Saturday’s monthly group hike, Bidwell: outside the house tour was narrated by Rob Hoogs of the Monterey Historical Society.  The rain did not keep anyone away from Rob’s historic story telling of the property taking us to cellar holes and colonial roads off the main trails.  The 1734 colonial settlement includes a Meeting House, many roads and mills.

Township No. 1 was one of four townships chartered by the. Mass. General Court in 1734 for settlement. The land for the four townships – Tyringham (and Monterey), New Marlborough, Sandisfield, Becket, plus provinceland that became Otis – was “bought” from the Native Americans for £360. The townships were laid out along the “Great Road” – the old Indian Path – between Westfield and North Sheffield (Great Barrington). A branch road split off to run to Indiantown (Stockbridge). The early colonists, called “Proprietors,” surveyed and subdivided the township into 64 home lots and about 250 other lots. As hard as it is to believe today, the Bidwell House was the center of the planned township, containing the first Meeting House, the original site for Grist and Saw Mills, one of the main “highways,” a lot reserved for a School, and lots reserved for the First and Second Ministers to the township.  Roads were laid out, cleared and graded; home sites cleared and homes built, fields cleared and “English Grass” and grain crops were planted; the Meeting House building was built; mills were constructed (further downstream at what is now Monterey Village). By 1750, about 30 families were living in town.

A big THANK YOU to Rob and the Bidwell House Museum.  Plan for a full day of exploring here and check the website for excellent programming offered.  Bidwellhousemuseum.org

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