South Hadley Canal

South Hadley, MA - The Connecticut River was used as a highway to transport stones, hides, lumber, and other raw materials from the North and brought back Iron, Molasses, Sugar, Rum, and Manufactured goods. These items were transported by Flatboats which floated down the river and had to be poled or pulled back up. The round trip from Wells, VT to Hartford, CT took 25 days. The problem was around the South Hadley area, the river bed dropped 53 feet within 2 and a half miles causing rapids. A way to by-pass the rapids had to be found so a canal was built. The South Hadley Canal was the Nations first commercially operated canal. The canal was two and a half miles long and at the South Hadley Falls a unique way of getting the flatboats over the falls was built.

It was called the "Hampshire Machine" a 275 foot long, 30 foot wide, and 53 foot high stone inclined plain; it was capable of lifting 250,000 pounds. It took two years to build and was opened in 1795. Boats were floated onto a carriage and pulled up the inclined plain, waterwheels at the top supplied the power to pull the boats up; I believe a cable or rope was attached to the boat and the turning of the waterwheels would wrap around an axle and pull the boats up. The whole trip up the ramp took fifteen minutes. This model is located in the South Hadley Firehouse Museum.


This path brings you to a section of the canal still there. I walked down the path along the canal and did see "No Trespassing" signs so you can only go a short ways along the canal.


This part of the canal is still existing, there is a path from the Hadley Falls Canal Park(see bridge above ).


This is an overlook at Hadley Falls Canal Park, where you can have a great view of the Connecticut River and what is left of the canal.

A dam was built south of Northampton, MA to raise the water level to divert water into the canal. Citizens of Northampton brought suit against the canals proprietors in 1803, saying the backed up water caused them to suffer "fevers, miasma's(bad air caused by decaying material), and malaria". The inclined plain was close and a series of locks were put in in its place.

South Hadley Old Fire House Museum

South Hadley, MA - The Fire District No. 1 Firehouse was constructed in 1888-89. In addition to a firehouse it was also used as a polling place, a theater, a graduate site, a meeting hall and a social hall. This firehouse was used until 1974 when a new firehouse was built in Newton Street. In 1974 the Historical Society was chartered for the purpose of preserving the Old Firehouse. The Firehouse Museum was dedicated on July 3, 1976.
The museum is staffed by volunteers, all belonging to the South Hadley Historical Society. They are always looking for memorabilia to add to their collection; so if you have something historically significant they will be more than happy to display it in their museum.


The Old Firehouse, the bell from the tower was moved to the new firehouse.


Here is a 19th century hand pumper and a 1926 Dodge Fire Engine.


A motorized Ice Saw.


South Hadley Electrical Department display.

There is much more, I can't give it all away. There are somethings I will use in a future posting(you will just have to wait and see).

I just happened to stumble on the museum when it was opened for someone to make a donation to the displays.

Hours are: MAY - SEPT. 1:30 - 4:00
JULY - AUG WED 1:30 - 4:00

There is no admission charge but donations are welcome.

Info from museum handout.

Massacre in the King's Philip's War

South Hadley, MA - This is a monument for a massacre on September 18, 1675 in King's Philip's War, English against the Indians.



On the inscription is the word, "ambuscaded", which means ambushed. On the bottom was a reference to a stone slab that was 21 rods south of this monument(rod is 5.5 yards). I did not see this slab.

Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry and Rock Shop

South Hadley, MA - This is the building at the Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry and Rock Shop (formerly Nash Dinosaurland). The quarry was first opened to the public in 1939 by Carlton S. Nash. In 1997 Carlton passed away at 82 years old and his son Kornell Richard Nash continues his fathers work today.


The photo above shows the quarry that still yields tracks. I saw where they layers of stone are cut away to yield the next layer of tracks.



These are just some of the tracks on display in the shop. Most of the tracks are for sale so if you have that hard to shop for person, think of giving them one of these. Many notable families own one of these such as Maytags, Skinners, Carnegies and Pattons and last but not least Laural Hardy?(direct quote from website...at least one of them).


Also for sale are all these cool colorful rocks,psychedelic man. I don't know too much about them...but they look good!


Also for sale are other fossils and stones from all over the world. These fish are from China.

Click on this link for the full story and direction to Nash Dinosaur Track Quarry and Rock Shop