Buckland, Massachusetts
Population: 3,643
Located in Franklin County
In the early days of Buckland's history, its 20 square miles of West County started out as part of Charlemont and Ashfield. Nowadays, since sharing an identity with another town is so deeply ingrained in Buckland's past, it should come as no surprise that Buckland still has an identity problem of sorts. "Upper Buckland"- the largely agricultural region that borders Ashfield has a tiny post office, a church, the Buckland Historical Society Museum and a cluster of homes that feels like a village unto itself. Mary Lyon, founder of Mount Holyoke College, once lived and taught here. The true commercial center of Buckland, however flanks the Deerfield River a few miles to the East and is linked in 2 spots to the commercial center of Shelburne. The 2 bridge-connected towns have assumed an identity all their own: "The Buckland Side", and "The Shelburne Side". The Buckland side is where you'll find the town office, the police and volunteer fire depts. There are also several gift, antique and crafts shops, restaurants and Laundromats that serve the towns in the area. The Famous Bridge of Flowers - an old trolley bridge transformed into a walking garden, suspended over the river has one of it's ends in Buckland. Salmon Falls Artisan's Showroom, an old mill building transformed into a gallery for dozens of local artists and crafts people, overlooks it from the hill. The nationally renowned Lamson & Goodnow cutlery factory is located here, as is one of the areas only remaining industrial factories, Mayhew Steel. A bookstore, McCuskers Market, (one of the first whole foods markets and delis in Western Massachusetts), a hardware store, pizza shop and bar & grill are the center along with the police station. Tucked away in the fields of hay and corn that join Buckland & Upper Buckland, are the town Recreation Dept's pool, basketball & softball fields along with the area's regional high school. Buckland's residents work locally in the small shops, or in the knife or steel factories or they work in the area's small farms and apple orchards. Others have home businesses and many commute to Greenfield ( 15 minutes east ) or points south. Most all the commuters however, feel the drive is worth it, as this little village offers so much ambiance and warmth... there is no place like it.
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