1. Painted Porch
City: Sheffield, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (413) 229-2700
Address: 102 S. Main St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Sheffield has been dubbed the antiques capital of Massachusetts, and while there are dozens of shops scattered along picturesque Route 7, this is one of the nicest. The handsome 1815 colonial farmhouse and the next-door barn make an attractive setting for the formal and country French, English, American, and Canadian antiques. These are coveted, one-of-a-kind pieces, such as a painted, marble-topped French shop counter or an English pine settle bench.
2. Sheffield Covered Bridge
City: Sheffield, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: Massachusetts’s oldest, newest covered bridge is located just outside of the village of Sheffield. Spanning the Housatonic River, this is a 1999 wooden replacement of what was once the state’s oldest covered bridge, which dated from 1832 and was destroyed by arson in 1994. Inside, be sure to admire the post-and-beam construction; the new bridge incorporates the historic bridge’s lattice truss design.
3. Bartholomew’S Cobble
City: Sheffield, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (413) 229-8600
Address: 105 Weatogue Rd.
Description: This 330-acre nature reserve is a favorite spot that provides a near-perfect day hike for beginning trekkers. Orient yourself at the visitor and nature center, next to the entrance. Pick up a trail map and check out the schedule of special programs offered including canoeing, hiking, and bird watching. The reservation features 5 miles of well-marked trails; the Ledges Trail is the most popular. Here, the gentle 1⁄2-mile loop ascends through wooded forest to reach an ancient formation of exposed bedrock, or cobble (primarily quartzite and limestone), which offers panoramic vistas of the Housatonic River valley. This is an especially good walk for families with small children; there are 2 small caves along the way and the undergrowth of wildflowers and ferns in the woods has an almost prehistoric feel. Leave some time to visit the Ashley House, a 1735 colonial house named after its owner, Colonel John Ashley, one of Sheffield’s founding citizens, who helped draft the Sheffield Resolves, a 1773 manifesto for individual rights. In 1781 Ashley’s slave Mum Bett argued for her freedom against him in court—and won. The success of Mum Bett’s suit was instrumental in ending slavery in Massachusetts in 1783.