A Midwinter Road Trip “Courage--judgment--integrity--dedication-these are the historic qualities of the Bay Colony and the Bay State.” John Kennedy
By Renée Gordon History Travel Writer Massachusetts, filled with natural, cultural and historic marvels, is worthy of wandering in every season. The humid continental climate ensures four distinct seasons with long winters and shorter summers. From the first settlements, the economy was driven by the climate. Because the growing season was briefer than average, the colonists concentrated on the fur trade, lumber and subsistence farming. From these commonalities settlements began to develop based on their population, belief systems and skills. Springfield began as a settlement on the shore of the Connecticut River in 1636 and the river quickly emerged as the main traders’ “highway” bearing goods both upstream and downstream. Two rivers fed into the Connecticut creating a river transit intersection that, coupled with the Boston Post Road, made Springfield as a significant transportation hub. In January of 1646 the -32- | ExtendedWeekendGetaways ~ January 2024
town hired a blacksmith introducing metal work into the economy. The last years of the 1600s witnessed the onset of the industrial revolution as mills were established along waterways and the area became known for its gunsmiths and John Pynchon founded an iron works in 1697. Springfield, from its inception, was a city of creativity, innovation, skilled industry and diversity. Springfield Arsenal was established by George Washington and the Continental Government in 1777. It was
designated an armory in 1794. They produced army weapons from muskets to M1 rifles until it closed in 1968. A later 1847 armory on the campus of Springfield Technical Community College showcases the world’s largest collection of historic American military firearms. An African American Heritage Trail exemplifies the city’s stance on and involvement with the question of slavery. Because of access to water, rail and road transportation Springfield was a haven for
