When you look at a map of Massachusetts along the Connecticut border, there is a curious little appendage -- the Southwick Jog. Surveyors disagreed on the placement of the CT/MA border. Border towns decided they wanted to be part of CT because its taxes were lower than MA. Finally, in 1804, after 160 years (!) of disagreement -- a compromise. Connecticut got to keep "its towns", but Mass. got in compensation a 1 square mile "jog" added to Southwick. There is a wonderful rail trail that runs down the jog and another 20+ miles into CT -- I rode out the jog, then worked my way west and north back into Mass. Finished in Westfield -- "The Whip City" -- remembering its history as the "Buggy Whip Capital of the World".
As Boston grew, it required water. It looked to Central Mass. to satisfy its needs. It arranged to dam the Swift River, flooding four rural towns, to build Quabbin Reservoir. As Spock would attest -- the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Dana, one of the towns, was not flooded, but it was decided it would be too close to the reservoir, so its residents were also forced to abandon their homes. Dana remains as a ghost town -- foundation walls intact, its common maintained as a public park.
Following the convention of the area, roads leading to adjacent towns are named after those towns. The roads lining Quabbin still bear the names of Greenwich, Dana, Prescott and Enfield -- the drowned towns. I was philosophical reflecting on this during my ride today, including my visit to Dana Center -- is our current NIMBY world a better place?
1802 miles down -- 1698 to go! Past halfway and into Missouri!
This post's ride -- <70 towns to go!
Returning from my CT Jog!
New Boston much less successful than original
Westfield River, Huntington
Dana Common -- Rembrance to a Sacrifice
Road to a Drowned Town, Hardwick
Center of Mass, but middle of nowhere
