History writ large.
Situated in the Connecticut River Valley, Deerfield dates back to 1673 when the first colonists arrived. The dastardly French hooked up with the Indians (none of whom had B1 visas) to sack the town and kill the colonists in 1704. Mercifully, this state of affairs did not last as the Indians were soon put back in their place, the frogs sent packing and civilization and commerce took their place.
Deerfield Academy remains in the center of Old Deerfield, much of a muchness when it comes to colonial architecture, having been founded in 1797 after the redcoats had been issued one way tickets home. Along with my son’s choice – Northfield Mount Hermon nearby – it is one of the eight Ivy League prep schools which means you are either poor and bright or you chose your parents well when it came to admission. Sometimes you get both smarts and luck in the gene pool.
Driving into Old Deerfield’s Old Main Street is to be transported back to the eighteenth century. Traffic here consists of a couple of locals walking their golden retrievers (limp wristed shi tzu owners need not apply), and the setting defines bucolic. I had a fine, extended chat with a local Visla, a magnificent Hungarian hunting dog. The only dismay was that my son and I did not encounter Katherine Hepburn at the Deerfield Inn where we stayed, pending his start at NMH nearby. Doubtless her ghost haunts the place.
The Deerfield Inn dates to 1884.
Our room at the Inn testifies to the history of the place.
The Post Office dates to 1910 and remains in use, being on the register of historic places.
There are no mail deliveries. You access your PO box using these letter coded dials – just 132 combinations possible!
The old fire station remains in operation.
Old pumper truck.
Deerfield Academy, one of America’s finest prep schools.
The school’s beautiful architecture is repeated in its many buildings.
The Wells-Thorn House, built in 1747 and first painted blue in 1802. Yes, it really does sag in the middle!
The view from Champney’s Restaurant inside the Inn.
A visit to western Massachusetts is highly recommended.
All snaps on the iPhone6.