NH-Old+Monson+Village


 * =Birding in New Hampshire=

Hillsborough County
Hollis and Milford =Old Monson Village= Milford, New Hampshire 03055 Old Monson Village webpage Old Monson Village map

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Old Monson Village, Hollis/Milford
Coordinates: 42.783995, -71.62374 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Old Monson Village
Monson Center is considered by leading archaeologists to be one of the most significant archeological sites in New England. Many of the original foundations of the homes that were built in this late 1700s village are preserved.

Visiting Monson Center, a historic gem, is literally a breath of fresh air, and a step back in time. This small portion of history is off the beaten path, but once you find it, you will never forget.

After parking in the small lot, you walk a few hundred yards down a forest lined dirt road. Each step carries you away from the busyness of everyday life. There is no electricity or running water, but there is an energy to the place. A carved sign announces Monson Center, and after another few steps, the forest opens up. There are fields on either side as well as stone walls, wildflowers, and bird houses. Up ahead is the only habitable house on the property.

In the center of the field to your left is a large rock. I like to imagine the stories this boulder could tell, if it could, of the battles, struggles, and celebrations the town had during its short existence. Past that and all around the wall is part of what used to be Monson.

Monson was an early colonial settlement that existed from 1737-1770 and covered over 17,000 acres. It was part of Massachusetts at its inception. The center of town, main roads, and several foundation holes remain.

You can walk the rutted roads the settlers traveled, visit a few of the still-present cellar holes on the sites of some of the early settlers which include the Gould, Wallingford, W. Nevins, T. Nevins, Bayley, and Brown family homesteads. The only public structure the village had was the pound for runaway cattle. Monson never had a school house, meeting hall, or church. From Old Monson Village webpage



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media type="custom" key="28869358" || L3612763 US US-NH US-NH-011 42.783995 -71.62374 Old Monson Village, Hollis/Milford