The Western
Gateway to the Berkshires: West
Stockbridge
Entering the town from Exit 1 on the Mass Pike or on Route 102
from Stockbridge, you pass a number of classic Greek revival homes
from the mid- 1800s. The West Stockbridge Congregational Church
(1882) sits at the southern end of Main Street. Across the road is
the Stone House (1827), built with local marble and granite and
thought to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. In the
center of Main Street is the 1854 Town Hall, currently being
restored as a museum and town meeting and performance space by the
West Stockbridge Historical Society. If you approach from the west
(Exit B-1 on the Mass Pike), you pass the Shaker Mill building
(1805) and drive across the Shaker Mill Pond dam, which dates back
to 1780 and was the first hydroelectric plant in the state.
Historic Walk, Bike and Drive maps are available at local
businesses describing the many historic buildings and points of
interest throughout the town.
The above coordinates will bring you to a very popular location
in West Stockbridge. Depending on the time of the year you might
see local fishermen trying their luck in the Shaker Mill Pond
and/or pedestrians both young and old. You will almost always see a
steady stream of vehicles crossing the bridge at the dam. Be
sure and check out the dam. The Town of West Stockbridge has
installed new turbines to generate power from the dam. See a
PowerPoint of the turbines!
Although easy to find, the cache is rated a two because of the
heavy muggle factor. You should be able to park within a few feet
of the hiding spot. When the muggle traffic is heavy I suggest that
you take the cache to your car to sign the log. Be sure and replace
so that it's not visible to someone passing by.
Cache started out with a couple of trackables and there is an
unactivated First To Find coin as a FTF prize!