Hiking on the old Chester and Becket Railroad bed in Chester from Hampden Street to Route 20, granite can be found along the way. The rail carts used to bring the stone down from the now Becket Quarry to our Chester Granite and Polishing Works sometimes spilled blocks here and there. This rail spur off of the Boston and Albany Railroad was often heaved by the mud and the tracks and ties had to be adjusted. The culvert behind the present day highway garage are made of pink granite from Leslie Mitchell’s quarry just up the line in Becket. As the train traveled to where Route 20 is today, it crossed the old road passing grazing land of the homesteads along Route 20. The railgrade can be clearly seen from Route 20 passing behind the houses on Route 20. This is now Fish and Wildlife property. Catch our fall Housatonic Heritage Hike here to learn more about the rich railroad history in Chester.

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