BACKROADS TO AND FRO LENOX, MA — 1-3 APRIL 2026

I need to get back to exploring and documenting to remember, and then share with you to hopefully lead you to some explorations. I have promised myself in 2026 to not sleep in my own bed at least three nights a month — that means get out and about. Also, as I have related, I have shifted my focus from a few standby, but enjoyable places I have visited, to have new experiences. Remember in March I usually head to the Berkshires, well, that was the plan, but I arrived April 1st instead – close. Backroads? Of Course! And, do click for a large image of my route below and sometime explore as well. Amazingly remote.

Briefly my route “TO AND FRO” was from Sherburne Falls, MA, down Route 112 to Buckland, left (west) on Route 116 to Savoy, then south on 8A to Windsor. Then Route 9 to Dalton and Route 8 south to US 20 – then west to Lee and eventually to Lenox. In my study of past trips some of this route I had been on, some maybe in the opposite direction, and at different times of the year meaning you see different things. But it had been awhile. Do click to enlarge the map — later I will provide my route home and “new stops and discoveries.”

As with many towns, you have to swing off the “new” main road on the old route to see the town. Below is “downtown” Buckland — historical society on the left, and church with town offices behind in the right hand image. Remember my images may be clicked for larger views.

Yes, I remembered I had been through Plainfield on Route 116. Here is the main intersection on the left, and the post office to the rear of a home. In the parking lot is a bank of post office boxes for mail pick-up.

SAVOY — looked familiar, and checking my posts I had a sandwich in this now closed former general store in August 2021 on a great trip to Mount Greylock, Hancock Shaker Village, and so much more I am ready to revisit.

But at the intersection of 8A and 9 in Windsor I was able to have some multi-bean soup and a turkey sandwich. Very nice and refreshing. Yes, it was overcast and raining.

Arriving at US 20 I headed west on US 20 through downtown Lee to check on the Lakehouse Inn, which is “on the list” to check out as a new alternative experience. Not the largest of rooms (square footages listed) and for comparison I have my AYU which is 140 square feet. Sadly not open during the week so I could not see the rooms or common areas. Rooms for sleeping, but I do like to compare common areas. Close to Tanglewood, cost not outrageous but sadly I could only see the outside.

my goal for lodging was The Cornell Inn in Lenox (think Tanglewood). Not sure if off season pricing, but my two nights cost about the cost of one night down the road at the RLI, and I was very pleased. Snacks and drinks upon arrival, bottle of wine in the room, and breakfast. Not to mention close to town. Below the inn and then the common area room and my room, the Writer’s Retreat with lots of space. My room was in the main house, but there are rooms in the building beyond in the image below, and in the Carriage House — lots of choices for me in additional visits.

A year ago when staying at the RLI I ventured up to Lenox for dinner at ZINC. So my first night I went there. Nice ambiance dinner was fine.

BUT, the next night I went a few doors down to ALTA at 34 Church Street. Maybe now my “go to” restaurant in Lenox. Below the gallery below at ZINC you will see my salmon at ALTA Restaurant & Wine Bar with the amazing presentation and tastes, as described on the menu – Apple Cider, Maple & Delicata Squash Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Poached Leeks, Waffle Chips. WOW

When I do a two night adventure I have plans for the day in between – usually a “loop exploration.” I have my favorite routes and stops when in this area. I headed over to West Stockbridge, crossed the border to NY 22 and headed south on this favorite stretch of road to Millerton, NY. From Millerton I took US 44 east toward Connecticut passing first into Lakeville, CT (part of Salisbury) — but not having stopped in decades (if at all) I pulled in to read the below about the Revolutionary history in the area. I knew that Ethan Allen (think Green Mountain Boys) was instrumental in the development of the iron industry here. I have had for years many books on Allen, but just now found this great short read about his early time here — you may wish to spend a few minutes clicking this link that I just found.

click to enlarge to read the panels shown above.

About 27 miles north of my former bookshop in New Preston, I really never grasped the full history of the area, including the railroad passing through from Millerton to Canaan, CT. This google view shows the pond feeding the Lakeville mills. The mills I show below are in the area above the “Black Rabbit” lettering. Also in this spot is the train station — I am having a hard time picturing it on the rise from the road to the east – stopping and starting at an incline? I need to learn more — the fun of coming home and reviewing my trips and learning more, and then needing to learn more.

below the mills remaining – the large building the long running knife factory.

the first view looking east from the mill pond area — water flows under this park area.

did you see the “loop drive” in the google map above? Although not my “44 Elm” below is 9 Elm Street, Lakeville. Zillow today values this home at $4,889,500 – tad more than my “44”.

Continuing my “loop explorations” I continued on US 44 through Salisbury village, then took a back road over to Falls Village, CT, another favorite spot on my favorite US 7. Then north on 7 back to 44 and into Canaan. BUT WHAT IS THIS HISTORICAL MARKER? On US 7 I do not believe in all these years I saw BECKLEY FURNACE to the road on the right just before the intersection. But in “forgiving myself” for the oversight, even though the state had owned the property for over 50 years, development did not start until 1996 – so maybe the sign (which is on a bend in the road) may not have gone up until after I moved to NH. But, I did pass often as I had books in “the late” Whip Shop Antiques just over the border in Southfield Village.

I had an understanding that iron ore was easy to obtain in the Litchfield Hills in northwestern Connecticut, thus many foundries that made cannon and the like for the American Revolution, including in Litchfield — the destination for some lead that I wrote about (winning a state contest) almost seven decades ago, and will share again in the July 2026 WALPOLE CLARION. Oh, and the local bank in this area is, of course, IRON BANK.

Below entrance to the industrial park site.

river to the right, dam in the background which provided water to a water wheel to assist the operations. In the foreground of the stack were buildings as you will see below in an old photo.

click (if you wish) to enlarge and read.

note the bridge lower left crossing the river – there is a newer bridge there now that I crossed. You can see the stones of the furnace smoke stack surrounded by the wood structures. This view is basically looking to the north.