Not our name, but our passion
Sacred Heart – St. Francis De Sales Roman Catholic Church in Bennington is a beautiful church in downtown. Francis de Sales was the first Roman Catholic church in southern Vermont. By the 1880s the parish had outgrown the church and the building was sold to become the Bennington Museum. In 1887, Bishop Louis DeGoesbriand bought land for about $3,300. The cornerstone was blessed and laid on July 4, 1889.
The Mohawk Trail is a scenic drive through the Berkshires Mountains in Western Massachusetts. The trail began as a Native American trade route connecting Atlantic tribes with tribes from upstate New York. With the advent of the automobile the route was widened and eventually paved and has become a popular scenic drive for decades. The current drive along what is now MA Route 2 and MA Route 2A is 69 miles long and passes through the Berkshires Mountain Range and several small towns. As a boy we would take many trips from our home in Eastern Massachusetts to the trail and many of the roadside attractions have not changed in the intervening decades. You can click on the individual links for each attraction for more pictures and in-depth posts for each. The start of the trail for us was always the magnificent French King Bridge crossing the Connecticut River.
In the small town of Shelburne Falls be sure to see the Bridge of Flowers.
Near the Bridge of Flowers you can see the glacial potholes carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago. As you leave the village of Shelburne Falls and continue on the trail you will see a giant statue of a Native American, this is the Native Views Gift Shop formerly know as the “Big Indian.”
Your next town will be Charlemont and keep your eyes open for the Little Red School on the right dating from 1828.
A short distance off the main road is the Bissell Covered Bridge well worth the short detour.
A good portion of the trail winds its way through the Mohawk Trail State Forest which has a campground and day use areas.
At the crossing of the Deerfield River is the Shunpike Rest Area with access to the river.
Look for the Shunpike Historical Marker explaining the significance of this river ford.
The Mohawk Park is where you will see Hail to the Sunrise Statue.
The Top of the Trail is the pinnacle of the drive with spectacular scenery, a lodge and the Elk Memorial to World War One veterans.
The Western Summit of the trail offers a spectacular view looking down into the valley and the town of North Adams.
Grab some fantastic baked goods, a hotdog or souvenirs at the Wigwam gift shop.
Make your way down a steep curvy path to the town of North Adams to end your trip. While in North Adams be sure to stop at the MASS MOCA the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art one of the best of its kind. Plan to spend the night here there are nice restaurants and plenty to see and do in the area.
The Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro is a recreational park with numerous facilities such as an olympic sized swimming pool, a skating rink, ball fields and a ski lift. The Creamery Covered Bridge is also on site in the park. The park is easily accessed off VT Route 9.
