Historic Massachusetts Town Common Photos

Massachusetts Travel >>>Massachusetts Town Commons
Exploring New England – Massachusetts Town Commons
Outtakes from the upcoming book,"Massachusetts Town Greens"

Paxton town common, Paxton Massachusetts

Paxton town common, Paxton Massachusetts

Paxton Town Common -- a quintessential New England village green

Article and photos by Eric H.

Massachusetts town commons embody the best of traditional New England travel, definitely worth exploring as each town green has its own breathtaking personality.

Serving as a community gathering place, the Massachusetts town commons often feature landscaped green spaces, seasonal events and observances. They also serve as significant historical attractions, typically as central locations of a community's agricultural and/or industrial based birth and development.

Specifically, these town commons can often be traced back to the 18th century roots as, depending on the town green, market places, religious centers, parade grounds, military training grounds and reporting places, burying grounds, and places for cattle and sheep to graze.

When framed by a church with tall white steeple, and historic homes and buildings, the look of a Massachusetts town green can be truly stunning -- an instant picture-perfect postcard from New England!

FYI, I have been commissioned by a major publisher to write a book, "Massachusetts Town Greens," that will focus on the significant history, interesting anecdotes, and modern day uses of Massachusetts town commons. The book will be filled with personal perspectives and original photographs, too, to bring you into the heart and soul of these town greens. Please bookmark this page, as I will update you on how the book is coming along and when it will be available for purchase.

So let's sit on a bench or take a stroll along the paved paths and enjoy these "outtake" Massachusetts town green photos that didn't make the final cut in the book, but are wonderful examples of the true glory of town commons...

Princeton Town Common with gazebo and hills in background. So peaceful and scenic here. I didn't want to leave!

Burlington Veterans Park, Burlington Town Common in Burlington MA

Burlington Veterans Park, Burlington Town Common in Burlington MA

Burlington Veterans Park at the Burlington Town Common, proving that there is a "real town" away from all the commercial offerings in this Boston suburb.

Bacevich Mmeorial Fountain, Walpole town common, Walpole MA

Bacevich Mmeorial Fountain, Walpole town common, Walpole MA

Bacevich Memorial Fountain, Walpole Town Common on Common St. (one of three downtown town greens).

Attleboro Town Common, Attleboro MA

Attleboro MA town common, an oasis within a bustling small city.

West Brookfield MA town common

West Brookfield town common. What a beautiful entrance!

Historic New England travel

A fall day in historic Concord