming theater, music, art and dance that is culturally diverse." ~ From the NCFA web site.
  
  http://www.nohoarts.org

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• T H E A T R E
• The Chester Theatre Company
  15 Middlefield Road
  Chester Town Hall
  Chester, Massachusetts
  (413) 354-7770
  
  "The Chester Theatre Company was founded as The Miniature Theatre of Chester in 1990 by Vincent Dowling. In its early years, CTC earned a reputation for language-rich, thought-provoking plays and for new works. This tradition has blossomed under the artistic direction of Byam Stevens, an accomplished actor, director, teacher, and dramaturg. Productions originating at CTC have played Off Broadway, and have toured regionally, nationally, and internationally." ~ From the CTC web site.
  
  http://www.chestertheatre.org/index.cfm
• CityStage
  1 Columbus Center
  Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
  (413) 788-7033
  
  "Off-Broadway comedies, dramas and musicals are presented October through April in the intimate, 487-seat Blake Theatre; the 70-seat Winifred Arms Theatre is host to numerous community events, performances and meetings." ~ From the CityStage web site.
  
  http://www.symphonyhall.com
• Shakespeare & Company
  70 Kemble Street
  Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
  (413) 637-3353 - Box Office
  (413) 637-1199 - Main Office
  
  "...[I]n the culturally-rich Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts in Lenox, Shakespeare & Company aspires to create a theatre of unprecedented excellence rooted in the classical ideals of inquiry, balance, and harmony; a company that performs as the Elizabethans did — in love with poetry, physical prowess, and the mysteries of the universe.." ~ From the Shakespeare & Company web site.
  
  http://www.shakespeare.org/
• Town Players of Pittsfield, Inc.
  P.O. Box 765
  Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01202-0765
  (413) 443-9279
  
  "Town Players was founded in 1921 and is the 2nd oldest community theater group in the country. We are dedicated to "Bring the Best of Broadway to the Berkshires". Town Players produces three major productions a season ( Fall, Winter, Spring ) and occasional Special TP Workshop Productions." ~ From the Town Players web site.
  
  http://townplayers.org/

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D I S T A N T    D A Y T R I P    D E S T I N A T I O N S

• C O N N E C T I C U T
• Foxwoods Resort Casino
  39 Norwich-Westerly Road
  Ledyard, Connecticut 06339
  
  "Foxwoods is the largest casino in the world, with 340,000 square feet of gaming space in a complex that covers 4.7 million square feet." ~ From the Foxwoods web site.
  
  http://www.foxwoods.com/
• Gillette Castle State Park
  67 River Road
  East Haddam, Connecticut 06423
  (860) 526-2336
  
  "It looks like a medieval fortress, but a step inside the stone castle reveals the built-in couches, table trackway, and woodcarvings that all point to the creative genius that was William Gillette." ~ From the Gillette Castle web site.
  
  http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325204
• Lake Compounce
  822 Lake Avenue
  Bristol, Connecticut 06010
  (860)583-3300
  
  "Welcome to Lake Compounce Family Theme Park, located in the heart of Connecticut, in nearby Bristol/Southington. We are your family's Daycation Destination! ...Check our operating schedule for hours of operation!" ~ From the Lake Compounce web site.
  
  http://www.lakecompounce.com/
• Mohegan Sun
  1 Mohegan Sun Blvd
  Uncasville, Connecticut 06382
  (888) 226-7711
  
  "A world at play and a world to its own, Mohegan Sun, created in 1996 by the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, is one of the world's most amazing destinations with some of New England's finest dining, hotel accommodations, retail shopping, live entertainment and sporting events. It is also host to the fabulous Kids Quest/Cyber Quest family entertainment facility, a luxurious day spa, convention center and meeting facility, as well as three major entertainment venues with seating from 300 to 10,000." ~ From the Mohegan Sun web site.
  
  http://www.mohegansun.com
• Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
  55 Coogan Boulevard
  Mystic, Connecticut 06355-1997
  (860) 572-5955
  
  "Mystic Aquarium, one of America’s leading aquariums, showcases the living collections, science and conservation work of Sea Research through exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs, emphasizing hands-on, interactive, live animal contact experiences for all ages. Hosting more than 750,000 visitors annually, the Aquarium is open year-round and is Connecticut’s largest non-casino attraction. Mystic Aquarium is one of the few in North America housing Beluga whales and other rare and remarkable sea creatures." ~ From the Mystic Aquarium web site.
  
  http://www.mysticaquarium.org/
• Old Newgate Prison & Coppermine
  115 Newgate Road
  East Granby, Connecticut 06026
  (860) 653-3563
  (Closed for restoration)
  
  "The tunnels left behind by miners burrowing deep underground in search of copper ore became Connecticut's first prison in 1773." ~ From the New-Gate Prison web site.
  
  http://www.ct.gov/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2127&q=302258
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• M A S S A C H U S E T T S
• Battleship Cove
  Five Water Street
  PO Box 111
  Fall River, Massachusetts 02722-0111
  (800) 533-3194
  (New England only) (508) 678-1100
  
  "The world's largest collection of historic naval ships" ~ From the Battleship Cove web site.
  
  http://www.battleshipcove.org
• Southwick's Zoo
  2 Southwick Street
  Mendon, Massachusetts
  (800) 258-9182
  
  "The Brewer family and its staff are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of all animals. The Southwick team's mission: to provide an extensive zoological collection and educational facility for our visitors. We strive to promote an exciting environment for a positive family experience." ~ From the Southwick's Zoo web site.
  
  http://www.southwickszoo.com/
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• N E W  Y O R K
• Howe Caverns
  255 Discovery Drive
  Howes Cave, New York 12092
  (518) 296-8900
  
  "Howe Caverns offers guided cavern tours every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Traditional Tours include a quarter-mile boat ride on the Underground Lake of Venus." ~ From the Howe Caverns web site.
  
  http://www.howecaverns.com

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G U I D E S  &  P L A N N E R S

• The Berkshire Visitors Bureau
  Discover the Berkshires Visitor Center
  3 Hoosac Street
  Adams, Massachusetts 01220
  (413) 743-4500 or 800-237-5747
  
  http://www.berkshires.org
• Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau
  1441 Main Street
  Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
  (413) 787-1548 or 800-723-1548
  
  "With everything from fantastic attractions to fascinating arts and entertainment, outstanding outdoor recreation and great shopping - the Pioneer Valley is the place to be!" ~ From the CVB web site.
  
  http://www.valleyvisitor.com
• Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
  10 Park Plaza Suite 4510
  Boston, Massachusetts 02116
  (617) 973-8500 or 800-227-MASS
  
  http://massvacation.com
• The Mohawk Trail Association
  North Adams, Massachusetts 01247
  info@mohawktrail.com
  
  "Blaze the Highway of History and discover the wonderful world of adventure waiting for you in the four season vacation land along the Mohawk Trail." ~ From the Association web site.
  
  http://www.mohawktrail.com

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H I S T O R I C   V I L L A G E S

• Hancock Shaker Village
  1843 W. Housatonic St.
  Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201
  (800) 817-1137
  
  "This beautifully restored village, set amongst acres of farm, woodland and pasture, is home to the premier collection of Shaker buildings and artifacts. Graceful Shaker furniture, craft and household items are exhibited in 20 historic buildings, each an architectural gem. The Round Stone Barn, most famous of all Shaker buildings, is a testament to Shaker efficiency, innovation and design." ~ From the Hancock Shaker Village web site.
  
  http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/
• Historic Deerfield
  80 Old Main Street
  Deerfield, Massachusetts 01342
  (413) 775-7214
  
  "Historic Deerfield was incorporated in 1952 to sustain the work of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Flynt of Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1936, the Flynts enrolled their son at Deerfield Academy, a nationally-known college preparatory school founded in 1797, located in the center of Deerfield, Massachusetts. With the encouragement of Deerfield Academy’s headmaster, Frank Boyden, they began to purchase and restore the old houses along The Street to carefully restore them. Today, 11 historic houses and the Flynt Center of Early New England Life display collections of more than 25,000 objects made or used in America between 1650 and 1850." ~ From the Historic Deerfield web site.
  
  http://www.historic-deerfield.org/
• Old Sturbridge Village
  1 Old Sturbridge Village Road
  Sturbridge, Massachusetts 01566
  (800) 733-1830
  
  "Old Sturbridge Village is one of the country’s oldest and largest living history museums, depicting early New England life from 1790-1840 with historians in costume, antique buildings, water-powered mills, and a working farm. Visitors can view antiques, meet heritage breed animals, and enjoy hands-on crafts. The Village is open year-round, but hours change seasonally." ~ From the Old Sturbridge Village web site.
  
  http://www.osv.org/
• Storrowton Village
  Eastern States Exposition Grounds
  1305 Memorial Avenue
  West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089
  (413) 737-2443
  
  "Storrowton Village Museum is an authentic, recreated village of nine 18th and 19th century buildings from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, assembled around a traditional town green. We offer living history programs and events to acquaint audiences of all ages to New England life in bygone days" ~ From the Storrowton Village web site.
  
  http://www.thebige.com/sv/

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K I D S '   S T U F F

• Big Adventures: The Family Fun Center
  The Mill at Crane Pond
  77 Mill Street
  Westfield, Massachusetts 01085
  (413) 562-6146
  "We are a family-owned business providing a fun, safe place for kids and families to come and enjoy themselves." ~ From the Big Adventures web site.
  
  http://www.bigfamilyadventure.com
• Great Falls Discovery Center
  2 Avenue A
  Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376
  (413) 863-3221
  
  "Visit the Great Falls Discovery Center and learn about the Connecticut River Watershed's rich natural, cultural and industrial history. The Center is fully accessible and is housed within a complex of old mill buildings and includes open habitat exhibits, fish tanks, and a multipurpose program room. The four-acre park that surrounds The Center has butterfly gardens, native plantings views of the canal and river as well as safe play areas. This park is linked to a railtrail that runs from Turners Falls to Deerfield, a walking tour through downtown Turners Falls, and the watchable wildlife areas of Barton's cove and along the canal." ~ From the Discovery Center's web site.
  
  http://greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/
• The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round
  Heritage State Park
  221 Appleton Street
  Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040
  (413) 538-9838
  
  "Welcome to the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, located in historic Holyoke, Massachusetts, alongside the Heritage Park Visitor's Center, Children's Museum and Volleyball Hall of Fame. Our 1929 merry-go-round and pavilion is the perfect place for family fun, whether you're planning a birthday party, a business social or even dreaming of a special place to get married." ~ From the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round web site.
  
  http://www.holyokemerrygoround.org/
• Westfield-Southwick Macaroni Kid
  "Macaroni Kid and its family of Publisher Moms are dedicated to delivering the scoop on all the family-friendly events and activities happening in their communities each week." ~ From the Macaroni Kid website.
  
  http://www.westfieldsouthwick.macaronikid.com/

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O U T D O O R S

• A D V E N T U R E
  
• Berkshire East Canopy Tours
  66 Thunder Mountain Road
  Charlemont. Massachusetts 01339
  (413) 339-6617
  
  "Berkshire East Canopy Tours are Western Massachusetts best new summer activity. Race your friends down the mountain top of Berkshire East Ski Area and prepare yourself to fly down 850 feet of 1/2" cable, 150 feet in the air at speeds up to thirty miles an hour." ~ From the Berkshire East web site.
  
  http://www.berkshireeast.com/
• Crabapple Whitewater Rafting
  2056 Mohawk Trail
  Charlemont, Massachusetts 01339
  (800) 553-7238
  
  "In the northern Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Crab Apple Whitewater is pleased to bring you five different white water rafting adventures. River rafting trips range from mild to WILD, full or half-day. From beginners to more experienced rafters, our family will enjoy taking your family, group or organization down these beautiful rivers. Come see us this season!" ~ From the Crabapple web site.
  
  http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com/massachusetts
• Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours
  7 Main Street (Office)
  Charlemont, Massachusetts 01339
  (800) 532-7483
  
  "Try Zoar Outdoor’s newest adventure on a Deerfield Valley Canopy Tour in Charlemont Massachusetts. Our 3-hour-long zip line canopy tour leads adventurers on an aerial trek through the woods by means of zip lines and sky bridges suspended in the trees in the northern Berkshires and connected through platforms that sit high above the forest floor." ~ From the Canopy Tours web site.
  
  http://deerfieldzipline.com
• Moxie Outdoor Adventures
  1 Thunder Road
  Charlemont, Massachusetts 01339
  (800) 866-6943
  
  "Enjoy White water rafting in Massachusetts on the Deerfield River as it flows through the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts." ~ From the Moxie Outdoor Adventures web site.
  
  http://moxierafting.com
• Zoar Outdoor River Rafting
  7 Main Street
  Charlemont, Massachusetts 01339
  (800) 532-7483
  
  "We create experiences that enhance the lives of our guests, our staff and our community through exposing people to the best human-powered outdoor adventures available. We strive to be leaders in the field of outdoor adventure through constantly rethinking and improving our programs." ~ From the Zoar Outdoor web site.
  
  http://www.zoaroutdoor.com/drguide.htm
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• D I N O S A U R   T R A C K S
  
  
• Dinosaur Footprints - Holyoke
  Route 5
  Holyoke, Massachusetts
  (413) 684-0148
  
  "Dinosaur footprints, fossilized plants, and delicate ripple marks of a prehistoric pool are preserved in stone at this reservation near the west bank of the Connecticut River." ~ The Trustees of Reservations.
  
  http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/pioneer-valley/dinosaur-footprints.html
• Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry and Rock Shop
  Route 116 - Amherst Road
  South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
  (413) 467-9566
  
  "Located just one mile from where the very first dinosaur track was found, Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry and Rock Shop has been welcoming visitors since 1939." ~ From the Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry web site.
  
  http://nashdinosaurtracks.com/index.html
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• F A R M S
• Agri-Tourism Farms
  Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
  251 Causeway Street, Suite 500
  Boston, Massachusetts 02114
  (617) 626-1700
  
  "Whether you are driving past beautiful vistas throughout Massachusetts or enjoying day at our majestic seacoast, be sure your itinerary includes a stop at one of the many agri-tourism destinations along the way. We are very proud of the over 250 farm attractions open to the public offering interesting and educational activities that will create memorable experiences." ~ From the MDAR web site.
  
  http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/agritourism_farms.htm
• Ioka Valley Farm
  Route 43
  P. O. Box 1045
  Hancock, Massachusetts 01237
  (413) 738-5915
  
  "Welcome to Ioka Valley Farm home to natural, hormone free beef, outstanding sweet strawberries, perfect pumpkins & squash, fragrant, real Christmas trees, contented farm animals, pure maple syrup, and specialty maple products. Ioka Valley Farm is a diversified, family owned and operated working farm dedicated to providing high quality locally grown products as well as enjoyment for all ages." ~ From the Ioka Valley Farm web site.
  
  http://iokavalleyfarm.com/
• Massachusetts Maple Producers Association
  (413) 628-3912
  
  "...visit...members' sugar houses. All welcome visitors when they are boiling and offer pure maple syrup for sale." ~ From the MMPA web site.
  
  http://www.massmaple.org
• Mike's Maze at Warner Farm
  
  http://www.mikesmaze.com/index.html
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• G A R D E N S
• The Botanic Garden of Smith College
  15 College Lane
  
  Northampton, MA 01063
  (413) 585-2740
  
  "Today, the Botanic Garden includes thousands of plants, of course, and not just those grown under glass in the Lyman Conservatory or outdoors in various not-so-secret gardens. After all, Smith's 150-acre campus--our landscape for learning--is an arboretum, in other words, a living museum of plants. There is also a collection of dried plants. There are 60,000 pressed specimens available for research in the Herbarium." ~ From the Smith Botanic Garden web site.
  
  http://www.smith.edu/garden/home.html
• The Bridge of Flowers
  Village Information Center
  75 Bridge Street
  Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
  "Every year visitors from around the world stroll across the Bridge of Flowers and enjoy the beauty of this unusual garden - the only one of its kind in the world." ~ From the Shelburne Falls web site.
  
  http://www.shelburnefalls.com/
• Grandmothers' Garden
  Smith Avenue
  The Friends of Grandmothers’ Garden
  PO Box 1432
  Westfield, Massachusetts 01086
  
  "A beautiful experience" ~ From the Grandmothers' Garden web site.
  
  http://www.grandmothersgarden.org/
• L O C A L   P A R K S
• Forest Park
  Sumner Avenue
  Springfield, Massachusetts
  
  Forest Park Zoo
  
  http://www.forestparkzoo.com
  
  Bright Nights at Forest Park
  http://www.brightnights.org
  
  Other Springfield Parks...
  
  http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/Park
• Housatonic River Walk
  Great Barrington Land Conservancy
  P. O. Box 1018
  Great Barrington, Massachusetts 01230
  Contact Rachel Fletcher (413) 528-3391
  
  "River Walk is a greenway trail along the Housatonic River in the downtown center of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where 2200 citizen volunteers are working to reclaim the beauty of a 'working river' abused by years of industrial waste and neglect." ~ From the River Walk web site.
  
  http://www.gbriverwalk.org/
• Look Memorial Park
  300 North Main Street
  Florence, Massachusetts 01062
  (413) 584-5457
  
  "Look Park is located on the Berkshire Trail (Route 9) in the Florence section of Northampton, Massachusetts, in the heart of the Pioneer Valley." ~ From the park web site.
  
  http://www.lookpark.org
• Stanley Park
  400 Western Avenue
  Westfield, Massachusetts 01085
  (413) 568-9312
  
  "Stanley Park is pleased to offer, free to the public, numerous educational, cultural and entertainment venues. Stanley Park also provides boundless access to both passive and active recreational opportunities." ~ From the park web site.
  
  http://www.stanleypark.org
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• S T A T E     P A R K S
• Natural Bridge State Park
  McCauley Road, off Rte. 8
  P.O. Box 1757
  North Adams, Massachusetts 01247
  (413) 663-6392 (413)
  663-8469 (off-season)
  
  "Discover a geologic wonder at this 48 acre park. Examine the only naturally formed white marble arch and man-made white marble dam in North America, and tour an abandoned marble quarry." ~ From the DCR web site.
  
  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/nbdg.htm
• State Parks in Western Mass.
  Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
  251 Causeway Street, Suite 600
  Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2104
  (617) 626-1250
  
  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/hiking.htm
• Trail Maps of State Parks
  
  "The Department of Conservation and Recreation is steward of one of the largest state parks systems in the country. Its 450,000 acres is made up of forests, parks, greenways, historic sites and landscapes, seashores, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and watersheds." ~ From the DCR web site.
  
  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails.htm
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• R A I L     T R A I L S
• Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
  Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
  Lanesborough, Cheshire, Adams, Massachusetts
  (413) 442-8928 (Western Reg. HQ)
  
  "The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a former railroad corridor converted into a 10-foot wide paved, universally accessible, passive recreation path. The Ashuwillticook runs parallel to Route 8 through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough and Adams." ~ From the DCR web site.
  
  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/asrt.htm
• Norwottock Rail Trail
  Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
  Damon Rd., Northampton
  (413) 586-8706 ext. 12
  
  "The Norwottock Rail Trail is an 8.5 mile path linking Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst along the former Boston & Main Railroad right-of-way. The path's level terrain provides safe passage for pedestrians, wheelchairs, joggers, skaters, bicyclists, and cross-country skier of all ages and abilities." ~ From the DCR web site.
  
  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/nwrt.htm
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• O T H E R   F U N    T H I N G S
• Lady Bea River Cruises
  Brunelle's Marina
  1 Alvord Street
  South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075
  (413) 315-6342
  
  "From Spring through the Fall, the Lady Bea departs daily for 75-minute narrated cruises at 1:00, 4:00 & 7:00 PM. These daily cruises meander up the Connecticut River from Brunelles Marina to Northampton. The pristine waters, unspoiled views, sandy beaches and unmatched history will be a truly enjoyable experience for all." ~ From the Lady Bea web site.
  
  http://www.brunelles.com/lady-bea-river-cruise-boat/
• Massachusetts Swimming Holes
  
  "SwimmingHoles.info focuses on moving, fresh water spots - like creeks, rivers, springs and waterfalls." ~ From the Swimming Holes web site.
  
  http://www.swimmingholes.org/ma.html
• Northfield Drive-in Movie Theatre
  981 Northfield Road, Route 63
  Hinsdale, New Hampshire 03451
  (603) 239-4054
  
  "Join us for some good old-fashioned family fun." ~ From the Northfield Drive-in web site.
  
  http://www.northfielddrivein.com/

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S H O P P I N G

• M A L L S
• Berkshire Mall
  Old State Road & Route 8
  Lanesborough Massachusetts 01237
  (413) 445-4400
  
  "Strategically located between US Route 7 and Route 8 in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, Berkshire Mall is the only enclosed shopping center in the county." ~ From the Mall web site.
  
  http://www.theberkshiremall.com
• Eastfield Mall
  1655 Boston Road
  Springfield, Massachusetts 01129
  (413) 543-8000
  
  "75 retailers...International food court...16-screen cinemas...2 full-service restaurants... Registry of Motor Vehicles...Do it all at Eastfield Mall!" ~ From the Mall web site.
  
  http://www.eastfieldmall.com
• Hampshire Mall
  367 Russell Street
  Hadley, Massachusetts 01035
  (413) 586-5700
  
  "Situated in the heart of one of the highest concentrations of student populations in the Northeast, Hampshire Mall draws visitors from all parts of Western Massachusetts and Western New England, including the "knowledge corridor" of Springfield and Hartford." ~ From the Mall web site.
  
  http://www.hampshiremall.com
• Holyoke Mall at Ingleside
  50 Holyoke Street
  Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040
  (413) 536-1440
  
  "At Holyoke Mall you'll find an impressive selection of retail stores, services and restaurants to make your shopping experience a truly exceptional one!" ~ From the Mall web site.
  
  http://www.holyokemall.com
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• O U T L E T S
• Prime Outlets - Lee
  50 Water Street, Route 20
  East Lee , Massachusetts 01238
  (413) 243-8186
  
  "Prime Outlets - Lee is located in the heart of the Berkshires...Many tourists find that Lee is a perfect place to stop and shop." ~ From the Prime Outlets web site.
  
  http://www.primeoutlets.com
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• R E T A I L   A T T R A C T I O N S
• Granville Country Store
  Jct. Routes 57 & 189
  Granville, Massachusetts
  (413) 357 - 8555 (orders)
  
  "Home of Cellar Aged Cheddar Cheese." ~ From the Country Store web site.
  
  http://granville.stores.yahoo.net/index.html
• Williamsburg General Store
  12 Main Street
  Williamsburg, Massachusetts 01096-0757
  (413) 268-3036
  
  "...an incredible collection of gifts and accessories. We think you'll enjoy the experience and come away with a little piece of olde New England." ~ From the General Store web site.
  
  http://www.wgstore.com/
• Yankee Candle Village
  25 Greenfield Road
  South Deerfield, Massachusetts 01373
  (877) 636-7707
  
  "Discover an unbelievable mix of shopping, entertainment and dining. And every visit is an exciting adventure because there's always something new!" ~ From the Yankee Candle web site.
  
  http://www.yankeecandle.com

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S P O R T S

• L O C A L   T E A M S
• Holyoke Blue Sox Baseball
  500 Beech Street
  Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040-2202
  
  http://www.holyokesox.com/site/
• Springfield Armor - NBA Development League
  The MassMutual Center: Official Site of Springfield Armor Home Games
  1277 Main Street
  Springfield, MA 01103-1901
  
  http://www.nba.com/dleague/springfield/
• Springfield Falcons Hockey (AHL)
  45 Falcons Way
  Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
  (413) 739-3344
  
  "Black and blue hockey since 1936" ~ From the Falcons web site.
  
  http://www.falconsahl.com/
• Westfield Wheelmen Vintage Base Ball Club
  Westfield, Massachusetts
  dl.genovese@verizon.net
  
  "2008 Western Division Champions New England Vintage Base Ball League." ~ From the WWVBBC web site.
  
  http://wwvbbc.tripod.com/index.html
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• P A R T I C I P A T O R Y
• The Blandford Club - Golf & Tennis
  North Street
  Blandford, Massachusetts
  (413) 848-2443
  
  "Founded 100 years ago, this historic golf and tennis club is perfectly right for today's active families." ~ From the Blandford Club's web site.
  
  http://massgolftennis.com/
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• R A C I N G
• Southwick Motocross 338
  46 Powder Mill Road (American Legion Post 338)
  Southwick, Massachusetts 01077
  (413) 569-6801
  
  "'The Southwick Motocross 338 track is approx. 1 1⁄4 mile in length on 28 acres owned by the American Legion Post 338.' '...Motocross since 1972.'" ~ From the Motocross 338 web site.
  
  http://www.motocross338.org/home

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Z O O S,   E T C.

• Lupazoo
  545 West Street
  Ludlow, Massachusetts 01056
  (413) 589-9883
  
  "Lupazoo is a conservation and education institution demonstrating the value, beauty and interdependence of all living things." ~ From the Lupazoo web site.
  
  http://www.lupazoo.org
• Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens
  281 Greenfield Road
  South Deerfield, Massachusetts 01373
  (413) 665-2805
  
  "Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens, opened in October of 2000, consists of an 18,400-square foot facility that includes a 8,000-sq. ft. glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation." ~ From the Magic Wings web site.
  
  http://www.magicwings.com/index.php
• The Zoo in Forest Park
  Sumner Avenue
  Springfield, Massachusetts 01138
  
  "The Zoo in Forest Park is a non-profit organization governed by the Forest Park Zoological Society. Situated in Forest Park, a 735 acre woodland park in Springfield, the Zoo features exotic and indigenous animals representing a large variety of species found throughout the world and in North America." ~ From the Zoo web site.
  
  http://www.forestparkzoo.org/index.asp

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