Northfield

Images of America: Massachusetts

by Marie Booth Ferré, Susan Post Ross, Joan McRae Stoia

Northfield's mountains, abundant forests, and rich agricultural fields along the Connecticut River sustained native inhabitants for centuries before the English settled in the area known as Squakheag in 1713. Incorporated in 1723, Northfield became a crossroads for travel and commerce, supporting ferries, taverns, mills, and other farm-related businesses. Elegant Federal-style homes crafted in the 1800s by the Stearns brothers still line the iconic Main Street. Northfield native Dwight L. Moody, a famous evangelist, founded area schools and summer conferences. In the late 19th century, the quiet farming town became "heaven on earth" to Moody's followers, who arrived by the hundreds each summer seeking spiritual renewal and relief from the cities. The railroad brought visitors to the first American youth hostel and to the popular Northfield Inn and Chateau, where many permanent residents found employment. Around Northfield, Queen Anne-style homes provided lodging for boarders, while tearooms, milliners, liveries, and grocers served visitors. Today, Northfield's vitality and spirit endures, forged by education, hard work, civic engagement, and perseverance.

130 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2014

Reviews

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are really interesting, but I found the captions and writing flat and lacking nuance.