Deerfield, MA
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Deerfield
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Description of Deerfield, Massachusetts
The Town of Deerfield is an historic rural suburban center on the primary corridor between Northampton and Greenfield in the Connecticut River Valley. It was the earliest community settled in Franklin County. Because of its strategic location, the town was subjected to repeated attacks from French and Indian forces through the early 18th century and was actually abandoned during King Philip's war. In 1704, a combined French and Indian force attacked the town, which then consisted of 250 residents and about 15-20 colonial soldiers. Forty-seven residents were killed and 112 were captured and taken to Canada. An outstanding collection of houses survives from this period, some preserving the hatchet and bullet scars from the battle.
The early Deerfield economy was built on tobacco and cucumbers, pickle factories and the manufacture of pocketbooks, but a major economic force in the community has been the private schools. Deerfield is host to Deerfield Academy, the Eaglebrook School and the Bement School. The town is also the site of a major craft fair each year which brings in over 250 selected exhibitors and is considered to be one of the most important craft fairs in the northeast. The town's museum offers 19 exhibit rooms and many concerts throughout the season. Visitors are able to tour 13 of the historic residences in the town.
Northwestern Massachusetts, bordered by Greenfield on the north, the Connecticut River on the east, Montague and Sunderland, Whatley on the south, and Conway and Shelburne on the west. Deerfield is 8 miles from Greenfield, 12 miles from Northampton, 48 miles from North Adams, 99 miles from Boston, 162 miles from New York City.
Narrative compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (
DHCD
).
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