Many places in Massachusetts preserve their historical roots, but the Becket Land Trust truly encapsulates in time the glorious operating years of the Quarry.
Formerly known as the Chester Hudson Quarry, it was an important means of development for the town of Becket during its operational years from 1860’s until 1960’s. The Quarry was connected to a rail road branch from Boston & Albany used to transport non-processed stones and granite which was used in many monuments across the US.
When the Quarry was abandoned, many of the key machinery was left behind and it looks like as one day the quarry-men finished their working day and never returned back to work.
Today, visitors can walk in time as they hike the quarry and encounter scattered old and corroded machinery used at that time such as trucks, an old derrick winch, a compressor truck, an electrical generator shed, a raligrade from motion to derrick.
The place is intact as it was back in the day, a mountain of granite boulders is still there testifying the golden years of the Quarry.
It’s very easy to run the imagination and visualize the quarry in operations; I personally travel in time as I was hiking this place. It is without doubt a walk in history!
Key things to know:
In addition to the quarry walk, there are other trails around the area that are worthy to explore, specially the “vista trail” that offers a great view of the Berkshire.
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