The Charcoaling industry in the hilltowns was a good income. The forests were clear cut for so many reasons when the settlers first arrived and this was one. These double kilns in Chesterfield located near the East and Dead Branches of the Westfield River which it was believed to be used to float the product down the river for distribution. From the 1700s to the 1920s, entire hillsides of young trees were cut and cleared. This wood was made into charcoal, the preferred fuel as charcoal burned hotter and cleaner than wood making less smoke. More info https://www.ctpublic.org/environment/2016-11-14/connecticuts-charcoal-has-stories-to-tell-if-you-know-where-to-look

#chesterfieldma #hikethehilltownhistory
hikethehilltowns with the #westernmasshilltownhikers #discoverthehilltowns #visitthehills #hilltownhistory #flashhike #intheberkshires #nature #adventure #history #hiking #outdooradventures

Visit our blog for all of our adventures! We are on Instagram TikTok Pinterest Twitter YouTube Meetup @hilltownhikers www.hilltownhikers.com
A 501c3 Massachusetts Non-Profit Organization Donate here on Square https://hilltownhikers.square.site/