The Moore Mountain House Barn. Oliver Moore Jr. was a canny man, never relying on just one means of support. He had a farm that supported his 11 children. All the nearby mountains were building inns to attract tourists, Sugarloaf Hotel, 1864, Mount Tom’s Notch House built before 1856, and Mount Holyoke Hotel in 1851. Thus, it was that Moore Mountain House came to be. It was located at the top of the hill, 1200 ft above sea level in the Hampden County town of “greater altitude than magnitude.” It became a summer resort that attracted tourists from Springfield, Hartford, CT., and from New York. It offered pure air, the best water, grand scenery and wholesome fresh food. For entertainment there were hayrides, fishing and boating on Moose Meadow Pond, square dancing in the barn, croquet, card games and hiking along the brook with picnics and berry picking. There was always an empty hammock or two, beckoning on the front lawn. City kids could learn about farm chores such as gathering the eggs and milking the Jersey cows. Guests came. They arrived by train or trolley.

There was room for 40 guests, in what was described as suites. There were separate bathrooms for the ladies and the gentlemen with a shower attachment. Local girls were hired to serve the food. A typical meal being chicken fricassee with Jersey cream, hot biscuits, string beans, and a large slice of blackberry pie for dessert. The Inn rates were $2 per day; $8, 10 and $12 per week.

The Moore Mountain House was torn down in 1916 and the contents of the house were auc- tioned off. The stately Maple trees still stand at attention in front of the cellar holes. The remains of several of the buildings are stone foundations, fireplace stones, a very deep stone lined well and the barn and silo foundations across the road. Mountain House Road itself is a well-preserved dirt road inviting closer inspection of its rich history. Courtesy Debbie Daniels Hilltown History Country Journal photos Karen, Liz, Stephanie, Sarah

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