#171 - #173 Shelburne, Buckland and Greenfield

For town #171, we picked a beautiful early fall day to walk the Bridge of Flowers. The bridge is a former trolley bridge connecting the towns of Shelburne and Buckland. The bridge, spanning the Deerfield River, was used commercially from 1908-1927, after which it fell into disrepair. The Shelburne Women’s Club took possession of it and transformed it into a landscaped footbridge. It’s open from April-October and is free to walk.

When we crossed the bridge, we ended up in Buckland (#172). Lying along the western bank of the Deerfield River, Buckland is a small community that contains the western entrance of the aforementioned Bridge of Flowers. It is also home to Lansom & Goodnow fine cutlery, who presented President Ulysses S Grant with a set of cutlery in 1869. We purchased a nice chef’s knife while there.

On the way home, we visited Greenfield #173. The Poet’s Seat Tower provides a great view of this town the northern pioneer valley. The tower is a 1912 sandstone observation tower named for the site's attraction to poets, and is located in Greenfield’s Rocky Mountain Park.