Strolling Through History in Deerfield

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[/x_slide][/x_slider][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]New England boasts many historic towns and villages but very few look as they might have a hundred or more years ago. Historic Deerfield, a National Historic Landmark and a place where “history looms large” according to its website, is just such a village.

I have never been to Historic Deerfield, and until recently had never heard of it. My father sent me a link about it this past fall and I knew I was due for a visit. He and I set off with our cameras on a chilly winter day in December.

Historic Deerfield is a museum but also a place where people live, work, attend church and go to school. It’s main street, called simply The Street, is about a mile long and has vintage home after vintage home, with architectural styles spanning decades.

The museum itself owns a dozen historic buildings, some of which are featured in my photos, and all of which are open to the public for self-guided or guided tours. All but one of the twelve homes is on its original site. The Dwight House (in the feature photo) was relocated to the area from Springfield, MA in the 1950s.

Strolling down The Street, my father and I took in each home fully, paying careful attention to architectural details and having fun composing our shots making the best use of trees, fencing and other “props” to set the scene. As we wandered past we learned a bit of history from the signs along the way.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][x_slider animation=”slide” slide_time=”7000″ slide_speed=”1000″ slideshow=”false” random=”false” control_nav=”false” prev_next_nav=”true” no_container=”false” ][x_slide]

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[/x_slide][/x_slider][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]Deerfield was first settled in 1669 on land that had been inhabited by Native Americans for over 8,000 years prior. As was so common at the time, English colonists were granted the land that was once called Pocumtuck.

Located in the Connecticut River Valley, the land was perfect for farming and the settlers quickly began to take advantage of the area’s resources. It wasn’t an easy road for the settlers as the Pocumtuck joined forces with the French and attacked the village more than once forcing the settlers to rebuild.

This history is incorporated into over 300 years worth of stories by the museum to be used in its mission to educate visitors about the lifestyle of those that lived there long ago.

Halfway through our walk, we stopped to warm ourselves and have a bite at Champney’s Tavern in the historic Deerfield Inn. We finished our walk down the rest of The Street as the shadows grew long on a winter afternoon.

Historic Deerfield is a place I can see myself visiting time and again, in different seasons and for different reasons, whether it be to just take in the scenery or spend time enjoying few of the many museum activities.

I can only imagine what it looks like with trees ablaze in fall color or with spring flowers in bloom. If you have been to visit I would love to hear your impressions. If not, I think it’s a must see on any heritage tour through New England.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][x_line][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” bg_color=”#ffffff” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]Enjoy this post? You might also like The Village of Tariffville or Hartford’s West End.

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