The initial primary focus of this project was on the historical use of water power in Monson, from the apparent initial use by settlers to saw wood & mill grain for local use, to the later more industrial applications. The evidence of the former, is scant with regard to written material, and the latter. more plentiful, but scattered.

However, given my town walkabouts, conversations with fellow townies, and related reseach, I hope to expand the focus to include information on the Monson leg of the Bay Path, the bygone ways (old roads,) and the long time influence of a number of unsong local families associated with water power.

This effort is not an attempt to re-write the history of Monson, but rather to gather the different histories & related information, and to present them in a graphical format with links (and/or references) to those sources.

The development & expansion of the world wide web has provided an oportunity to access & to review material from diverse sources, not readily available to earlier reseachers. It has also provided a means of presentation not previously affordable.

I do not always agree with the conclusions reached by some of the sources, and will give my own observations where appropiate. But that is not an attempt to diminish their import in preserving the record.

However, it should be recognized that many later histories (and maps) are based on earlier work, and sometimes errors, and questionable conclusions are carried forth, without consulting the source documents. To add to this problem is that a number of early works omit references to their sources.

One final note on many earlier works: They were not written on stone tablets.

The Masschussets Historical Commission produced a series called Reconnaissance Survey Town Reports, produced between 1979 and 1987. For the purposes of the survey, the historic period has been subdivided into seven periods:

These are convenient for the purposes of this effort.

And finally, I must state my appreciation to the many people who have contributed to this endeavor - for their maps & memories, their company, conversations, criticisms & corrections. I have attempted to cite the individual contributions in the proper place, but I am sure that I have missed some. Please inform me of any omissions, corrections, new leads (even misspellings) at richard@anable.com This project has miles to go before ... (the above link is to the Frost poem which has a refreshed appreciation (for me,) given a February walk around Bald Peak area in search of a route the Bay Path might have taken.)