Leaf-Peeping in Central Massachusetts
The middle of October is high leaf-peeping season in New England. And the Connecticut River Valley is a wonderful place to peep those colorful leaves. A recent trip to the area gave me the chance to visit two historic towns and see some great scenery. Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts Salmon Falls The town of Shelburne Falls was founded in 1756 where the Deerfield River goes over the Salmon Falls. The falls were a traditional fishing spot for native peoples and are well known for their glacial potholes. These rock formations were created by water flowing out from under glaciers, carrying along small stones. As the stones became caught in whirlpools under the falls, they carved out dozens of holes in the rocks. The falls provided a source of power for a factory owned by Silas Lamson, whose mill produced blades for knives and scythes. The company still exists today, and maintains a factory store in town. In 1910, a dam was built across the falls as part of the Deerfield D...