“It’s a place of refuge for fresh air, solitude and renewal.”
Judy Isacoff, Resident of Mount Washington, Massachusetts
Two for the Price of One
Two towns are featured today—they’re both in Berkshire County, on the western edge of Massachusetts, and they both rank among the state’s six fastest growing towns. But for some, that’s hard to believe.
Tucked into the farthest southwest corner of Massachusetts, between Mt. Everett State Reservation to the east and Mt. Washington State Forest to the west, the tiny town of Mount Washington is a hidden treasure. With only 167 residents, it’s the second smallest town in Massachusetts, but its 28 percent bump in population over the last 10 years also ranks it among the state’s fastest growing towns. And nobody quite knows why. Some trace the growth back to the awful events of September 11, 2001, when folks who had vacation homes in Mount Washington decided to make the safe haven their permanent home. Others think it’s the expansion of the year-round Camp Hi-Rock run by the YMCA. But all agree that the fresh air, abundance of nature, and peaceful lifestyle make Mount Washington the perfect place to call home.
To the north, Alford, Massachusetts, saw a 24 percent spike in growth. But the town clerk doesn’t believe it. She did her own count, and came up with 388 residents, a far cry from the 494 Uncle Sam reported. She says the town’s low tax rate and picturesque setting have attracted a lot of construction in the last few years, but most of the houses going in are vacation homes. Still, she says it’s a quaint New England town that hasn’t changed much in the last 100 years, and that’s just the way she likes it.
Read the Article ® Small Berkshire towns booming
No comments:
Post a Comment