U.S. 20 through Western Massachsetts
Last week I journeyed along U.S. 20 from Boston to Springfield MA, the eastern-most section of the country’s longest road. This week we continue along that route through some of the most beautiful land in Massachusetts, the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshire Mountains. Western Massachusetts is loosely defined as the the area between the Connecticut River and the New York Border. There are several routes that cross the area, but U.S. 20 may be the least touristy of them. As I head west from the city of Springfield, U.S. 20 passes through some of the city’s suburbs, but most of these have been around for while, and it shows in some of the buildings that line the route. West Springfield Fire Station No. 2 Leaving the suburbs behind, U.S. 20 enters the town of Westfield, MA. Westfield was first incorporated in 1669 and was the westernmost settlement of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the 19th century its main industries were cigars and buggy whips. While its industrial base has ...