Belchertown, MA
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Belchertown
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Description of Belchertown, Massachusetts
Belchertown, situated on Route 9 just ten miles southeast of Amherst, is the second largest town, in area, in Massachusetts. First settled in 1731, it is the perfect blend of a quaint old New England town and a modern bedroom community. Its striking town green, ringed with white churches and colonial homes, is the site of band concerts, festivals and community activities throughout the year. The annual Belchertown Fair, one of the oldest continuously operated fairs in the country, takes place there each October.
Over a half-million visitors every year hike the trails and fish the waters of the Quabbin Reservoir. Five Connecticut River Valley towns were flooded in the 1930s to make way for this domestic-use reservoir, one of the largest and most spectacular in the country. Wildlife lovers flock there each winter to catch glimpses of the Quabbin's resident eagle population; they are also welcome at the state's McLaughlin Fish Hatchery just down the road, to learn about trout and salmon culture.
Residents feel that the jewel in Belchertown's crown is the Stone House Museum, a gracious 1827 stone structure containing period Connecticut Valley antiques and furnishings. Owned and operated by the Belchertown Historical Association, the museum is open two days a week from May through October and hosts social and educational events throughout the year.
Along with a traveler's own discoveries about scenic Belchertown, stone walls, ancient elms and maples and lovely homes can be found along the town's 180 miles of paved roads.
Central Massachusetts, bordered by Palmer and Ludlow on the south, Granby and Amherst on the west, Pelham on the north, and the Quabbin Reservoir and Ware on the east. Belchertown is 13 miles east of Holyoke, 19 miles north of Springfield, 77 miles west of Boston, and 164 miles from New York City.
Narrative compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (
DHCD
).
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