Recommended Places to Visit: Athol

Recreation

Water Bodies
Lake Rohunta
Partridgeville Road and Daniel Shays Highway

South Athol Pond
South Athol Road and Washington Avenue

Ward Pond
10 Carpenter Road

White Pond
White Pond Road near Cross Road

Parks
Fish Park
Walnut Street and Maple Street


Beaches

Silver Lake Park
Stevens Street and Lincoln Avenue

Lake Ellis Beach
Lake Ellis Road

Beautiful Scenery

Adams Farm

854 Bearsden Road

Hiking

Tried:
Lawton State Forest
Willis Road, 42.619832, -72.214422

Recommended:
Minnie French Conservation Area

End of Benton Place

Bearsden Conservation Area
~1499 Bearsden Road

Architecture

Monuments

Athol Veterans Park
Exchange Street and Main Street

Uptown Common
Common Street and Main Street


Places of Worship

Athol-Orange Baptist Church
131 Ridge Road

First Church Unitarian Universalist
478 Main Street

Starrett Memorial United Methodist Church
40 Island Street

St. Francis of Assisi Church
101 Main Street

Our Lady Immaculate Church
192 School Street

St. John Episcopal Church
15 Park Avenue

Athol Congregational Church
1225 Chestnut Street

South Athol United Methodist Church
65 Morgan Avenue

Seventh Day Adventist Church
3200 South Athol Road

Schools
Athol-Royalston Middle School
1062 Pleasant Street

Town Facilities
Town Hall
584 Main Street

Historical Society
1307 South Main Street


Commercial Buildings
Athol Savings Bank: Main Office
478 Main Street


Historical Buildings
Old Athol Bus Station
573 South Street

Millers River Environmental Center
100 Main Street

Old Lyman Ward School
2175 Main Street

Old Second Advent Christian Church
1282 Main Street

LS Starrett Company
121 Crescent Street

Restaurants

Tried:
Chinese
Tea Garden
631 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Crispy Walnut Shrimp and Chicken


Western

Main Street Diner
311 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Cheese
Jalapeno Cornbread

The Blind Pig
98 Exchange Street
Recommended Dishes:
The Nick
Pig Fries

Breakfast

Rockin' Robin's
567 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:
Spam and Eggs

June 6th 2019: Going North to New Hampshire

I started out today in the northeastern central Massachusetts town of Petersham,

St. Mary's Monastery

checking out the Most Holy Trinity Monastery,

Next, it was on to the town of Athol,

LS Starrett Company

Old Lyman Ward School,
2175 Main Street

Old Second Advent Christian Church,
1282 Main Street

Fish Park

going on a hike at Lawton State Forest, where the path I took to explore various parts of it is shown below in pink.

I first tried to get to the Meadow Vista from the shorter end of the ridge section, but it was so overgrown that I gave up, although I realized later that I was actually really close to my goal at that point. I decided to try from the other end of the trail. The going was a little better, but not much, the red blazes on the trees just barely keeping me from getting lost, all the way until I reached the supposed vista, which literally meant a view of the meadow.

What a waste of time. Next, I went to find the water bodies here, which were just alright.

The Skyfields Arboretum area yielded nothing either. A disappointing hike overall.

Next, it was on Richmond NH,

Richmond Community Church

Cass Pond

Public Library

Fire Department

Sandy Pond

to hike the Metacomet Monadnock Trail in Richmond NH, where the path I took is shown below in black.

Nothing much to see here unless you are into rocks,

including a stone bridge just across the state line back in Massachusetts.

After finally returning to my car, it was on to the town of Swanzey NH for my final hike of the day, at Carroll's Hill, where the path I took is shown below in pink.

I was somewhat exhausted after my long hikes today, and would have got lost if not for my spotting the arrows appropriately placed at the major turns, although I missed one as you can see. I was just glad that the view at the end was worth the trip, even with the rain.

Heading back was even more of an adventure, the rain falling so hard that people were stopping by the side of the road to wait the rain out, and there was even a car stuck in the water, the tow truck having to come to pull it out while the police blocked traffic. I decided to stop for a bite at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner. Pretty nice hotel in the middle of nowhere.

With respect to the Colonial Grille located within the hotel,

I got the New England Meatloaf (New England Style meatloaf covered with a savory gravy & topped with crispy onion strings. Served with garlic mashed potatoes & vegetable du jour),

which unfortunately was a tad salty.

Dinner was at Jimmy's Tavern in Shrewsbury,

where we got the Salmon Oscar (salmon topped with bearnaise sauce, shrimp and fresh asparagus) and Jimmy's Special Rice Pilaf this time around.

Excellent meal to cap an otherwise rained out day after my last hike.

August 6th 2014: Finishing Baldwin Hill in Phillipston

After work today, I decided to give Baldwin Hill in Phillipston another try, passing by Princeton along the way.

81 Route 140

This time, I was able to hike the entire place, the path I took shown below in black.

The paths here were pretty overgrown, especially in the Lower Loop Trail, but thankfully I was able to follow the red apple signs to where I needed to go. The views of the swamp here in the setting sun were pretty nice.

From here, it was on to Athol

Ward Pond,

10 Carpenter Road

White Pond,

White Pond Road near Cross Road

and Orange,

New Life Christian Fellowship,

349 South Main Street

Mahar School

where I wanted to check out Herrick's Tavern, but the kitchen was already closed. Thankfully, the 202 Grille and Restaurant next door still had ice cream to sell, so I got the Muddy Sneakers Ice Cream, which was pretty good, with chunks of caramel in it.

Still hungry, I was forced to head back into Athol to get Chinese takeout from 8 Dragons, getting the Burned Salt Shrimp, which was actually pretty good.

Glad I managed to find something to eat at the end of the day.