Northfield, Massachusetts

Northfield is the only Massachusetts town to border both Vermont and New Hampshire, straddling the Connecticut River that forms the boundary between the two states to its north. Between 1673 and 1713 colonists of European descent tried three times to settle there, in what was then called Squakheag. This was part of the Massachusetts frontier during turbulent times, and twice the settlement was abandoned and destroyed by French and Native forces. On the third attempt in 1713, the final year of Queen Anne’s War (1701-1713), the settlement became permanent. It was incorporated as the town of Northfield in 1723. Attacks continued, however, until the end of the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Today Northfield is known for the Northfield Mount Hermon School created in 1971 by a merger between two schools founded by Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) — Northfield Seminary for Young Ladies in 1879 and Mount Hermon School for Boys in 1881. Northfield is also known as home to the pumped storage hydroelectric facility built in and on top of Northfield Mountain, where the power company also operates a four-season recreation facility.

Main Street and Webster Block. Northfield, Mass.. View this item in the Online Collection.

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PlaceNorthfield, Massachusetts